Universities leading climate research must stop funding fossil fuels

As students, we must urge our universities to end their collaboration in climate breakdown

Two weeks ago, an investigation revealed that Oxbridge colleges are bankrolling fossil fuel extraction on a vast scale. This is only one part of a rot running through much of the UK higher education sector, which students and staff have been fighting for years. Despite many victories for campaigners, educational institutions remain deeply invested in corporations that pose an existential risk to marginalised communities across the world.

Cambridge University invests an estimated 377m in fossil fuels. Management here have ignored years of campaigning: a motion to divest fully from fossil fuels was passed by the staff governing body and hundreds of academics have called on Cambridge to divest, as have Labour party leadership and the former Archbishop of Canterbury. Still, those controlling the money pay no attention.