The students of Boston University call upon President Brown and the Board of Trustees to divest from direct and indirect holdings in companies that continue exploration for fossil fuel reserves ASAP. 

Fossil fuels are destructive to the environment and to human health. They disproportionally affect those who are least responsible for the climate crisis and least able to combat its effects. Fossil fuels have proven to be an unstable, risky investment to include in an endowment. BU cannot justifiably continue investing in stocks that both destroy the environment and put millions of families at risk, while also jeopardizing the University's finances.

That is why we are calling on you and every other BU student and alumni under the sun to stand in solidarity to end BU's complicity in the climate disaster. BU is a prestigious institution with a $2.3 billion dollar endowment, but we the students and alumni give them that notoriety and power. Please sign in support of fossil fuel divestment to fight for the sustainable and just future the world needs.

History of Divest BU's Campaign: 

In April 2016, The Advisory Committee for Socially Responsible Investing (ACSRI) proposed to “prohibit new and divest of any existing direct investments in those companies that (a) continue to explore for new fossil fuel reserves of any kind since the global fossil fuel reserves are estimated to be larger than the amount that can be used and still remain under the accepted estimated warming limit of 2 degrees Celsius or (b) extract coal and tar sands, the most carbon-intensive fuels, until, in the University's judgment, those companies curtail such activities to drive their carbon footprint to acceptable levels.”

In September 2016, in response, the administration chose to “on a best efforts basis, avoid investing in coal and tar sands extractors.” Recently, the University gave a paltry response to our Reinvestment Proposal in light of the current environmental disaster. This is wholly unacceptable and we will not stand for it. In the next few years, months, and days we will determine whether the Earth will be destroyed beyond repair, or if people like us will unite to create a more just and stable future. Institutions like Boston University, which are perpetuating the degradation of our planet, are held up by the power that students give them. We are tens of thousands strong and when we exercise our collective agency we can make BU change for the better, starting with divesting from fossil fuels.

P.S We hope everyone is staying safe during these difficult times, finding strength in one another, and showing compassion despite it all <3