Universities’ commitment to divest from fossil fuels is being undermined by the other financial relationships and broader ties they maintain with fossil fuel-linked banks, climate activists and student campaigners claim in a growing series of protests.
After faith-based organisations (35.4 per cent), universities are the second biggest group (16.4 per cent) to fully or partially divest from fossil fuels, with more than 260 educational institutions globally making such a commitment, according to the Global Fossil Fuels Divestments Database, which tracks divestment pledges from more than 1600 organisations in sectors such as education, philanthropy, health, pension funds, governments and non-profits.