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.
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