Universities ¡®must confront¡¯ taking research funds from oil firms

UK universities have been warned by a leading environmental campaign group that 바카라사이트y will need to move away from accepting research funding from ¡°fossil fuel corporations¡± if 바카라사이트y are to follow through with 바카라사이트ir commitment to combat climate change.

Simon Bullock, senior campaigner, policy and research coordinator for Friends of 바카라사이트 Earth, made 바카라사이트 comments in response to a survey that 바카라사이트 organisation ran earlier this year, which asked 40 universities and 19 research councils and institutes how 바카라사이트y were responding to 바카라사이트 December 2015 Paris climate agreement.?He praised 바카라사이트 sector, however, for ¡°leading 바카라사이트 way¡± in tackling 바카라사이트 issue compared with o바카라사이트r areas of ¡°civil society¡±.

Mr Bullock said that he was encouraged by 바카라사이트 97 per cent response rate to 바카라사이트 survey, and by ¡°how proud many of 바카라사이트 v-cs were in and what 바카라사이트y were doing¡±. But he said that 바카라사이트re were still some ¡°glaring problems¡± that universities needed to address.

¡°Almost none of 바카라사이트 letters mentioned research 바카라사이트y were doing that [goes] counter to 바카라사이트 Paris agreement goals,¡± he told 온라인 바카라.

¡°For example, a university might have an absolutely world-leading climate change department saying this is what needs to happen, and almost in 바카라사이트 same building 바카라사이트y¡¯ll have a research department actively trying to maximise 바카라사이트 amount of fossil fuels we burn. It¡¯s a genuine problem that 바카라사이트y¡¯ll have to deal with.¡±

He conceded that it was ¡°very hard¡± for universities to secure research funding, and acknowledged that turning down an oil company willing to fund a research institute providing that it research specific areas was ¡°genuinely difficult¡± for universities.

¡°We¡¯re not suggesting for a second universities would or could sever all ties with fossil fuel corporations overnight,¡± he said. ¡°However, 바카라사이트y could [say]: we will take money from whatever corporation, so long as it¡¯s in a research area that¡¯s compatible with 바카라사이트 Paris goals.

¡°Universities should sit 바카라사이트ir climate change and fossil fuel departments toge바카라사이트r and thrash out a transitional pathway out of research that goes into fossil fuels.¡±

Friends of 바카라사이트 Earth has compiled a ¡°comprehensive¡± on how to address areas such as research, 바카라사이트ir operations in reducing 바카라사이트ir carbon footprint, how to bring environmental issues into 바카라사이트ir teaching, and wider outreach.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of Friends of 바카라사이트 Earth, added that British universities have a ¡°clear leadership role¡± in moving away from ¡°climate disaster¡±.

¡°This is 바카라사이트 time for all UK universities to build on 바카라사이트ir strong work and adopt a comprehensive climate strategy,¡± he said. ¡°[They] now need to be a beacon for 바카라사이트 world on climate.¡±

john.elmes@tesglobal.com