Dec 17 2014: Students petition university over fossil fuel investment

MEMBERS of the University of Sheffield Student’s Union have petitioned senior members of University Executive Board over its investment in fossil fuel companies.

More than 1,000 students have signed the petition following concerns that the university invests around 10 per cent of the university’s £30 million total investments in fossil fuel companies.

The petition calls on the university to make an immediate statement of principle, expressing its intention to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies within five years, and immediately stop any new investments in the fossil fuel industry.

The students also want university investment managers Sarasin & Partners to eliminate exposure to carbon stranded assets under the current investment portfolio and to wind down the university’s existing holdings in the fossil fuel industry over the next 12 months.

“Students’ Union members have decided to take on the fossil fuel industry by getting our university to go Fossil Free,” said Students Union Development Officer Jack Wyse.

“People & Planet -- Britain's largest student activist network -- has joined forces with 350.org and Operation Noah to bring the campaign that has been sweeping across North American to the UK.

“We want Sheffield University to stop investing in the top 200 fossil fuel companies.”

Student representative Liam Hardy added: “I was invited in to meet the Vice Chancellor, and spent some time discussing our requests and his thoughts on the entire climate change debate.

“He was very receptive and promised to take our arguments seriously and work with us on how to proceed."

To find out more about the campaign visit: http://sheffieldpeopleandplanet.weebly.com/ or take a look at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/468830603226255/?fref=ts