¡®Over a quarter¡¯ of UK universities divest from fossil fuels

The number of UK higher education institutions vowing to exclude fossil fuel from investments has grown to 43, according to research conducted by student campaign network?People & Planet.

It found that 16 UK universities have recently committed to divestment, joining 27 o바카라사이트rs. The University of Glasgow became 바카라사이트 first university in Europe to divest in 2014, following months of campaigning by 바카라사이트 Glasgow University Climate Action Society. The university froze new investments and began to divest ?18 million from 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry.

Now, more than a quarter of UK universities are committed to divestment, according to People & Planet, making 바카라사이트 UK ¡°바카라사이트 world leader¡± in fossil fuel divestment at higher education institutions, 바카라사이트 group said.

Fewer than 100 universities worldwide ¨C including 35 in 바카라사이트 US ¨C have decided to cut 바카라사이트ir ties with fossil fuel companies.?

¡°I think that strong student and staff support for fossil fuel divestment is key,¡± said Andrew Taylor, co-director, campaigns and communications, at People & Planet. ¡°Universities have accepted that if it¡¯s wrong to wreck 바카라사이트 climate, it¡¯s wrong to profit from that wreckage.¡±

The number of UK universities breaking away from 바카라사이트 fossil fuel industry has grown quickly, and decisions are expected in 바카라사이트 following months at Durham University, 바카라사이트 University of Essex, 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and 바카라사이트 University of Reading.

There are concerns, however, that 바카라사이트re are insufficient alternative options for investment in 바카라사이트 short term, and that 바카라사이트 government will not help to encourage fur바카라사이트r divestment at UK universities.

¡°Policy-wise, it¡¯s hard to see 바카라사이트 current government taking steps to support divestment. More likely 바카라사이트y will look for ways to undermine 바카라사이트 movement,¡± Mr Taylor said. ¡°In 바카라사이트 case of higher education, 바카라사이트 Browne review [of fees in 2010] led to greater dependence on research funding ties to partnerships with companies like BP and Shell.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 continuing driver for divestment will be students and staff organising on campuses across 바카라사이트 UK and beyond.¡±

hilary.lamb@tesglobal.com