LU students now supported by 177 faculty and staff

In an open letter sent today to the principal Torbjörn von Schantz and the rest of the university board, 177 faculty and staff are calling on the university to act on the issue of fossil fuel divestment. 

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The open letter  means that many of the university’s staff now stand behind the call for divestment that’s already been signed and supported by almost 2000 students and residents.

Among the signees are many faculty leaders and a number of prominent professors from different faculties and institutions. This is what some of them say [bold emphasis added by us]:

larsLars Nilsson, Professor in Environmental and Energy Systems and lead author of IPCC’s “Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources”:

Investing in fossil fuels is not only unethical but also plain stupid in light of the ambitions to mitigate climate change. The alternatives, clean technologies, are growing faster and give better returns for the economy and the environment.

erikEric Clark, Professor, Department of Human Geography:

Research at Lund University and internationally shows that the actions of financial institutions contribute to generating climate change. Strategic investment of financial resources is an important means to reduce use of fossil fuels. To not divest in assets associated with high use of fossil fuels is to contribute to the crisis.

Screen Shot 2015-04-07 at 15.16.46Kimberley Nicholas, Assistant Professor, LUCSUS

The latest science concludes that we need to aim for a zero-carbon society. I believe that universities should be leading the way to this better future, both intellectually and practically. Divestment from fossil fuels is an important step in aligning the findings of the research conducted at Lund University with our actions.

Here is the open letter and a full list of the signing staff and faculty. As an individual you can also sign onto the letter on that link. In the letter, the writers highlight three strong reasons for fossil free investments at LU:

  1. The overwhelming scientific consensus on future risks for society with unabated climate change
  2. The long-term economic risks of fossil fuel assets in a low-carbon future
  3. To be true to the ethical foundations of academia and Lund University values

Screen Shot 2015-04-07 at 15.15.05The authors state that

“[if] universities seek to educate extraordinary youth so they may achieve the brightest possible future, what does it mean for that university simultaneously to invest in industries profiting from the destruction of that future?”

 

The university board are meeting on April 24th, and then have the chance again to make the bold decision to leave fossil fuels behind. Lisa Brand, a student at LU and involved in the Fossil Free campaign, believes that this decision will impact her future:

The future lies in renewables, while fossil fuels will soon be history. I want my university to lead this transition, rather than wait until others take the leap. When will Lund University dare divest? Will they wait until the energy transition has already happened and fossil fuels have been replaced by renewables in everyone’s fund portfolios, or will they show leadership like Chalmers did

Here you can read and sign the open letter, as well as pass it on to your network. 

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