Fossil Fuel Divestment | Responsible Endowments Coalition

In addition to being the leading contributor to global climate change, the fossil fuel industry has committed an egregious number of human rights and environmental crimes. For this reason REC, in coalition with the Sierra Student Coalition, Energy Action Coalition, California Student Sustainability Coalition, and 350.org, is joining the student movement calling for universities to divest their holdings from coal and fossil fuels.

As students, community members, and engaged stakeholders, we must ensure that university commitments to sustainability extend to their investment practices.

The goal of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign is to move university endowment funds out of the dirtiest energy companies and reinvest those funds responsibly. This campaign will unite efforts across campuses to increase the pressure on our universities to invest responsibly and on the coal industry to stop polluting our air and water by diminishing its influence and financial power in communities across the nation.

The question is simple: does your university profit by investing thousands, tens of thousands, and in some cases, millions of dollars in financial support through endowment investments to the fossil fuel industry? If so, it’s time for your university to invest in a cleaner, healthier, and safer future for all. Your university can and should maintain a successful endowment that is in alignment with its values – socially, politically, and economically.

Wondering about where your university can re-invest its money instead? Some ideas include sustainable revolving loan funds renewable energy investments, and our favorite, community investment.

Join more than 30 universities across the country and launch a divestment campaign on your campus.

How REC Can Help: