Miksi tämä on tärkeää? Yliopistoilla on moraalinen vastuu yhteiskunnan korkeimman tiedon lähteinä hyödyntää omassa toiminnassaan parasta olemassa olevaa tietoa. Tiedeyhteisön yhteisymmärrys on kiistaton. Emme voi polttaa edes puolta maailmanlaajuisista fossiilisten polttoaineiden tunnetuista varannoista aiheuttamatta tuhoisaa ilmaston lämpenemistä. [3][4][5][6][7] Ilmastotieteilijät ovat yhtä mieltä siitä, että fossiilisten polttoaineiden käyttö on suurin yksittäinen syy antropogeeniseen eli ihmisen toiminnan aiheuttamaan ilmastonmuutokseen, joka aiheuttaa äärimmäisen vakavia ekologisia ja sosiaalisia katastrofeja [3][4]. Helsingin yliopiston tulisi johtaa omalla esimerkillään ilmastonmuutoksen hillitsemistä harjoittamalla entistä kestävämpää sijoitustoimintaa niin ympäristön kuin taloudenkin kannalta. Hiilikuplalla tarkoitetaan fossiilisia polttoaineita tuottaviin yhtiöihin liittyvää taloudellista riskiä, joka johtuu alihintaisten kasvihuonekaasupäästöjen aiheuttamasta markkinahäiriöstä. Hiilikupla on saanut useita sijoittajia vetämään sijoituksensa pois näistä yhtiöistä. [8][9][10] Yliopiston sitoutuminen fossiilisten polttoaineiden tuottajista vapaaseen sijoitusstrategiaan olisi vahva signaali yliopiston henkilökunnalle ja opiskelijoille siitä, että yliopiston johto tunnustaa tieteellisen tutkimustyön tulokset ja pyrkii periaatteidensa mukaisesti kehittämään yliopiston toimintaa entistä kestävämmäksi. [11] Helsingin yliopisto pyrkii saamaan sijoitussalkkunsa hiilineutraaleiksi “huomattavasti ennen vuotta 2045” [12]. Fossiiliteollisuuteen tehdyistä sijoituksista luopuminen on yksi askel yliopiston matkalla kohti tuota tavoitetta. Yliopiston pyrkimyksenä onkin rajata fossiilisia polttoaineita tuottavien yhtiöiden osuus sijoitussalkuistaan korkeintaan 1 %:iin, ja käytännössä vähentää niiden osuutta senkin jälkeen [11]. Ilmastotoimien kiireellisyydestä huolimatta sijoituksista luopumiselle ei kuitenkaan ole asetettu selkeää aikarajaa. Yliopisto ei myöskään ole sitoutunut olemaan sijoittamatta fossiilisia polttoaineita tuottaviin yrityksiin tulevaisuudessa. Yhteiskunta tarvitsee edelläkävijöitä, jotka luovat uuden normaalin ja motivoivat muita osallistumaan uusien parhaiden käytäntöjen omaksumiseen. ------------------------------------------------------ Why is this important? Universities have the moral responsibility to act according to the leading sources of scientific research and education in a society. The scientific consensus is clear and overwhelming; we cannot safely burn even half of the world's fossil-fuel reserves without dangerously warming the planet for several thousand years. [3][4][5][6][7] Scientists agree that global warming caused by humans burning fossil fuels will continue to accelerate and intensify tragic climate disasters [3][4]. The University of Helsinki should take the lead in confronting climate change by promoting sustainable and financially sound asset management practices. Carbon bubble is a term used to describe the financial risk related to companies holding fossil fuel reserves as governments move to fix the market failure caused by uncontrolled carbon emissions. [8][9][10] Divestment would send a strong signal to the University's staff as well as current and future students, that the University will take action for a sustainable future, as stated in the principles for responsible investment activities [11]. The University of Helsinki is aiming for a carbon-neutral investment portfolio well before the year 2045 [12]. Divestment from the fossil fuel industry is one of the University’s steps towards this goal. The University is aiming for a portfolio where firms that produce fossil fuels comprise no more than 1% of the investment portfolio, and aims to reduce their weight in the portfolio further after that [11]. However, despite the time-critical nature of the climate crisis, no time limit has been set for divestment. The University has not committed to refrain from future investment into firms that produce fossil fuels. Society as a whole needs leadership from organisations that shape the future and motivate others to join and implement best practices. [1] http://gofossilfree.org/companies/ [2] https://www.helsinki.fi/fi/yliopisto/strategia-ja-johtaminen/strategia-2017-2020 [3] https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/ [4] https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/ [5] http://carbontracker.live.kiln.it/index.html?CMP=twt_gu [6] http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus [7] http://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/ [8] https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/commitments/ [9] http://www.carbontracker.org/report/carbon-bubble/ [10] https://www.divestinvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Carbon-Tracker.-Unburnable-Carbon-Full-rev2-1.pdf [11] Suomeksi: https://www.helsinki.fi/sites/default/files/atoms/files/hy_vastuullisen_sijoitustoiminnan_periaatteet.pdf In English: https://www.helsinki.fi/sites/default/files/atoms/files/hu_principles_for_responsible_investment_activities.pdf [12] Suomeksi: https://www.helsinki.fi/fi/uutiset/kestava-kehitys/helsingin-yliopisto-sijoittaa-entista-vastuullisemmin-tavoitteena-hiilineutraali-salkku?fbclid=IwAR0Uq_fegJ1SO_cdBOCQII0GR4KAHvSvTzDtUk_M9tte-m8ersZ9rKmsfzA In English: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/sustainability-news/increasingly-responsible-investments-by-the-university-of-helsinki-aiming-for-a-carbon-neutral-portfolio [13] https://riihiweb.it.helsinki.fi/document/public/ebac9c93-9179-4f3d-8639-7293baa25864

