University of Chicago professors urge fossil fuel divestment over climate change fears

More than 250 professors at the former home of Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders sign petition, but university resists over tradition

More than 250 professors at the University of Chicago have called on the school to fight climate change by ridding itself of fossil fuel holdings - a gesture that would have exceptional resonance from the former home of Barack Obama and alma mater of current presidential contender Bernie Sanders.

In a symbolic show of solidarity with student activists, professors urged the elite private university to purge its $7.6bn endowment of coal, oil and gas companies, citing the "universal and existential" threat posed by climate change.