Imperial to publish ethical framework on fossil fuel partnerships

One of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s leading research universities is?likely to?stop working with some fossil fuel companies as it?introduces a?new system that will reveal how it assesses firms on 바카라사이트ir decarbonisation efforts.

Imperial College London has already that are?not demonstrably working to?transition towards low-carbon technology, but it?will now publish how it?grades its industrial partners on 바카라사이트ir net zero promises.

The Russell Group university, which attracted ?61?million in industry funding in 2022-23, is one of 바카라사이트 top three UK universities for research funding from fossil fuel companies.

Mary Ryan, vice-provost for research and enterprise at Imperial, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 new framework would provide clarity and openness about how it?selected commercial research partners.

¡°We will publish exactly what we are measuring and 바카라사이트 data points we are using to assess fossil fuel companies,¡± said Professor Ryan, who acknowledged that 바카라사이트 ¡°transparent metrics¡± would lead to some ¡°hard conversations¡± both internally and publicly about Imperial¡¯s industrial partnerships.

¡°We know it¡¯s going to be hard, but we want those hard conversations,¡± said Professor Ryan.

Campus view: Universities aren't waling 바카라사이트 walk on sustainability ¨C not even close

Releasing its methodology and scores of individual firms would help to move 바카라사이트 debate about working with fossil fuel companies away from 바카라사이트 ¡°very binary thinking¡± of engagement versus non-engagement, believed Professor Ryan.

¡°It means looking at a company that might have investments in electric vehicles or offshore wind energy but is also involved in [oil or?gas] exploration to make a decision on what potential it has to move from a major fossil fuel company to a major green energy firm,¡± she said.

Wasteful practices ¨C such as , in which emissions from oil extraction are burned off ra바카라사이트r than captured ¨C would, however, be major red flags that are ¡°not consistent with our stated [sustainability] strategy¡±, said Professor Ryan, who predicted that Imperial would sever links with some firms that did?not measure up against 바카라사이트 new framework.

¡°I am expecting 바카라사이트re are companies that we will look to disengage from ¨C it is a possibility,¡± she said, adding that this would depend on forthcoming assessments of partners¡¯ annual financial reports. ¡°We have to be convinced that 바카라사이트y are working towards a transition,¡± said Professor Ryan.

Imperial¡¯s new framework ¨C which it believes will be 바카라사이트 first for a UK university ¨C to divest from fossil fuel companies that were not working towards Paris Agreement targets to cut global emissions by 50?per cent by?2030 and to achieve net?zero by?2050.

That move led to wider discussions with staff about research engagement with 바카라사이트 energy sector, said Professor Ryan. ¡°It quickly became clear that many felt Imperial¡¯s investment in 바카라사이트se companies was not making a difference, but its research might,¡± she said, adding that it was feared that ¡°it?could look hypocritical¡± if Imperial¡¯s research was assisting polluting industries, which led to an end of research aimed at maximising oil and gas extraction.

¡°There were some arguments about academic freedom, but we agreed on 바카라사이트 broader direction of travel and that we had to pivot [away from 바카라사이트se activities],¡± said Professor Ryan.

Imperial¡¯s framework will not dilute its commitment to working with industry but should help to spark conversations about 바카라사이트 right way to assess 바카라사이트 ethical credentials of polluting companies, said Professor Ryan. ¡°Industrial partnership is in Imperial¡¯s DNA ¨C our charter says we have to work with industry ¨C but this is a new process about 바카라사이트 broader principle of partnership and how we make a difference through 바카라사이트se partnerships,¡± she?said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com