The Global Context In 2009, 114 countries signed the Copenhagen accord, in which they agreed that the world must work together to limit global warming to a safe level, below a 2°C rise based on pre-industrial temperatures. The Carbon Tracker Initiative has shown that only 565 more gigatonnes of CO2 can be released if we want to remain under that threshold. Today the fossil fuel industry has enough in reserve to emit 2795 gigatonnes of CO2, despite this, the industry still invests substantial money in the quest for more fossil fuels. The Financial Side We urge the University of Otago and associated Foundation Trust to avoid fossil fuel extraction investments as they are economically insecure in the long-term. HSBC, one of the world's largest banks, has published a report indicating that major oil and gas companies could lose up to 60% of their market value if the existing international protocols on emissions reduction are enforced. Furthermore, leading global investment research firm MSCI has stated that fossil fuel divestment “has the potential to reduce overall portfolio risk because of Energy Sector volatility”. Commitment to Sustainability The University of Otago has committed to “contributing to the National Good and International Progress” while being “a national exemplar in corporate, social and environmental sustainability” with the goal to self assess with regards to “climate change [...] endowment transparency, investment priorities,” among others. Now is time for the University of Otago align its investments with these sustainability commitments. Reputation As the country’s first university, Otago has a reputation in leading innovation in New Zealand. Dozens of universities worldwide have already divested from fossil fuels, including notable Stanford University and locally Victoria University in Wellington and supported by the Tertiary Education Union. Come on Otago, your motto says it all: “Sapere Aude” (Dare to be Wise).

The University of the West of Scotland has over £1 million worth of investments. Numerous companies that the University invests in, including Shell have been accused of human rights abuses. For more information about our campaign and to get involved, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/362019827317758/ Further reading: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/08/glasgow-becomes-first-university-in-europe-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels

"It’s simple math: we can emit 565 more gigatons of carbon dioxide and stay below 2°C of warming — anything more than that risks catastrophe for life on earth. The only problem? Burning the fossil fuel that corporations now have in their reserves would result in emitting 2,795 gigatons of carbon dioxide – five times the safe amount." – 350.org As a reputable university we have an opportunity to be leaders in a global movement that can actually bring a positive change for society. Young people are going to have to endure the effects of global climate change, and our education institutions should act to become part of the solution. Visit our facebook page to like or discuss: https://www.facebook.com/ucdivests/

Climate change is accelerating. We are witnessing the increasing impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently; in this last year alone our country experienced record-breaking heat, droughts, and hurricanes, which impacted hundreds of thousands of people and cost our country hundreds of billions of dollars. Hurricane Sandy alone caused $50 billion in damages. Experts agree that global warming caused by humans burning fossil fuels will continue to accelerate and intensify these tragic climate disasters. The scientific consensus is clear and overwhelming; we cannot safely burn even half of global fossil-fuel reserves without dangerously warming the planet for several thousand years.

We are starting this campaign because the disastrous impacts of climate change are immediate, urgent, and will increase in severity if we don’t act now. Not only is there a consensus among scientists about the impacts of climate change, but the observable impacts are innumerable: record temperatures, extreme weather events, desertification, displacement of communities, and countless others. Natural disasters, which are intensified under climate change, already displace three times as many people as war. If the world fails to tackle climate change, more than 100 million people will die and global economic growth will be cut by 3.2% of GDP by 2030. The university's strategic plan "Susquehanna 2020: Thriving at the Intersections of Mission and Market" was endorsed by the Board of Trustees last year. On page three of the plan it says that one of our "guiding principles" is a commitment to environmental sustainability and Initiative 7 of the plan states that our goal is to "pursue sustainability as the heart of learning to live in our diverse, dynamic, and interdependent world" and "to maximize energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, and waster reduction across University systems." Therefore, we call on Susquehanna University to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil-fuel companies, and to divest within three years from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds within six years. The university has already made towards leadership in sustainability. We feel strongly that as long as we continue to support the fossil fuel industry in such a direct manner these actions lose their weight and the university will lose credibility as a forward-thinking institution that actively demonstrates the ethics and values that it teaches. We believe such action on behalf of Susquehanna University will not only be a sound decision for our institution’s financial portfolio, but also for the well being of its current and future graduating classes, who deserve the opportunity to graduate with a future not defined by the inherent injustices that come with an industry that has been scientifically proven to create issues of health, societal injustice, and loss of biodiversity on a global scale. Join us in asking the Board of Trustees to vote to divest our endowment from fossil fuels.

