“The Nobel Foundation should not profit from the destruction of our climate.” — Nobel Peace Prize awardees Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, American Friends Service Committee, International Peace Bureau
Our first 2016 prize winner has joined the growing call for the Nobel Foundation to stop investing in the oil, gas and coal companies that are fuelling the climate crisis globally. Sir Fraser Stoddart was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the design of molecular machines. Joining him is the UK branch of the American Friends Service Committee (UK Quakers) which was awarded the 1947 Peace Prize.
These laureates have added their voices as momentum builds to Global Divestment Mobilization 2017 (May 5-13) – in which more than 300 activities and events in 40 countries will take place.
“It is our expectation that the Nobel Foundation also act in the interest of humankind which includes caring for the health of the planet which we all rely upon” — 19 Nobel laureates
Though the Foundation says it will pursue some new investments in ill-defined ‘green’ bonds, its leadership has refused to move forward on divesting the foundation’s $420 million endowment from fossil fuel companies, despite repeated calls to do so.
The Foundation released its long awaited annual report on April 28, which made no mention of divestment, clearly indicating that more pressure is needed to have the foundation move into a much-needed leadership position that aligns its investments with the core principles of the foundation – namely celebrating the good and creativity of humanity.
As a new Chief Investment Officer joins the foundation, the Divest Nobel campaign will be there to greet her and look to a different approach to climate action.
Join us for Global Divestment Mobilization 2017