Cambridge University urged again to end fossil fuel investments

Hundreds of academics, authors and scientists sign open letter as divisive issues comes to head

Hundreds of academics, scientists and authors have signed an open letter calling on Cambridge University to stop investing in fossil fuel companies, marking an escalation in an increasing bitter divestment campaign at the institution.

The move, by signatories including Sir David King, until recently the UK's permanent special representative for climate change, Thomas Blundell, the former president of the UK Science Council and the author Robert Macfarlane, comes as the university council is set to consider the issue at a meeting on Monday.