VICTORY !! We did it !! The University of Sheffield has committed to go fossil free !!
On Monday 30th November, the University of Sheffield officially announced that they will divest their £39 million endowment funds from fossil fuels within the next academic year http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/statement-climate-change-fossil-free-investment-keith-burnett-student-union-1.529775 and http://forgetoday.com/press/university-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels/
This announcement occurred at a key time, just before the COP21 Climate Talks in Paris. Through divestment, 19 Universities in the UK sent a clear message to those inside the conference that the power and influence of the fossil fuel industry is unwelcome in the negociations. A fossil free world can - and must - become a reality.
The University of Sheffield going fossil free is an absolutely incredible achievement: the commitment, passion, and resourcefulness of the People & Planet Sheffield group over the past two years and a half - and the amazing support you have all shown – have enabled us all to make a difference in the global movement to tackle climate change. And we even made it to BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-34967316
Thank you to all of you who supported our campaign just over a month ago hitting the uni with your tweets, phone calls and emails. Thank you to the University Executive Board and Finance managers for having responded to our concerns about the University’s investments. Thank you to the 2423 students and staff who took action in Sheffield. And thank you to the 91% of people who voted for divestment in our public Divestment Debate in October. We have made change happen. People power works. And these smiles are not going to come off our faces for a good while now [add the Forge photo]
People & Planet Sheffield’s campaigns are not stopping here. Divestment can only be the beginning of the fight for climate justice. Last week, we joined many other People & Planet groups across the UK and headed to Paris, to make sure our voices were heard by those negociating climate targets and our future in the COP21 conference. The new COP21 climate deals (again) fail to address climate change issues effectively or justly. But the powerful and inspiring actions of all the diverse groups which gathered in Paris showed that the grassroots fight for climate justice is real, and is only going to continue growing in strength and passion – we are taking this into our hands!
On Monday 30th November, the University of Sheffield officially announced that they will divest their £39 million endowment funds from fossil fuels within the next academic year http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/statement-climate-change-fossil-free-investment-keith-burnett-student-union-1.529775 and http://forgetoday.com/press/university-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels/
This announcement occurred at a key time, just before the COP21 Climate Talks in Paris. Through divestment, 19 Universities in the UK sent a clear message to those inside the conference that the power and influence of the fossil fuel industry is unwelcome in the negociations. A fossil free world can - and must - become a reality.
The University of Sheffield going fossil free is an absolutely incredible achievement: the commitment, passion, and resourcefulness of the People & Planet Sheffield group over the past two years and a half - and the amazing support you have all shown – have enabled us all to make a difference in the global movement to tackle climate change. And we even made it to BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-34967316
Thank you to all of you who supported our campaign just over a month ago hitting the uni with your tweets, phone calls and emails. Thank you to the University Executive Board and Finance managers for having responded to our concerns about the University’s investments. Thank you to the 2423 students and staff who took action in Sheffield. And thank you to the 91% of people who voted for divestment in our public Divestment Debate in October. We have made change happen. People power works. And these smiles are not going to come off our faces for a good while now [add the Forge photo]
People & Planet Sheffield’s campaigns are not stopping here. Divestment can only be the beginning of the fight for climate justice. Last week, we joined many other People & Planet groups across the UK and headed to Paris, to make sure our voices were heard by those negociating climate targets and our future in the COP21 conference. The new COP21 climate deals (again) fail to address climate change issues effectively or justly. But the powerful and inspiring actions of all the diverse groups which gathered in Paris showed that the grassroots fight for climate justice is real, and is only going to continue growing in strength and passion – we are taking this into our hands!