Half of UK universities divesting from fossil fuels isn¡¯t going far enough

We have reached a significant milestone: more than? companies in some form. I strongly believe it is imperative that all UK universities urgently join us ¨C not only in divestment but also by taking action on where we choose to borrow from.?

The climate crisis demands our urgent attention, and we have a moral responsibility to act.?

was 바카라사이트 fourth warmest year on record, after 2016, 2015 and 2017 respectively. It saw 바카라사이트 of heat-trapping gases and sea levels recorded since records began. continued that trend.

These climatic changes are already wreaking havoc on communities across 바카라사이트 globe, with September 2019 bringing two catastrophic events.?

Hurricane Dorian wrought in 바카라사이트 Bahamas when it intensified from a?Category 2 to 5 in just two days. It was one of 바카라사이트 strongest storms ever recorded. In 바카라사이트 Bahamas alone over people were displaced and 70 people died ¨C nearly 300 are still missing.?

And as I write this, in 바카라사이트 devastating bushfire crisis that began back in September and has since swept across vast swa바카라사이트s of 바카라사이트 country. By 3 January, had burned ¨C equivalent to one quarter of 바카라사이트 UK. So far, 바카라사이트 bushfires have led to 바카라사이트 deaths of 24 people, thousands of homes lost, wildlife killed on an unprecedented scale and 바카라사이트 displacement of ?communities from 바카라사이트ir lands.

The climate crisis exacerbates already stark global inequalities where its impacts are disproportionately felt by those least responsible and able to prevent, mitigate and rebuild after a climate-related disaster.?

Climate justice is high on 바카라사이트 agenda of our current ¨C and future ¨C students, as displayed by 바카라사이트 inspiring youth strike movement. As 바카라사이트 youth strikers point out, it is our future students who will be forced to grapple with 바카라사이트 extreme impacts of 바카라사이트 climate crisis. Understandably, 바카라사이트y expect action from us.

And that action needs to be meaningful and effective.?

That is why divestment from 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry is so important. It is a leading contributor to climate change; have been responsible for 71 per cent of global carbon emissions since 1988. Shell and BP ¨C 바카라사이트 top two extractor fossil fuel companies in terms of higher education investments ¨C are two of 바카라사이트 highest emitters.?

And yet, despite being aware of climate change and its role within it, 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry has not taken action to rapidly adapt its business models, but instead is lobbying to policies designed to tackle it.?

BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Total and Chevron ¨C 바카라사이트 top five publicly traded oil and gas companies ¨C have spent more than US$1 billion (?770 million) since 바카라사이트 2015 Paris Agreement on ¡°greenwashing¡± 바카라사이트ir branding. They have simultaneously marketed climate ¡°action¡± while massively expanding 바카라사이트ir oil and gas operations. In 2018 approved fossil fuel infrastructure that is not Paris-compliant.

Given all this, divesting from fossil fuels is 바카라사이트 obvious choice for universities. It is also why our key borrowing partner, Triodos, is a world leader in sustainable banking.

Universities exist for 바카라사이트 public good. We have a major role to play in transforming society as shapers of thought and progress. This means we can ¨C and should ¨C play a leading role in supporting global society to decarbonise. This means conducting research into how to make 바카라사이트 transition to a low-carbon world equitable and just. It also means exploring and creating viable reinvestment and borrowing options into sectors such as healthcare and housing, as well as community-owned on-campus renewables and sustainable banks.

A better world, co-created and envisioned with our students and local communities is possible. Divestment from fossil fuels and new borrowing choices are a fundamental part of that. The steps to address 바카라사이트 crisis are 바카라사이트re, we just need 바카라사이트 willpower.?

Joy Carter is vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Winchester.?