[ad_1]
Three more UK universities have banned fossil fuel companies from recruiting students through their careers services, with one citing the industry as a “fundamental barrier to a more just and sustainable world”.
The University of the Arts London, University of Bedfordshire and Wrexham Glandwr University join Birkbeck, University of London, as the first to adopt a fossil-free careers service policy in September.
The move follows a campaign backed by the student-led group People and Planet, which is now active at dozens of universities. The group said universities “promote the companies most responsible for destroying the planet”, while the climate crisis was “the defining issue of most students’ lifetimes”. The campaign is supported by the National Union of Students and the Universities and Colleges Union, which represents academics and support staff.
“This approach supports future generations to make meaningful career decisions,” said Linda Powell, executive director of operations at Wrexham Glyndwr University (WGU). “Through this we are supporting the development of a sustainable workforce for the future.”
The WGU policy states: “We take seriously our responsibility to social and climate justice … There are some industries that we see as fundamental barriers to a more just and sustainable world.”
Professor David Mba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Arts London, said: “In line with UAL’s commitment to climate justice and its social purpose, it does not work with companies in the fossil fuel, mining, arms or tobacco industries. ”
University of Bedfordshire policy states that fossil fuel companies are excluded from all activities, including career fairs and work placements.
Jay Clark at People & Planet said: “These three universities should be recognized for their climate leadership. It is important that our universities show with actions, not words, that they are taking the side of climate justice and not the industries that are driving us deeper into the least responsible and worst damaging climate crisis.
The Guardian revealed in May that the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies are planning scores of “carbon bomb” oil and gas projects that will push the climate beyond internationally agreed temperature limits and lead to catastrophic global impacts. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, also told US students that month: “Don’t work for climate changers. Use your talents to lead us to a renewable future.”
Student protests have already targeted fossil fuel career events, including at Oxford University, where students blocked an event by mining group Glencore, and at the University of Sheffield, where BP and ExxonMobil events were halted in protest.
Around 20% of UK universities have already banned certain sectors from their careers services, including the tobacco, pornography and gambling industries. Almost two-thirds of UK universities have invested their endowment funds from fossil fuels.
[ad_2]
Source link
