Fossil Free Canada

New Campaign Campaigns

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  Divest Dalhousie from Fossil Fuels

  It is wrong for an institution of higher education to profit from the destruction of the planet. Dalhousie's investments in the fossil fuel industry actively compromise the ability of our generation, and our children’s generation, to lead socially and environmentally healthy lives. By investing in the fossil fuel industry we are investing in an industry whose profitability depends on ensuring the catastrophic effects of climate change. This is not only problematic and dire, it means that investment in fossil fuels undermines the values held by Dalhousie University. As a self-declared leader in sustainability, it's time for Dal to put its money where its mouth is - and invest in both future students and the future of the planet.

  1,998 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by Divest Dalhousie
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  Divest the University of Ottawa from Fossil Fuels

  (le français suit) Climate change is no longer a future state. It's here and accelerating. We are witnessing the increasing global impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently. Just in the last few years, extreme weather, record-breaking heat, droughts, hurricanes, and flooding have impacted hundreds of thousands of people with a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars. The vast majority of scientists and climate experts agree that global warming is caused by human activity and that burning fossil fuels will continue to accelerate and intensify these tragic climate disasters. Furthermore, the huge dependence on government subsidies and political rules makes the fossil fuel sector more risky and volatile as a financial investment. There is growing evidence that the sector is greatly over-valued. When a true cost is placed on carbon emissions, these shares will be worth substantially less. Analysis of historical data shows that over the past seven years, eliminating the fossil fuel sector from a global benchmark index would have actually resulted in a slightly higher return. It is unconscionable to pay for our education with monies that will then be invested to support the fossil fuel industry and condemn the planet to climate disaster. We ask you to join a growing movement of diverse groups and organizations around the world that are committed to a clean energy future by moving the University of Ottawa’s endowment away from fossil fuels and into sustainable investments. This petition is sponsored by 350 Ottawa and Fossil Free uOttawa The list of top 200 fossil-fuel companies can be found at the following link: http://bit.ly/VOP9Um ------ Les changements climatiques ne font plus partie d'un future potentiel, mais relève bien du présent, et ça va en accélérant. Nous sommes témoins des impacts globaux qui vont en s'aggravant du réchauffement de la planète. Au cours des dernières années des événements climatiques extrêmes, des records de chaleur, des sécheresses, inondations et les ouragans ont un impact direct sur de centaines de milliers de personnes et engendrent des coûts de centaines de milliards de dollars. La majorité des scientifiques et des experts climatiques s'entent pour dire que les changements climatiques sont causés par l'activité humaine et que la combustion de combustibles fossiles va continuer à accélérer et intensifier ces tragiques désastres climatiques. De plus, la grande dépendance aux subventions gouvernementales et l'assouplissement des politiques du gouvernement font de l'industrie des combustibles fossiles un secteur à risque et un investissement financier volatile. De plus en plus d'évidence nous dit que ce secteur d'activité est sur-évalué. Lorsque les coûts réels seront placés sur les émissions de carbone, ces parts vaudront beaucoup moins. L'analyse de données historiques montre qu'au cours des sept dernières années, l'élimination du secteur des combustibles fossiles des standards et index internationaux aurait résulté dans des retours légèrement plus élevés. Il n'est pas moralement justifiable de payer pour notre éducation avec de l'argent qui sera ensuite investis pour soutenir l'industrie des combustibles fossiles et condamner la planète à un désastre climatique. Nous vous demandons de nous joindre à un mouvement en croissance de groupes diversifiés et d'organisations de partout à travers le monde qui se sont engagées envers un avenir d'énergie propre en déplaçant les investissements de l'Université d'Ottawa hors de combustibles fossiles et vers des investissements durables. Cette pétition est coordonnée par 350 Ottawa et uOttawa sans fossiles La liste des top 200 compagnies de combustibles fossiles peut être trouvé au lien suivant. http://bit.ly/VOP9Um

  983 of 1,000 Signatures

  Created by Fossil Free uOttawa
• McMaster University: Go Fossil Free!

  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 $50bn 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. As public pressure to confront climate change builds, we call on McMaster University to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil-fuel companies, and to divest within five years from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds. We believe such action on behalf of McMaster University will not only be a sound decision for our institution’s financial portfolio, but also for the wellbeing of its current and future graduating classes, who deserve the opportunity to graduate with a future not defined by climate chaos.

  1,000 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by Amandeep Bolina
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  Divest UofT

  █████████████████████████████ ➽➽➽ Burning fossil fuels causes CLIMATE DESTABILIZATION ➽ Stocks in fossil fuels are OVER-VALUED & UNSUSTAINABLE ➽➽ Divestment makes FINANCIAL + ETHICAL sense for U of T █████████████████████████████ To avoid dangerous climate destabilization the world needs to urgently move from carbon-intensive fossil-fuel production to carbon-neutral energy production. Fossil fuel companies have more than five times the reserves of carbon than can safely be burned, yet they continue to search for more reserves and increase their emissions. The high stock value of fossil fuel companies also rests on the dubious assumption that all of these fuels will be burned. In a world where fossil fuel production and consumption must be curtailed these stocks are significantly over-valued and divestment makes both financial and ethical sense. The University of Toronto is heavily invested in fossil-fuel companies, with a significant portion of its ~$1.5 billion endowment devoted to this unsustainable industry. The danger of climate destabilization obliges us to transition away from fossil fuels in the very near future.

