Today, Leeds University students have occupied the main administrative building in response to the university’s refusal to divest its £65 million endowment from fossil fuels. Forty members of People & Planet, Amnesty International, PSG, Socialist Students, the Green Party and other student societies took control of the University’s main council chamber, disrupting the meeting of its highest governing body and forcing divestment on to the agenda.
Toke Dahler, the Union Affairs Officer at Leeds University Union said: ‘The campaign to divest from fossil fuels is incredibly important. Climate change is already having a massive impact on people across the world, and students clearly want the University to take immediate action.’
This occupation comes as part of an 18-month long campaign, which has seen hundreds of students, staff and academics calling on the University to change their investment policy to exclude coal, gas and oil companies.
The University has been heavily criticised by students for ignoring the result of a referendum in which 83% of students voted in favor of fossil fuel divestment.
Joshua Alston, a campaigner in People & Planet said: “We are outraged that Leeds uni ignored the referendum and petitions that saw thousands of students and staff calling for divestment. We want to be part of a University that respects human rights and the environment. But by continuing to invest in fossil fuels our uni is failing to do this. Taking direct action is our only option to ensure that student voices are heard.”
In the last fortnight, Queen Mary, University of London committed to divest from all fossil fuel companies, while Southampton University and Newcastle University committed to sell their holdings in companies extracting coal and tar sands.
Academics have expressed concern about the effect that the University’s continued investment in fossil fuels might have on the University’s reputation. Seventy staff members have already signed an open letter criticising the refusal to divest.
Tim Goodall, UCU Environment Rep. said: ‘We agree with the 83% of students of who voted in support of divestment and support the student occupation. We believe divestment is key for the university to protect its reputation for leadership in environmental issues.’
Twenty four UK universities have now made fossil free commitments including Oxford University, Glasgow University and Warwick University. Globally, more than 400 institutions and 2,000 individuals have pledged to divest $3.4 trillion from fossil fuels. These commitments have come from governments and investors from 43 countries, across multiple sectors including pension funds, health, education, philanthropy, faith, entertainment, climate justice and municipalities.