Climate change is accelerating. We are witnessing the increasing impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently; in this last year alone our country experienced record-breaking heat, droughts, and hurricanes, which impacted hundreds of thousands of people and cost our country hundreds of billions of dollars. Hurricane Sandy alone caused $50 billion in damages. Experts agree that global warming caused by humans burning fossil fuels will continue to accelerate and intensify these tragic climate disasters. The scientific consensus is clear and overwhelming; we cannot safely burn even half of global fossil-fuel reserves without dangerously warming the planet for several thousand years.

80% av världens kända fossila bränslereserver måste stanna kvar i marken om klimatförändringarna ska kunna bromsas. Att lyfta ut pengar som är investerade i kol, olja och naturgas (att divestera) är ett viktigt steg i att uppnå detta. Kampanjen Fossil Free Sverige jobbar för denna förändring. Förändringen behövs för att belysa det omoraliska i att investera i en bransch som gör vinster på att förstöra vårt klimat. Kampanjen har nu kommit till Luleå och är en del av en internationell, partipolitiskt obunden rörelse som har fått många stora städer och organisationer att divestera sina tillgångar. Nu är det Luleå tekniska universitets tur att visa sitt engagemang och din röst behövs. Skriv på namninsamlingen och kontakta gärna kampanjgruppen på [email protected] om du vill göra mer.

We are in the midst of a climate crisis and holding investments in fossil fuel companies is immoral. The current investment practices of the University are in direct violation of their investments policy, which clearly states: “The University of Reading believes in socially responsible investment and responsible stewardship. It expects its investment managers to take account of social, environmental and ethical considerations in the selection, retention and realisation of investment.” The University is recognised for producing world-class research on climate change and takes active steps to improve sustainability on its campuses. However, full fossil fuel divestment should be at the forefront of any sustainability strategy, and the University cannot make claims to be sustainable without it. If Vice Chancellor Robert Van de Noort wishes to make the University of Reading the “greenest university”, then full divestment is a necessity.

Climate change is accelerating. We are witnessing the increasing impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently; in recent years our country has experienced record-breaking heat, droughts, and hurricanes, which impacted hundreds of thousands of people and cost our country hundreds of billions of dollars. Experts agree that global warming caused by humans burning fossil fuels will continue to accelerate and intensify these tragic climate disasters. The scientific consensus is clear and overwhelming; we cannot safely burn even half of global fossil-fuel reserves without dangerously warming the planet for several thousand years. Stonehill College is "anchored by a belief and the inherent dignity of each person" and "educates the whole person so that each Stonehill graduate thinks, acts, and leads with courage toward the creation of a more just and compassionate world." These statements from the college's mission represent a commitment to social justice. Climate change is impacting the lives of everyone, especially those without means to combat the changing environment around them. By investing in fossil fuels, Stonehill is profiting off of the destruction of Earth and those who live there. By divesting from fossil fuels, Stonehill will be leading towards a more just and compassionate world.

Climate change is accelerating. We are witnessing the increasing impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently; in this last year alone our country experienced record-breaking heat, droughts, and hurricanes, which impacted hundreds of thousands of people and cost our country hundreds of billions of dollars. Hurricane Sandy alone caused $50 billion in damages. Experts agree that global warming caused by humans burning fossil fuels will continue to accelerate and intensify these tragic climate disasters, and the World Heath Organization estimates that 250,000 people die each year as a result of climate change. The scientific consensus is clear and overwhelming; we cannot safely burn even half of global fossil-fuel reserves without dangerously warming the planet for several thousand years.

Divestment is the process by which an institution removes its stocks, bonds, and other investments from industries and corporations that are morally ambiguous or devoid. In a worldwide movement, over 500 institutions have collectively divested $3.4 trillion from the fossil fuel industry due to its responsibility in the climate crisis. We demand that the University of Virginia join that movement. UVA has a $7.5 billion endowment, accrued over decades from private donations and financial grants, which it invests for the future support of the University. Some of these investments are in the fossil fuel industry. UVA only spends a small percentage of its investment returns each year, though. The remainder of the endowment is invested in perpetuity. While UVA intends the endowment to benefit the futures of students, all investments in fossil fuels inherently threaten these futures. Historically, universities are platforms of social change. At the University of Virginia, we have the power to send a state- and nationwide message: profit at the cost of human lives is morally unacceptable. We ask that you sign this petition to help send this message.