Get BP Off the University of Warwick's Campus

We, the undersigned, call upon the University of Warwick’s management to:

1. Enter into arrangements with BP to transfer control of the BP Archive to the University: BP’s only UK-based corporate archive is housed in the Modern Records Centre on Warwick’s campus. [1] It is controlled and managed by BP, and much of the material is unavailable to researchers. We call on BP to transfer the material to a third party – the expert archivists of the Modern Records Centre – to be managed in the public interest. If BP fail to do so, the threat of using the building for a different archive should be considered. To have a privatised space managed by a major fossil fuel company at the heart of our campus is shameful, given that climate scientists have established that around 4/5ths of oil, coal and gas must stay underground to avoid two degrees of warming. [2] BP uses the Archive to promote its image and shape academic debate. Hosting one of the UK’s largest oil companies in our community legitimises BP’s actions and is in clear tension with Warwick’s commitment to divest from fossil fuels.

2. Deny BP and other fossil fuel companies representation at University careers fairs and other Careers & Skills events: The presence of fossil fuel companies at careers fairs allows them to promote work in an industry which needs to be rapidly dismantled if we are to stop runaway climate change. The fact that these companies can buy their way into our careers fair is unacceptable. This situation is neither sustainable for those encouraged to join the industry, nor ethically sound. We call on Warwick to provide students with ethical careers advice and opportunities instead, including in the renewable energy sector.

3. Support a clean energy future and green jobs: Warwick must refocus research and expertise on climate solutions, including energy efficiency and renewable energy, and phase out climate-damaging fossil fuel research.

4. Stop the greenwash: Publish full details of the University’s ties, financial and otherwise, to the fossil fuel industry. Stop giving out honorary degrees to fossil fuel industry CEOs, which celebrate and give greater legitimacy to practices that endanger our planet. Instead, Warwick should reward those whose work paves the way for an alternative and clean energy future. Freeze all existing sponsorship and advertising from fossil fuel companies, and cease to accept them in future. [3]