97% of actively publishing scientists agree that humans are causing global warming and climate change. Climate change is not only causing an increase in temperatures, but also sea level rise, changes in weather patterns like drought and flooding, superstorms like Wilmington's own Hurricane Florence in 2018, and much more. The things that we depend upon and value — water, energy, transportation, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems, and human health — are experiencing the negative effects of a changing climate. It's our responsibility to fix this crisis. But how? For UNCW, it starts with fossil fuel divestment.

Fossil fuel divestment is the intentional act of moving one's money and investments out of the fossil fuel industry. Currently, UNCW is investing its energy portfolio in non-renewable energy producers using fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and crude oil. It's important to move money away from the fossil fuel industry and into the renewable energy industry to support clean energy initiatives that take carbon emissions and our planet's future into account. That's why we're asking UNCW to take the final step to divest UNCW from fossil fuels and to put the Board of Trustees vote that was meant to happen in April 2020 back on the table.

The students support can be seen in the climate march led by 350 UNCW during International Climate Week 2019 where 600+ students marched in support of fossil fuel divestment on-campus. The support from student leaders can be seen with the Student Government Association (SGA) resolution from 2019 where the senators unanimously voted in support. The faculty supports it as seen with the Faculty-Senate vote in 2020. And despite the pandemic slowing down advocacy efforts, students still show up to raise their voices for climate action as seen in 350 UNCW's recent news feature in WECT, a local news station. So why is the Board of Trustees not? 

Join 350 UNCW in signing this petition to show UNCW's leadership and the Board of Trustees that the students and faculty still support fossil fuel divestment and that we need this for the sake of our futures.