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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/24/why-university-of-edinburgh-must-divest-from-all-fossil-fuels-now
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| Why the University of Edinburgh must divest from all fossil fuels now | Why the University of Edinburgh must divest from all fossil fuels now |
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| It was wrong for American Energy Alliance and ExxonMobil to claim that the oil and coal industries are helping people living in poverty in the global south, and it is wrong for Professor Charlie Jeffery to do so too (Why the University of Edinburgh will not divest from all fossil fuels, theguardian.com, 12 May). The world’s poorest people are already facing hardship from climate-related effects on food supply and water. | It was wrong for American Energy Alliance and ExxonMobil to claim that the oil and coal industries are helping people living in poverty in the global south, and it is wrong for Professor Charlie Jeffery to do so too (Why the University of Edinburgh will not divest from all fossil fuels, theguardian.com, 12 May). The world’s poorest people are already facing hardship from climate-related effects on food supply and water. |
| Pitting fossil fuel divestment against the world’s poor is a cynical move which ignores the fact that the world’s poorest people are being impacted most severely by the effects of global warming, and will continue to suffer its worst impacts over the coming years, while many of the governments in the global south are the most vociferous opponents of the fossil fuel industry, and the strongest advocates for binding reductions targets. | Pitting fossil fuel divestment against the world’s poor is a cynical move which ignores the fact that the world’s poorest people are being impacted most severely by the effects of global warming, and will continue to suffer its worst impacts over the coming years, while many of the governments in the global south are the most vociferous opponents of the fossil fuel industry, and the strongest advocates for binding reductions targets. |
| Professor Jeffery rightly identifies coal and tar sands as two of the worst-polluting forms of fossil fuel energy. To avoid catastrophic climate change by keeping the global temperature rise below 2C, the fossil fuel industry needs to leave 82% of today’s coal reserves in the ground and Canada’s tar sands must go almost untouched. The University of Edinburgh’s decision to continue investment is indicative of its failure to recognise both these stark facts and the urgency of the issue. Professor Jeffery’s statement also makes no mention of the human rights, increasing poverty or ill-health of communities on the frontline of fossil fuel extraction. Will the university continue to invest in fossil fuel companies whose ongoing activities devastate communities such as those in the Niger delta and Alberta, Canada? | Professor Jeffery rightly identifies coal and tar sands as two of the worst-polluting forms of fossil fuel energy. To avoid catastrophic climate change by keeping the global temperature rise below 2C, the fossil fuel industry needs to leave 82% of today’s coal reserves in the ground and Canada’s tar sands must go almost untouched. The University of Edinburgh’s decision to continue investment is indicative of its failure to recognise both these stark facts and the urgency of the issue. Professor Jeffery’s statement also makes no mention of the human rights, increasing poverty or ill-health of communities on the frontline of fossil fuel extraction. Will the university continue to invest in fossil fuel companies whose ongoing activities devastate communities such as those in the Niger delta and Alberta, Canada? |
| In particular, Professor Jeffery states that continued investment is justified where companies are investing in technology that helps address the effects of climate change and reduce carbon emissions. This condition is vague, weak and ineffective given the energy mix present in most fossil fuel companies’ portfolios. Will Edinburgh continue to invest in companies spending a small fraction of their wealth on reducing emissions, while currently spending billions on exploiting tar sands and coal in new projects with shelf-lives of decades? Does investing in research into renewable energy that then sits unused in a closed archive meet this condition? | In particular, Professor Jeffery states that continued investment is justified where companies are investing in technology that helps address the effects of climate change and reduce carbon emissions. This condition is vague, weak and ineffective given the energy mix present in most fossil fuel companies’ portfolios. Will Edinburgh continue to invest in companies spending a small fraction of their wealth on reducing emissions, while currently spending billions on exploiting tar sands and coal in new projects with shelf-lives of decades? Does investing in research into renewable energy that then sits unused in a closed archive meet this condition? |
| As part of the climate justice movement, we absolutely agree that it is rich countries that have both the responsibility and the capacity to phase out fossil fuels first and fastest. But the interests of poorer countries are best served by keeping global temperature increases below 2C, and that means fossil fuels must remain in the ground. Poorer countries need to be supported in their efforts to leapfrog the fossil-fuel-driven development model that created wealth in the global north, but which also caused the climate crisis we now face. That’s why it is so essential that funds currently invested in destructive fossil fuel projects be urgently diverted to developing renewable energy systems that can provide safe, sustainable energy for people everywhere, and as part of a Just Transition into dignified, well-paying alternative work for those currently employed in fossil fuel industries. | As part of the climate justice movement, we absolutely agree that it is rich countries that have both the responsibility and the capacity to phase out fossil fuels first and fastest. But the interests of poorer countries are best served by keeping global temperature increases below 2C, and that means fossil fuels must remain in the ground. Poorer countries need to be supported in their efforts to leapfrog the fossil-fuel-driven development model that created wealth in the global north, but which also caused the climate crisis we now face. That’s why it is so essential that funds currently invested in destructive fossil fuel projects be urgently diverted to developing renewable energy systems that can provide safe, sustainable energy for people everywhere, and as part of a Just Transition into dignified, well-paying alternative work for those currently employed in fossil fuel industries. |
| Dr Jason Hickel Director of campaigns, Academics Stand Against PovertyAndrew Taylor Campaigns and communications manager, People & PlanetUbrei-Joe M Mariere Democracy Outreach programme, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth NigeriaAdesuwa Uwagie-Ero Gender rights activist, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria Suzanne Dhaliwal Tar Sands NetworkAlex Scrivener Policy officer, Global Justice NowJoel Smith University of Manchester Students’ Union Andy Whitmore Coordinator, Indigenous Peoples Links Paul Chitnis Director, Jesuit MissionsDr Richard Dixon Director, Friends of the Earth Scotland Michelle Kalamandeen The Guyana Human Rights AssociationMichael McCormack Co-president, The Guyana Human Rights AssociationMichelle Kalamandeen Secretary, The Guyana Human Rights Association Matthews Hlabane Southern Africa Green Revolutionary Council Chris Molebatsif National Coordinating Committee and Mining Affected Communities United in ActionOleg Savitsky National Ecological Centre of Ukraine and Ukrainian Youth Climate Association Johnie Chelimo Chairman of the board, Elgeyo Marakwet Civil Society Network Hannah Clare Co-convenor, Young Greens North and Young Greens SenateDanielle Paffard UK coordinator, 350.org UKRebecca Newsom Fossil Free SOASMariette Liefferink CEO, Federation for a Sustainable EnvironmentBetty Laka Women Affected by Mining United in Action Vicky Fysh 350.org AustraliaFionn Travers-Smith Operations & development manager, Move Your MoneySamantha Maher Policy director, Labour Behind the LabelEditorial Collective Red PepperLiz Murray Head of campaigns, Global Justice Now ScotlandPius Ginting Head of research unit, WALHI-FoE IndonesiaHendrik Siregar JATAM (Mining Advocacy Network)Australian Youth Climate Coalition Fossil Free Melbourne University Pekka Piirainen Divest London and Fossil Free UCLDr Jyotsna Ram Co-founder, Community ReinvestAaron Packard Region coordinator, 350.org Oceania Alistair Wardrope Healthy Planet UK Alice Hemming BP or not BP? Tytus Murphy and Dr Mark A Horowitz Fossil Free King’s College LondonAnne Harris Coal Action NetworkRichard Solly London Mining Network |
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