Alumni Petition for Fossil Fuel Divestment
We, the undersigned alumni of Tufts University, call upon the Trustees of Tufts College to divest the endowment from the largest 200 publicly traded fossil fuel companies within 5 years.
The time to act to lessen the effects of climate change is almost over. Climate science shows that we can only emit a limited about of additional carbon into the atmosphere, after which the climate would be unrecognizable, more than 5°C warmer. These 200 companies have already discovered more oil, gas, and coal than the limited amount allows. If we let business to continue as usual, we are certain to live through terrible change. Billions of people will be affected. We will all be affected.
We are already seeing the effects of just a 0.8°C increase. Last year, drought covered all of the continental United States, wildfires burned millions of acres, and Hurricane Sandy struck New York and New Jersey, causing $50 billion dollars in damage. Catastrophic weather events like these have increased dramatically in recent years, and its only the beginning. Tufts University values active citizenship and a global perspective. Now is our time to realize these values -- Tufts must be an institutional leader on this issue. For many years Tufts has shown leadership on sustainability. Divestment will continue that tradition, and it will send a powerful message to other universities, and the world that we must take every action to fight climate change. Divestment is an important step along the way.
Our responsibility to the Tufts community does not end with our departure from campus. The climate crisis requires urgent action and strong leadership. Please join me in asking the Trustees to divest from the fossil fuel industry and invest in funds that work towards a better future for graduates for years to come.
Sincerely,
Andrew Hastings-Black, LAS ‘08
We, THE UNDERSIGNED, call on THE TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE to divest the endowment's holdings in the largest 200 publicly traded fossil fuel companies within 5 years.