Simpson celebrates JPMorgan, BlackRock rescinding commitments to UN climate group

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson celebrated massive banking organizations exiting or intensely scaling back involvement in a United Nations climate group Friday.

Simpson was among 11 other agriculture commissioners nationwide who demanded “accountability” from banks for left-wing, environmental social governance practices, or ESG.

JP Morgan Chase and State Street Global Advisors exited the Climate Action 100+ group, created in 2017 at the United Nations, per Fox Business.

Simpson celebrated that “Wall Street is waking up.”

The most recent prime focus of the group is to reduce carbon footprints.

“I was proud to stand with 11 other state agriculture commissioners demanding accountability from America’s largest banks over their commitments to left-wing, anti-agriculture, ESG-driven, and anti-consumer climate policies,” Simpson said.

“If these banks had their way, they would unilaterally force America’s farmers and ranchers – through the threat of withholding capital and financing – to adopt ‘green’ infrastructure, technology, and equipment,” he said. “We will not stand idly by and allow unelected individuals and woke institutions to make unchecked decisions that would intentionally cripple American agriculture and threaten our food security and national security.”

JPMorgan Chase reportedly said that its exit comes amidst its own “sustainability team” expanding.

Chase had said that it has evolved its “own stewardship capabilities” and no longer needs to participate.

BlackRock and State Street, though, reportedly said that the climate demands from the Climate Action group were beginning to go too far, along with future legal concerns.

State Street reportedly said it made its move because of the organization’s so-called “phase 2” conflicted with its own approach to “proxy voting and portfolio company engagement.”

BlackRock’s U.S. business pulled out, while its smaller international division remained in.

Simpson has been battling ESG since he became agriculture commissioner, worrying that “environmental” policies put too much stress on American farmers who can’t afford even current conditions.

Along with Florida, agricultural leaders from Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia signed on to a previous demand for “accountability” from the banks.

State leaders vowed continually to “encourage, promote, and advance the interests of agriculture.” They include regulating animals, food, fuel, plants, soil, and pesticides.

The leaders asked for “more information” after accusing banks of troubling environmental commitments targeting farmers. It also warns banks of undermining the nation’s food supply while putting “grave consequences” on consumers.