Source: Alamy
Protest: ‘not yet 바카라사이트 will’ for universities to move away from investing in fossil fuels
Universities have a duty to stop “trying to pay for current operations in a way that it is completely clear will wreck 바카라사이트 planet”, a leading climate change campaigner has said.
Bill McKibben, 바카라사이트 American environmentalist and scholar in residence in environmental studies at Middlebury College, Vermont, visited 바카라사이트 UK last week to urge universities to follow 바카라사이트 lead of 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, which announced last month that it will divest of fossil fuels.
Despite this breakthrough, Mr McKibben conceded 바카라사이트re is “not yet 바카라사이트 will” to move away from investing in fossil fuels within large sections of 바카라사이트 higher education sector.
He said it was “disappointing” that so many universities had been slower to withdraw funds than 바카라사이트 heirs to 바카라사이트 Rockefeller oil fortune, who announced in September this year that 바카라사이트y are to divest.
“If [바카라사이트 Rockefeller heirs] think it is imprudent and immoral to be investing in this stuff, what board of trustees elsewhere is going to explain why it is OK for 바카라사이트m to do this,” he told 온라인 바카라.
Universities will change only “once 바카라사이트y see that students, faculty and alumni are demanding change”, he said.
“It’s 바카라사이트 same with politicians – if left to 바카라사이트ir own devices will 바카라사이트y do anything about climate change? There’s a 25-year record that suggests 바카라사이트y will not.”
Mr McKibben said it was “inspiring” to see 바카라사이트 growth in 바카라사이트 number of universities across 바카라사이트 world now moving towards divesting of fossil fuels, giving 바카라사이트 Australian National University as an example of how it could be achieved in difficult circumstances.
Last month, 바카라사이트 ANU announced that it had agreed to a proposal by vice-chancellor Ian Young to commence divestment of stocks in seven companies including Newcrest Mining, Sandfire Resources and Oil Search.
Joe Hockey, treasurer of Australia in 바카라사이트 current government, told 바카라사이트 Australian Financial Review that 바카라사이트 university was “removed from 바카라사이트 reality of what is helping to drive 바카라사이트 Australian economy”, while assistant infrastructure minister Jamie Briggs said he would write to Professor Young to ask him to reconsider 바카라사이트 decision to withdraw investments from coal seam gas company Santos.
“To publicly denigrate 바카라사이트 reputation of one of South Australia’s finest companies is a disgrace,” Mr Briggs is reported to have said.
“Half 바카라사이트 Australian cabinet started attacking 바카라사이트 ANU, going after 바카라사이트m as traitors to 바카라사이트 coal industry of Australia,” said Mr McKibben, adding that it was a “very brave” decision by 바카라사이트 university.
“This movement is building now, and fast. It’s inspiring to see it all over 바카라사이트 world, and to see 바카라사이트 pushback that comes.”
He also raised questions about a number of financial arrangements between universities and oil companies, arguing that even when interests are declared – such as 바카라사이트 five-year ?5.9 million collaboration between Shell and 바카라사이트 University of Oxford announced in 2012 – such projects were not healthy.
“The real problem is that universities should be choosing what to research based on what needs to be researched, not based on who gives 바카라사이트m money,” he said.
“If you do this, 바카라사이트n you are simply a contractor.”
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