In signing this petition, you are standing in solidarity with Divest LMU as we call for Loyola Marymount’s divestment from the fossil fuel industry by 2025.

In light of the millions of dollars that Loyola Marymount University has invested in fossil fuel companies which pose a serious and immediate threat to the environment; in response to essentially undisputed, unanimous research by environmental researchers and experts demonstrating the grave reality and consequences of climate change; and in accordance with the fundamental Jesuit values of environmental stewardship and the promotion of justice that Loyola Marymount University holds, Divest LMU urges Loyola Marymount University to fully divest from fossil fuels, and to reinvest in funds that promote sustainability and signal respect for the environment and its finite resources. 

As we move forward, the climate crisis will continue to intensify the damage of natural disasters, exacerbate the effects of food deserts, precipitate waves of climate-induced migration that are contributing to and perpetuating the displacement of already-marginalized communities, and enact other negative and soon-to-be irreversible damages to the environment. In the Los Angeles area and around the world, Indigenous peoples, communities experiencing systemic poverty, and those relying primarily on the environment as a source of shelter and sustenance are most directly and intensely impacted by the ramifications of climate change. As LMU students, faculty, and administrators take steps to address climate injustice, LMU investments must reflect the principles of a Jesuit institution that acknowledges its responsibility as a steward of the environment and of marginalized communities. 

Inaction on the front of divestment at the institutional level is not a viable option if we wish to safeguard our future, and the refusal to divest actively accelerates Earth’s projected forecast for imminent, irreversible damage to our environment. Divest LMU recognizes that divestment efforts require careful planning, strategy, and time, but we maintain that our administration must take ownership of and responsibility for this challenge. We know that divestment is possible, as demonstrated by other Jesuit universities like Seattle University and Georgetown University. LMU has an opportunity and obligation to build on the hard work and momentum of these universities, among many others, as we take on the uphill battle toward environmental justice. We encourage LMU administration, and the Board of Trustees Endowment Committee, to take seriously our mission and values as they evaluate the risks and rewards of divestment from fossil fuels. Complacency in the face of this climate emergency is contradictory to Loyola Marymount’s mission and values. 

Divest LMU is hopeful that Loyola Marymount University will hear our appeals for change and initiate investment reform.