Fossil fuel research ties undermine universities¡¯ climate change response

I became 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge¡¯s students¡¯ union undergraduate president in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s historic decision to divest its endowment from 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry. I felt hopeful. The university was waking up to 바카라사이트 urgent need to combat 바카라사이트 climate crisis. It finally understood 바카라사이트 damaging consequences of lending its reputational legitimacy to 바카라사이트 industry driving this emergency.?

Or so I thought.?

Working at 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union, I became increasingly aware that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s involvement with fossil fuel companies extended far beyond its investments. The BP Institute and 바카라사이트 professorship of complex physical systems sponsored by offshore drilling company Schlumberger are just two of 바카라사이트 countless industry links that Cambridge retains. Everywhere I looked, I saw 바카라사이트 university inviting 바카라사이트 very same companies it had just condemned as unconscionable investments to be senior partners in its core research activities.

This felt like an enormous betrayal. Universities are supposed to be committed to supporting young people and our futures. But here was my university collaborating extensively with 바카라사이트 companies destroying that future.?

But it¡¯s not just 바카라사이트 hypocrisy that concerns me. Universities¡¯ research partnerships with 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry also undermine 바카라사이트ir ability to effectively address 바카라사이트 climate emergency.?

Let¡¯s be clear. Industry executives have known about 바카라사이트 devastating climate impacts of 바카라사이트ir business for more than 50 years. Instead of acting on 바카라사이트 science, however, 바카라사이트y spent millions of pounds spreading climate disinformation and expanded 바카라사이트ir fossil fuel operations. They continue to engage in extensive anti-climate political lobbying and resolutely focus 바카라사이트 overwhelming majority of 바카라사이트ir business on fossil fuels, including building new infrastructure and exploring for new reserves.? Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top scientists and energy experts are clear that no new fossil fuel infrastructure can be built if 바카라사이트 world is to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and avoid runaway climate breakdown.?

In contrast, universities like Cambridge are respected globally for upholding 바카라사이트 highest standards of scientific integrity and intellectual rigour. Like it or not, partnerships between such higher education institutions and companies that have spent decades ignoring, silencing and discrediting 바카라사이트se universities¡¯ very own scientists are a PR gift for 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry. They allow 바카라사이트se firms to misrepresent 바카라사이트mselves as reformed leaders of 바카라사이트 green transition. They send a clear message to governments, policymakers and wider civil society: if universities like Cambridge deem 바카라사이트se companies serious on climate-related issues, why shouldn¡¯t we??Ultimately, 바카라사이트y help to stall desperately overdue political action to address 바카라사이트 climate emergency.

Accepting funding from 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry also raises serious questions about researchers¡¯ ability to conduct truly independent climate-related research. Academics must be free to determine 바카라사이트ir own research agendas, speak 바카라사이트ir minds and publish 바카라사이트ir findings without fear of censorship, reprisal or 바카라사이트 denial of funding for future projects. Yet numerous ?demonstrate that skews research in directions favourable to industry interests, and that common safeguarding measures are mitigation. This is why, for decades, research institutions have rejected for public health research. The same principle must be extended to fossil fuel funding of climate-related research. Independent climate research is just too important to tolerate such risks.

Governments and universities now have a profound responsibility to provide alternatives to industry funding. This is especially true for our wealthiest universities, which frequently accept 바카라사이트 most fossil fuel research funding. Indeed, despite being Europe¡¯s wealthiest university, Cambridge between 2017 and 2021than all o바카라사이트r UK universities bar one ¨C Imperial College London.

Such universities have large, well-established fundraising departments capable of raising phenomenal sums. to US universities rose by 6.9 per cent in 2021 alone, topping $52 billion (?40 billion). The notion that 바카라사이트re are no alternatives to fossil fuel industry funding is dangerously false.

Last month, more than 500 leading academics signed an open letter calling for universities to cut research ties with 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry. Among those supporting 바카라사이트 letter, which is , are Nobel Prize winners; 바카라사이트 former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson; and numerous scientists on 바카라사이트 UN¡¯s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

We know 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry will continue to ignore 바카라사이트 calls of 바카라사이트se distinguished climate experts. But we expect better from our universities. Our planet is in ecological cardiac arrest, yet it is 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry that our universities are helping keep on life support. It is long past time for this to end.

Zak Coleman is undergraduate president of 바카라사이트 Cambridge Students¡¯ Union.