Quakers Protest Vanguard’s Climate Policy At CEO’s Main Line House

WAYNE, PA — Nearly 50 members of Earth Quaker Action Team staged a silent protest Friday outside the Main Line home of Tim Buckley, CEO of Vanguard.

The group sat outside on folding chairs outside Buckley’s home with the hope of urging the CEO to encourage fossil fuel companies to shift their goals away from climate destruction.

“We are bringing the urgency of the climate crisis to Tim Buckley’s doorstep,” Carolyn McCoy, a Philadelphia Quaker and one of the group’s founders, said.

Vanguard said on its climate change website that the company joined the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. It consists of more than 200 global asset managers committed to supporting policymakers’ stated goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.

The visit to Buckley’s residence is part of the Quaker team’s ongoing efforts to convince the financial company to refocus investments.

“Today, all of us have a role to play in standing up to those who are recklessly threatening our future for short term profit,” Eileen Flanagan, co-director of the Quaker team. “Tim Buckley’s role is especially large because his influence is especially large.”

Quakers held a separate worship service outside Vanguard’s London headquarters and other Quaker groups met on Zoom.

On Sept. 21, eight members of the Quaker group and Extinction Rebellion Philly were arrested after they refused to leave Vanguard’s campus in Malvern.

The group was hoping to meet with John Galloway, Global Head of Investment Stewardship.