University of Cambridge has set up a campaign of divestment in fossil fuel companies, but academic, scientists and authors say that is not enough. They wrote an open letter to the university which is signed by eminent academics like Sir David King, who was the UK’s permanent special representative for climate change, or Thomas Blundell, who was president of the UK Science Council, and the well-known author Robert Macfarlane.
This problem gave the University great tensions, since students occupied the university finance building last week in order to stop the college policy of «complicity in the destruction of the planet and vulnerable populations across the globe».
According to Macfarlane, the letter’s aim is to show anxiety about university’s investments in fossil fuel field. The author said: «If it fails to divest, Cambridge will be on the side of dirty money over a sustainable future». He argued: «Evidence is everywhere now of companies, countries and institutions taking stands against fossil fuel investment. Why is Cambridge not following the lead of Stanford and Edinburgh universities, and of the whole of New York City?».
Also Dr. Drew Milne from the University’s English department, claimed that it was «inconceivable» that the college continues with these investments without damaging its core values. He said: «The scientific consensus around climate change is clear and overwhelming». According to Dr Drew «the university must now put their money where their science is and divest from fossil fuel investment as soon as possible».
The former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams join the protest too, followed by the Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner. Zeichner said that with the role of world leading institution in science, Cambridge University was «perfectly placed to be turning its back on the fossil fuels that are damaging our environment and taking a lead on promoting a low, and eventually zero, carbon economy».
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