  544 of 600 Signatures

  Created by Stuart Basden
• Lakehead University: Go Fossil Free!

  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 $50bn 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. As public pressure to confront climate change builds, we call on Lakehead University to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil-fuel companies, and to divest within five years from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds. We believe such action on behalf of Lakehead University will not only be a sound decision for our institution’s financial portfolio, but also for the wellbeing of its current and future graduating classes, who deserve the opportunity to graduate with a future not defined by climate chaos.

  265 of 300 Signatures

  Created by Elysia Petrone
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  Divest X

  The world is changing. Global climate change is quickly slipping out of our grasp. Our unchecked attack on the natural world has caused incalculable damage to ecological systems, economic prosperity and human life. As we continue to pollute our world, we only sink deeper into a grave of our own making. In the face of accelerating climate change and environmental degradation, a new vision of modern life has emerged. Across the board, new initiatives are being developed to create and sustain a world that is devoid of fossil fuels. The leading edges in technology, architecture, agriculture and human resources coalesce in the determination to create a civilization that is compatible with the Earth’s natural systems. Beneath the exterior of despair lie a quiet optimism and the opportunity to have a hand in the creation of our future. We therefore think that it is not only our university’s responsibility to divest any fossil fuel assets they may own, but it is in their own self interest. As the world adapts to these new ideas, we believe that there is a great opportunity for Saint Francis Xavier University to capitalise financially on these emerging industries while taking the lead among Canadian universities in sustainable development.

  458 of 500 Signatures

  Created by Victoria Foster
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  Simon Fraser University: Go Fossil Free!

  Climate change is accelerating. We are witnessing the increasing impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently; in this last year alone the US and Canada experienced record-breaking heat, droughts, and storms, which impacted hundreds of thousands of people and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. And the OECD warns that Metro Vancouver is the Canadian city most at risk from sea-level rise and other climate change-related threats. 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. As public pressure to confront climate change builds, we call on Simon Fraser University to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil-fuel companies, and to divest within five years from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds. Divestment will be a sound decision for our institution’s financial portfolio, will demonstrate SFU's commitment to lead and engage the world, and will revoke the fossil fuel industry's social license to operate.

  1,089 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by Josh Cairns
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  Trent University: Divest From Fossil Fuels!

  Climate change is accelerating. We are witnessing the increasing impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently; 2013 was the fourth hottest year in recorded history. There was record-breaking heat, droughts, floods and hurricanes across the globe which impacted hundreds of thousands of people and cost countries hundreds of billions of dollars. In 2013 extreme weather cost Canada $3.2 billion from insurance claims. Trent University is contributing to this destruction by investing in the fossil fuel industry. This is immoral and unacceptable; especially for a school that prides itself on sustainability, and for a school that has made world breaking research through its Environmental Studies/Science program. Trent University should show leadership by investing in progressive companies that will lead us to a clean energy future. Scientists 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 need to keep at least 80% of known fossil fuel reserves in the ground if we are to stand any chance of avoiding irreversible, catastrophic climate change. As public pressure to confront climate change builds, we call on Trent University to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil-fuel companies, and to divest from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds within five years. We believe such action on behalf of Trent University will not only be a sound decision for our institution’s financial portfolio and public reputation, but also for the wellbeing of its current and future graduating classes, who deserve the opportunity to graduate with a future not defined by climate chaos.

  1,514 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by Calvin Beauchesne
• Divest Carleton University From Fossil Fuels

  Climate change is no longer a future state. It's here and accelerating. We are witnessing the increasing global impacts of a warming planet more and more consistently. Just in the last few years, extreme weather, record-breaking heat, droughts, hurricanes, and flooding have impacted hundreds of thousands of people with a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars. The vast majority of scientists and climate experts agree that global warming is caused by human activity and that burning fossil fuels will continue to accelerate and intensify these tragic climate disasters. Furthermore, the huge dependence on government subsidies and political rules makes the fossil fuel sector more risky and volatile as a financial investment. There is growing evidence that the sector is greatly over-valued. When a true cost is placed on carbon emissions, these shares will be worth substantially less. Analysis of historical data shows that over the past seven years, eliminating the fossil fuel sector from a global benchmark index would have actually resulted in a slightly higher return. It is unconscionable to pay for our education with monies that will then be invested to support the fossil fuel industry and condemn the planet to climate disaster. We ask you to join a growing movement of diverse groups and organizations around the world that are committed to a clean energy future by moving the University of Carleton’s endowment away from fossil fuels and into sustainable investments. This petition is sponsored by 350 Ottawa, a local chapter of 350.org. The list of top 200 fossil-fuel companies can be found at the following link: http://bit.ly/VOP9Um

  250 of 300 Signatures

  Created by Fossil Free uOttawa
• University of British Columbia: Go Fossil Free!

  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 $50bn 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. As public pressure to confront climate change builds, we call on the University of British Columbia to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil-fuel companies, and to divest within five years from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds. We believe such action on behalf of the University of British Columbia will not only be a sound decision for our institution's financial portfolio, but also for the wellbeing of its current and future graduating classes, who deserve the opportunity to graduate with a future not defined by climate chaos.

  106 of 200 Signatures

  Created by Gordon Katic