– Seize Your Power – aims to mobilise key organisations investing in new energy sources to shift US$40 billion away from investments in fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, into the development of clean renewable energy sources. Such a shift of investment is urgent and crucial to more rapidly move the world towards climate-safe energy.

• On 5 June World Environment Day WWF launched the Seize Your Power campaign with the aim to achieve a major shift in investments in energy generation away from fossil fuel to sustainable renewable sources

• The World Bank (WB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have both announced in July a shift in their energy investments away from coal-fired power plants

One of the most biodiverse places on Earth, Virunga is also a vital resource for local residents. Despite decades of unrest, the park generates US$40 million annually – much of this from tourists coming to see the famed mountain gorilla – to support local livelihoods, and is a source of fish protein and freshwater for tens of thousands of people. But this iconic place is under threat from oil exploration. Some lines should not be crossed, and drilling in Virunga is one of these.

• In response to an open letter from WWF to its investors, the oil company Total has committed to not explore for oil within the current boundaries of the world-renowned Virunga National Park – famed for its mountain gorillas
• Concerned about proposed oil exploration in Virunga National Park – one of the world’s oldest and most valued protected areas - UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, which identifies the world’s most valued natural and cultural sites, has requested the cancelation of exploration permits

The campaign successfully challenged governments at the highest levels that wildlife crime is both malignant and widespread and must be addressed effectively and urgently for the sake of wildlife, their habitats, sustainable economic development and national security.

• African leaders stated that recent large scale poaching and illegal wildlife trade is a major threat to national security and sustainable development, while also destroying Africa’s wildlife resources
• During a state visit to Tanzania in July, President Barack Obama said poaching and trafficking are threatening Africa’s wildlife and have expanded into coordinated slaughter commissioned by armed gangs and criminal syndicates

• Kenya’s black rhinos are under siege, with the population dropping from 20,000 in the 1970s to less than 600 in 2013.