“It was a lot of fun picking brains with Paul and Richard. As a duo, we’re used to creative ping-pong but we really enjoyed working with such experienced writers. It was inspiring to get to know Richard, whose work we’ve admired for a long time, as someone who is so radical and passionate about Climate Change and protecting the wildlife.”
War and Peas, comic creators
“In order to make these comics it’s really charming – you get Paul and a cluster of creators that he has chosen for you, and you have a discussion and as you talk they see whether or not anything you say is memorable or interesting to them and then they pick up on that, take it away, turn it into a little script, check that with you and then make my little bit of the book.”
Richard Curtis, writer and charitable legend
AND HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO…
1. NOT QUITE SURE WHAT A PENSION IS? YOU’RE NOT ALONE!
We get it, pensions can be confusing and hard to get your head round. Don’t worry about it. Here’s a helpful guide from our friends at Money Saving Expert on how pensions work, why they’re so important, and how to get started on your pensions journey. And if you want to find out whether our pension is already green, Good With Money can help with that.
2. DON’T KNOW WHO YOUR PROVIDER IS? NO PROBLEM!
Ok, so you know what a pension is and why it’s so important, but… like lots of us, you have no idea who your provider is?? No bother – use this handy government service to find out who’s looking after your money. And if that doesn’t work, you can ask your employer
3. KNOW YOUR PROVIDER & WANT A GREEN PENSION? GREAT!
Having a green pension is 21x more effective at reducing your carbon footprint than stopping flying, going veggie and switching to a green energy supplier. Make sure your pension fund knows this, and that you want a pension you can be proud of. Take the 21x Challenge and find out what your fund is doing to help build a better future.
4. YOUR PENSION IS ORGANISED THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER? TELL THEM YOU EXPECT A GREEN PENSION TOO!
Many pensions are run through workplace schemes, organised by your employer. You can tell your boss you want a pension to be proud of. After all – what’s the point in your company having the best sustainability record going, but having all that work undone by their pension? Here’s a handy letter you can send them today.
5. YOU HAVE A SELF-INVESTED PENSION PLAN (SIPP)? NICE!
If you have a SIPP, you’ll likely have even more control over where your money’s going. So, contact your financial advisor or log in to your SIPP platform, ask where your money’s invested, check the sustainability ratings and see what options you have for making your money matter. Need more help? Good With Money has a guide which outlines the top-rated funds that could go in to a SIPP.
6. NO PENSION, BUT STILL WANT TO GET INVOLVED? GREAT!
If you don’t have a pension but do believe our money should be invested sustainably – then sign our petition calling for a financial system which puts people and planet on par with profit. Once you’ve done that, tell your friends to sign up too: it’s the most powerful step we can take to tackle the climate crisis. And by the way, it’s never too late to start a pension – if you haven’t already, it’s definitely worth considering.
7. FIXED YOUR PENSION AND WANT A GREEN BANK TOO?
Just like our pensions, the money in our bank account is important too. Check out this guide to ethical banks, or use this tool from SwitchItto find out if your hard-earned savings are fuelling the climate emergency, and most importantly – what you can do about it.
8. READY TO GET INTO THE DETAIL? SMART MOVE.
If you want to learn more about how to invest your money sustainably, and hear about some of the greenest pensions out there, check out this Guide from Good With Money on the top ethical pension funds of 2021. Still want more!? Then here are some helpful reports from The Times, The Big Issue, andWhich? on the exciting world of green pensions.
9. SOUNDS GREAT, BUT WORRIED ABOUT RETURNS? NO SWEAT.
We’re not financial advisors – and sure, there are no guarantees in life – but the old stereotype that investing green means sacrificing returns just doesn’t stand. Research from Morningstar shows how sustainable funds have, on average, matched or outperformed non-sustainable investments over the past decade, while the raft of net zero commitments from leading pension funds shows your money can build a healthy planet, and secure healthy returns.
How you can help
We’re devoting the next 12 months of our lives to raising the money and awareness we need to stop species going extinct, and to put them back into recovery.
Our project brings together the best projects and thinking from 7 charities and a whole slew of experts from across the planet. Let this be the moment we say “NO MORE EXTINCTION” and start rebuilding their world, for all our benefits.
Please do consider donating and sharing our message to create a global voice of positivity and action. Thank you xx
Comic credits: Woke
Written by Richard Curtis and War and Peas
In collaboration with Make My Money Matter
Comic credits: While You Sleep
Written by Richard Curtis and Paul Goodenough
Illustrated by Abhijeet Kini
Final illustration inspired by Victor Solis
In collaboration with Make My Money Matter