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University of Otago commits to no investment in fossil fuels

Media release

Dr Alex Macmillan, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago and 28 other senior staff signatories

13 September 4pm

In a win for the climate, The University of Otago Council today committed itself to a policy of no investment in fossil fuels.

Following an extended divestment campaign by senior staff and students across the University, the Council have updated their ethical investment policy. As well as ruling out future investment in companies that engage in the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels, the new policy also prevents direct investment in the production or distribution of alcohol, tobacco or munitions.

Today’s Council policy change matches an earlier commitment by the University’s Foundation Trust (responsible for almost all the University’s financial investments) to move all investments out of fossil fuel exploration and extraction. All University investments are now covered by a consistent ethical investment policy.

Members of the group of senior staff who have been calling for the change were celebrating this afternoon.

“Staff and students of the University of Otago can now be proud that the University is investing its funds in ways that avoid products we know are extremely harmful to current and future wellbeing. Not only that, the University is demonstrating social leadership, as all good Universities should do – making a strong public statement that removes the social license to operate of companies who knowingly cause irreversible human and environmental damage. We congratulate the Council on its leadership,” says Dr Macmillan, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Health.

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At the same time as making this important social statement, the University is beginning to consider the steps required to reduce its own reliance on fossil fuels. This will need to include actions that address the biggest contributors to the University’s own carbon footprint while continuing to maintain its well-deserved place as an internationally leading public University. With today's commitment, the University of Otago joins the University of Glasgow, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and hundreds of other institutions around the world in standing for ethical investment.

Alex Macmillan
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago
Co-Convenor OraTaiao, NZ Climate & Health Council

On behalf of 28 senior staff signatories calling on the University to divest from fossil fuels, listed below, and representing a large, cross-disciplinary staff movement.

Dr Janet Stephenson, Director of the Centre for Sustainability

Professor Peter Crampton, Pro-Vice- Chancellor Health Sciences & Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Professor Keith A Hunter, Pro-Vice- Chancellor, Sciences

Teresa La Rooy, TEU Otago Branch Co-President

Brett Nicholls, TEU Otago Branch Co-President

Emeritus Professor Carolyn Burns, Zoology

Professor Hugh Campbell, Sociology, Gender and Social Work

Emeritus Professor Colin Campbell-Hunt, Centre for Sustainability

Professor Kevin Clements, National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies

Professor Jennie Connor, Chair, Preventive and Social Medicine

Dr Ivan Diaz-Rainey, Accountancy and Finance

Associate Professor Lisa Ellis, Philosophy

Professor Sean Fitzsimons, Head, Department of Geography

Emeritus Professor Jim Flynn, Psychology

Associate Professor Janine Hayward, Head of Department of Politics

Professor Mark Henaghan, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor James Higham, Tourism

Professor Christina Hulbe, Dean, School of Surveying

Professor Richard Jackson, National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies

Professor Rob Lawson, Marketing

Professor John McCall, Mckenzie Professor of Clinical Sciences, Department of Surgical Sciences

Associate Professor James Maclaurin, Philosophy

Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Mark, Botany

Professor John McMillan, Director of the Bioethics Centre

Professor Henrik Moller, Centre for Sustainability

Dr Simon Ryan, Languages and Cultures

Associate Professor Ross Vennell, Marine Science & Convenor of Otago Energy Research Centre

Dr Sara Walton, Management


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