Activists are urging Federer to persuade Credit Suisse to stop fossil fuel investment or cut ties with themGETTY IMAGES
Roger Federer said that he "would donate to the Australia bushfires appeal" after coming under criticism from climate campaigners, including Greta Thunberg, over his sponsorship deal with Credit Suisse, according to the AFP. Federer said that he "would pledge the funds at a charity match he will take part in later this week to raise funds for the appeal ahead of the Australian Open starting on January 20." Climate activists have "stepped up a campaign urging Federer to either persuade Credit Suisse to stop investing in fossil fuels or cut ties with them." Federer responded over the weekend after Thunberg "retweeted a message criticising Credit Suisse with the hashtag #RogerWakeUpNow." Federer in a statement said he took climate change "very seriously" and promised to "dialogue on important issues with my sponsors." Last month, Credit Suisse said that it "would stop financing new coal-fired power plants and has said it will seek to align its portfolios with the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change to limit global warming" (AFP, 1/13). The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes Federer's "sponsorship flail is a tipping point for the sports industry." From now on, it is going to be "difficult-verging-on-impossible [for athletes] to say nothing about climate change and their role in it" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/13).
