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Divest York from Fossil FuelsThe University is manifestly failing in their commitment to not knowingly invest in companies whose practices pose a risk of harm to individuals or groups. The combustion of fossil fuels is responsible for 87% of all human carbon dioxide emissions which drastically contributes to anthropogenic climate change which in turn kills approximately 600,000 people yearly. As of last calculations, the University of York has £656,256 of their funds invested in Fossil Fuels. 61 Universities have already pledged their commitment to divest from Fossil Fuels, including our rivals York St. John and Lancaster University. It's about time the University of York did the same.723 of 800 SignaturesCreated by YUSU Environment
#DivestEmersonClimate change, as caused by the emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, poses a huge threat to the livelihoods of billions of people on this planet. Extreme weather conditions, such as the massive floods, wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, and melting ice caps we have experienced in the last few years alone, are a clear sign that climate change must be taken seriously, and acted upon promptly. 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. In such a dire situation, it is imperative that we, as an institution, do everything in our power to solve this issue.77 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Kayla Burns- Lewis & Clark College: Go Fossil Free!Climate scientists agree that the record breaking weather events are being caused by increases in global temperatures (2). These temperature increases have largely been the result of carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. 60-80% of the existing coal, oil, and gas reserves should be left unburned (3) in order to limit global warming to less than 2°C, as signed in the Paris Climate Agreement (4). Anything above this threshold drastically increases the risks of more climate disasters. We therefore call on Lewis & Clark College to immediately freeze any new investments in the most carbon intensive fossil fuel industries, especially those on the Carbon Underground 200’s list (5) of biggest oil and gas companies, and to divest within five years from direct ownership and from any commingled funds that include public equities and corporate bonds in these industries. With increased transparency and in collaboration with students, Lewis & Clark College should revise the Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) investment policy in order to meet these divestment goals. We believe such action on behalf of Lewis & Clark College will not only be a moral decision for the well-being of the planet, but also a sound decision for our institution's financial portfolio. The recent fluctuations in fossil fuel prices make these investments unreliable. The stocks themselves are also being overvalued; the fossil fuel industry is considering their aforementioned unburnable fossil fuels as assets, when in fact they are “stranded assets” under the goals of the Paris Agreement. Divestment from fossil fuels will have adverse financial effects on the industry and will encourage a larger cultural shift in which these investments themselves carry a powerful stigma. As more and more people continue to view coal, oil and gas negatively, through movements like divestment, this will pressure these fossil fuel companies to transition to clean energy. As of December 2016, 688 institutions worldwide have divested over five trillion dollars from fossil fuels (6). Lewis & Clark College, a pioneer of sustainability, should participate in this significant global movement. (1) https://www.lclark.edu/live/files/22998-list-of-managers-may-31-2016pdf (2) http://www.livescience.com/10325-living-warmer-2-degrees-change-earth.html (3) https://phys.org/news/2013-04-unburnable-fossil-fuels-investors-stranded.html (4) http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php (5) http://fossilfreeindexes.com/research/the-carbon-underground/ (6) https://www.arabellaadvisors.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ Global_Divestment_Report_2016.pdf1,062 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Bruce Podobnik
Divest U of SOur University is 'dedicated' to sustainability and Indigenization, yet is invested in the fossil fuel industry. If we are actually committed to sustainability and building respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous peoples and nations then the University would not be heavily invested in fossil fuel industries who benefit from the destruction of the planet. The University and the administration need to step up NOW, TODAY, and make a change. It's not good enough to be the second to last university in Canada who chooses to take climate action seriously. Students - Universities should be leaders in combatting the major social problems of our time – such as climate change and social justice – not continuing to prop up and support outdated, dirty fossil fuel energy that harms communities. Students are already leading; universities need to get on board! Divesting from fossil fuels creates an opportunity to reinvest in clean energy that strengthens communities and builds a 21st-century economy, creating good new jobs. Universities are supposed to be preparing us for our future, but instead, they’re contributing to its destruction; these hypocritical actions need to end. Remaining invested in fossil fuels puts a stain on our school’s reputation - will we be proud to be U of S alumni with a degree that is soaked in oil? Or could we be proud of our education, institution, and administrators who took a stand as climate leaders who lead the way? Faculty - We ask you to stand with us. You teach us about sustainability and climate change, the wrongs of wrecking the environment, the desperate need to build respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities, yet work within an institution who says one thing but acts against those morals and values. Please stand with us - we want to see accountability from our institution and we ask you for your support.5 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Jaylene Murray
Divest TTU From Fossil FuelsClimate 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.10 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Eric Stinson
Fossil Free DundeeIt is recognised across the world that global temperatures must remain no more than 2°C higher than in pre-industrial times if climate change is not to destroy our entire way of life. For this to happen, study after study has demonstrated that 80% of currently known fossil fuel reserves must remain in the ground. This view is endorsed by mainstream elements of society, from Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England, to the United Nations. Companies like BP and Shell – and the University’s investments in them—are not part of a sustainable future, no matter how they, or the University, might pretend otherwise. Small investments in renewables are far outweighed by the catastrophic impacts of continued oil extraction. In universities around this country and the world, divestment is denying these companies their moral acceptability –. All moral and financial arguments point to the same thing – divestment from fossil fuels.95 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Zoe MacKenzie
Divest Grinnell CollegeOur future is in the balance!1 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Evan Feldberg-Bannatyne
SUSSEX UNIVERSITY DIVESTMENT CAMPAIGN - WE WONAccording to the most recent projections, the world is headed on a course to global warming of 4 degrees by the end of this century if we carry on emitting CO2 at current rates. [1] It is clear that fossil fuels are not the way forward, and that we must end our addiction to carbon and find sustainable energy alternatives before it is too late. Despite this, our governments and institutions continue to invest vast sums in companies extracting oil and gas, giving them huge public subsidies that have helped to make them some of the most profitable companies in the world. The University of Sussex is renowned as a progressive institution, and we believe that the University should lead by example and join dozens of other universities, religious institutions and local governments across the world that have already committed to investing its money ethically, and going fossil free. Collectively, we have the opportunity to send an important signal to our governments and the private sector about the urgent moral and financial imperative of phasing out fossil fuels.2,050 of 3,000 SignaturesCreated by Rachel Mohun- St. Cloud State Divest From Fossil Fuels!Students on campus are concerned about the current state of our climate, and want our University to mirror the values of St. Cloud State students. Aside from benefiting our climate as a whole, we firmly believe this divestment will showcase the commitment St. Cloud State to being a progressive, innovative and conscious campus.1 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Students Organized for Change
- Suffolk 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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk 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.25 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Briana Cervantes