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Bristol University’s bold new sustainability plan
Pressure from campaigners has prompted Bristol University to agree bold new fossil fuel divestment and carbon reduction plans.
The commitment to sustainability has been welcomed by students and Green MPs who have rallied against the university investing in companies whose activities contribute to global warming.
A key aim of the new policy is to end investment in companies that derive more than five per cent of turnover from the extraction of thermal coal or oil and gas from tar sands by January 2018 and focus on firms which are having the greatest impact on reducing carbon emissions.
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It follows a campaign by the university’s Fossil Free Society which has praised the positive step and pledged to continue striving for further improvement.
The university’s deputy vice-chancellor professor Guy Orpen said: “We are proud to be a sector leader in sustainability – from the research we support, the curricula we teach and the student experience we offer, to the way we behave as an organisation.
“Our new investment policy has been developed to be consistent with our sustainability aims.”
Nick Wood, head of research at the Fossil Free Society, said: “Our agreed plan of divestment with the university is one of the clearest and most wide-ranging in Britain, so we’re very pleased. The target on coal and tar sands is very strict, clearly defined and time-limited – the gold standard for divestment targets.
“How far the university divests from fossil fuels will depend on how this policy is implemented.”
Paloma Parkes, head of the Fossil Free Society, added: “This has demonstrated how far perseverance and environmental commitment can go. We will continue to be involved and will keep pushing for continued improvement.”
The international fossil fuel divestment movement inspired former student Rachel Simon to form the campaign group in 2014.
Local Green Party councillor, Carla Denyer, became involved in November 2015 and used her position on the university’s court to propose a motion on divestment at their annual meeting.
Carla said: “In December, the 585 member-strong advisory body called for the board of trustees to take immediate action to ensure the university is fossil free by 2021. I am absolutely delighted that the board took this advice.
“Over a quarter of UK universities have now made divestment commitments, and I am proud that Bristol is one of them.”
The university’s board of trustees has agreed a new criteria, which also include a commitment to actively manage other areas of its portfolio of energy investments, including those in oil and gas, to achieve a material reduction in carbon emissions from these investments.
It is seeking a fund manager to carry out this work.
Representatives from the University of Bristol Students’ Union (Bristol SU) and university staff will be involved in the tender process for the fund manager and an annual review which looks at the progress being made in implementing the new policy.
The university’s new strategy, launched last year, outlines its commitment to sustainability and addressing social and environmental challenges. A key ambition is to become carbon neutral by 2030, setting an example for the higher education sector.
Read more: Defeat for university divestment campaign
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