Anglia Ruskin University is delighted to have signed up to the Fossil Fuel Declaration, a partnership between the National Union of Students and People & Planet. Here's their announcement!
The declaration recognises that in December 2015, 195 countries agreed to the Paris Agreement which seeks to keep global temperature increases as a result of climate change between 1.5 and 2 degrees. Universities signing the declaration have no investments in extractor fossil fuel companies and pledge to remain fossil free in the future.
Anglia Ruskin�s Global Sustainability Institute carries out internationally recognised research in areas around water, energy and social changes associated with a transition to a low carbon economy, and regularly speaks out on these issues.
Professor Aled Jones, Director of the Global Sustainability Institute, said: �The Fossil Fuel Declaration is not just a recognition of the importance that students place on their university�s wider global responsibility but also that as the world has signed up to transition to a low carbon future these types of investment represent a risk in the short to medium term as policies align with this new future.
�As a university, Anglia Ruskin is proud to have a diverse community, with students from all over the world. The impact of climate change on their home countries ranges enormously but trying to keep any such impact to a minimum is of course important. We are also delighted that our students have been instrumental in driving this initiative, in particular MSc Sustainability student Sarah Elizabeth Greenfield Clark.�
Chris Saltmarsh, Fossil Free Campaigns Co-ordinator at People & Planet, said: �It�s great news that Anglia Ruskin has become the 10th UK university to sign People & Planet and National Union of Students� Fossil Free Declaration.
�Their commitment to never invest in fossil fuels is another big win for the Fossil Free movement and demonstrates the leadership our universities must show on tackling climate change head on. Congratulations to the students and staff involved in making this happen.�
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