致國立臺灣大學的公開信
2019年12月18日
國立臺灣大學於11月28日向學生會宣布，針對校務基金的運用該校將對其投資原則做調整。包括於明年(2020)年底前完成高污染高碳排產業之撤資（下稱「撤資」），且未來不再投資於相關產業。並於查證後向學生會確定校務基金並未投資於化石燃料產業，未來也不會有。最後，學校也將建立校務基金的投資準則，從前期以公司CSR為依據到未來以PRI（責任投資）、ESG（環境、社會與公司治理）為準則來操盤。
此舉使國立臺灣大學成為台灣、也是亞洲第一高等學府撤資的典範，讓國立臺灣大學與全球超過150所大學並列氣候行動的榜樣，以撤資來減少學校對氣候變遷的影響。時至今日，全球撤資金額已突破12兆美元，撤資單位橫跨產官學研社，全球各地都在避免資助化石燃料產業。對此，350台灣對於國立臺灣大學的決定深表支持與肯定。
在氣候變遷成為全球緊急狀態的當下，學校有義務成為社會的先驅，帶頭來面對氣候變遷問題。而撤除對於化石燃料產業的投資便是一種極佳的方式。這樣的行動也能帶給社會極大的正面力量。國立臺灣大學可以以學術界的身分角度告訴大眾化石燃料產業對氣候變遷帶來的不良影響，在以身作則的實際執行撤資後，改變社會對於化石燃料產業的觀感，使民間與政府不再給予認同，也能促使學界、商界、政界等做政策面的改革，不再資助化石燃料產業。
因此，350台灣呼籲國立臺灣大學應盡早公開聲明其撤資的決定，不論是發表記者會或是公告於校方網站等方式。好讓校內35,000多名師生可以知道這值得稱讚的成就，相信許多校友像是企業領導人、政治領袖、又或是諾貝爾獎得主李遠哲博士都會為此感到欣慰。公開撤資資訊的同時便是讓學校超過600所的姊妹校感到讚佩，知道國立臺灣大學不只是建立氣候學程、更是力行氣候行動。而在校的5,000多位國際學生也會對此消息感到榮耀，遠在他鄉時正就讀這麼一所保障他們永續未來的大學。這樣振奮人心的撤資行動，真應該要讓更多人知道，需要國立臺灣大學公開分享。
同時，350台灣也呼籲其他台灣校園、亞洲學府跟進，一同來檢視自校的資金流向，並且不再資助化石燃料產業，一起為我們與下一代的未來把關，為氣候危機做出改變的一步！
350台灣團隊
An Open Letter to National Taiwan University
December 18th, 2019
On November 28th, National Taiwan University announced to the National Taiwan University Student Association that the school is making some adjustments to its investment principles in regard to the university’s endowment fund. This includes a full divestment from high polluting and high emission industries by the end of 2020 and no more related future investments. In addition, the school has investigated and confirmed with the student association that it does not invest in fossil fuel industries and will not in the future. Lastly, National Taiwan University will establish an investment guide for its endowment fund, starting with CSR and move on with PRI, ESG principles.
This act made National Taiwan University the first higher education divestment icon in Taiwan and in Asia. National Taiwan University now joins side by side with more than 150 schools in the world as an example for climate actions, by divesting to reduce campus climate impacts. As of today, the world divestment efforts have surpassed 12 trillion USD, and they are across all sectors. Everywhere in the world is avoiding investments in fossil fuels. For this, 350 Taiwan express our greatest support and acknowledgment for National Taiwan University’s action
When climate change becomes a global emergency, schools have the responsibility to lead in our society and face climate change problems. Divestment from fossil fuel is a great way to do so. This action brings immense positive energy to our society. National Taiwan University can showcase the negative impacts of the fossil fuel industry as academia. After the divestment, the school can change the societal view of fossil fuels. Allowing citizens and governments to lose their approval. It can also stir other academia, private, and public sectors to conduct policy change to no longer fund fossil fuels.
Thus, 350 Taiwan would like to call upon National Taiwan Unversity to publicly disclose its decision of divestment as soon as possible, whether it is to set up a press conference or an update on its official website. Going public will inform its 35,000 plus students and staff about this praise-worthy accomplishment. It is also very pleasing to know by its alums from business leaders, politicians, and even its Nobel Laureates Dr. Lee Yuan-Tseh. Making the divestment news public will be applauded by its 600 plus sister schools around the world. They will know that National Taiwan University did not only create a climate curriculum but also accomplish a climate action. In addition, more than 5,000 international students currently at the university will feel proud to know that while they are far from home, they are at a university that takes care of their sustainable future. Such inspiring divestment action needs to be known by more people, National Taiwan University needs to share this publicly.
At the same time, 350 Taiwan urge other schools in Taiwan, schools in Asia to follow suit. Do evaluate your campus’ endowment fund, do stop funding fossil fuels. Let us all guard the future for ourselves and the next generation, let us all take a step forward for this climate crisis!
350 Taiwan