SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Staff and students at SOAS University in London march in support of a global climate strike on September 20, 2019. (Photo: Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
Three UK Universities Ban Fossil Fuel Industry Recruiters From Campus
"It is vital that our universities show with actions, not words, that they are taking the side of climate justice, and not of the industries driving us deeper into a climate crisis," said one campaigner.
Dec 01, 2022
University students campaigning for climate justice in the United Kingdom celebrated a victory Thursday as three institutions announced they will no longer welcome fossil fuel company recruiters to seek new employees through their career services, with one university official noting the decision will support "the development of a sustainable workforce for the future."
Under pressure from groups including People & Planet, the University of the Arts London, University of Bedfordshire, and Wrexham Glyndwr University have all adopted new policies barring fossil fuel companies from working with their student recruitment services.
"There are some industries that we see as fundamental barriers to a more just and sustainable world."
The schools announced their new policies weeks after Birkbeck, University of London became the first higher education institution in the U.K. to end all recruitment partnerships with the fossil fuel industry.
"All three of these universities should be recognized for their climate leadership," said J. Clarke, co-director of climate campaigns at the student-led People & Planet. "It is vital that our universities show with actions, not words, that they are taking the side of climate justice, and not of the industries driving us deeper into a climate crisis that is harming the least responsible first and worst."
People & Planet is active in dozens of universities in the U.K. and said Thursday that a similar recruitment ban could soon be announced at Durham University.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: 3 more universities end fossil fuel recruitment on campus! \ud83c\udf89\ud83c\udf89\n\nFollowing hot on the heels of Birkbeck, another 3 universities have committed to end recruitment links with big polluters \ud83d\udd25\n\nThe tide is turning, and we think Durham Uni could be next! Read more \ud83d\udc47\u201d— People & Planet (@People & Planet) 1669886987
The universities' decisions come weeks after The Guardian reported that 100 higher education institutions in the U.K. have now pledged to divest from fossil fuel companies, representing nearly two-thirds of universities in the country and a divestment of about $21.5 billion.
Energy experts and climate scientists say a rapid shift away from fossil fuel production and "an urgent system-wide transformation" are needed to keep the planet's temperature from rising by 2.8degC, as it is currently on track to do according to the United Nations Environment Program.
At Seton Hall University in New Jersey earlier this year, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on graduates to "be the generation that succeeds in addressing the planetary emergency of climate change."
"You hold the cards," said Guterres. "Your talent is in demand from multinational companies and big financial institutions. You will have plenty of opportunities to choose from."
"My message to you is simple," he added. "Don't work for climate wreckers. Use your talents to drive us towards a renewable future."
Following People & Planet's campaign, the new Wrexham Glyndwr University ethical careers policy states that it "seeks to facilitate collaboration that contributes to the betterment of society and the environment."
"Consequently, there are some industries that we see as fundamental barriers to a more just and sustainable world," said university officials, including fossil fuel and mining companies.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
University students campaigning for climate justice in the United Kingdom celebrated a victory Thursday as three institutions announced they will no longer welcome fossil fuel company recruiters to seek new employees through their career services, with one university official noting the decision will support "the development of a sustainable workforce for the future."
Under pressure from groups including People & Planet, the University of the Arts London, University of Bedfordshire, and Wrexham Glyndwr University have all adopted new policies barring fossil fuel companies from working with their student recruitment services.
"There are some industries that we see as fundamental barriers to a more just and sustainable world."
The schools announced their new policies weeks after Birkbeck, University of London became the first higher education institution in the U.K. to end all recruitment partnerships with the fossil fuel industry.
"All three of these universities should be recognized for their climate leadership," said J. Clarke, co-director of climate campaigns at the student-led People & Planet. "It is vital that our universities show with actions, not words, that they are taking the side of climate justice, and not of the industries driving us deeper into a climate crisis that is harming the least responsible first and worst."
People & Planet is active in dozens of universities in the U.K. and said Thursday that a similar recruitment ban could soon be announced at Durham University.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: 3 more universities end fossil fuel recruitment on campus! \ud83c\udf89\ud83c\udf89\n\nFollowing hot on the heels of Birkbeck, another 3 universities have committed to end recruitment links with big polluters \ud83d\udd25\n\nThe tide is turning, and we think Durham Uni could be next! Read more \ud83d\udc47\u201d— People & Planet (@People & Planet) 1669886987
The universities' decisions come weeks after The Guardian reported that 100 higher education institutions in the U.K. have now pledged to divest from fossil fuel companies, representing nearly two-thirds of universities in the country and a divestment of about $21.5 billion.
Energy experts and climate scientists say a rapid shift away from fossil fuel production and "an urgent system-wide transformation" are needed to keep the planet's temperature from rising by 2.8degC, as it is currently on track to do according to the United Nations Environment Program.
At Seton Hall University in New Jersey earlier this year, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on graduates to "be the generation that succeeds in addressing the planetary emergency of climate change."
"You hold the cards," said Guterres. "Your talent is in demand from multinational companies and big financial institutions. You will have plenty of opportunities to choose from."
"My message to you is simple," he added. "Don't work for climate wreckers. Use your talents to drive us towards a renewable future."
Following People & Planet's campaign, the new Wrexham Glyndwr University ethical careers policy states that it "seeks to facilitate collaboration that contributes to the betterment of society and the environment."
"Consequently, there are some industries that we see as fundamental barriers to a more just and sustainable world," said university officials, including fossil fuel and mining companies.
University students campaigning for climate justice in the United Kingdom celebrated a victory Thursday as three institutions announced they will no longer welcome fossil fuel company recruiters to seek new employees through their career services, with one university official noting the decision will support "the development of a sustainable workforce for the future."
Under pressure from groups including People & Planet, the University of the Arts London, University of Bedfordshire, and Wrexham Glyndwr University have all adopted new policies barring fossil fuel companies from working with their student recruitment services.
"There are some industries that we see as fundamental barriers to a more just and sustainable world."
The schools announced their new policies weeks after Birkbeck, University of London became the first higher education institution in the U.K. to end all recruitment partnerships with the fossil fuel industry.
"All three of these universities should be recognized for their climate leadership," said J. Clarke, co-director of climate campaigns at the student-led People & Planet. "It is vital that our universities show with actions, not words, that they are taking the side of climate justice, and not of the industries driving us deeper into a climate crisis that is harming the least responsible first and worst."
People & Planet is active in dozens of universities in the U.K. and said Thursday that a similar recruitment ban could soon be announced at Durham University.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8BREAKING: 3 more universities end fossil fuel recruitment on campus! \ud83c\udf89\ud83c\udf89\n\nFollowing hot on the heels of Birkbeck, another 3 universities have committed to end recruitment links with big polluters \ud83d\udd25\n\nThe tide is turning, and we think Durham Uni could be next! Read more \ud83d\udc47\u201d— People & Planet (@People & Planet) 1669886987
The universities' decisions come weeks after The Guardian reported that 100 higher education institutions in the U.K. have now pledged to divest from fossil fuel companies, representing nearly two-thirds of universities in the country and a divestment of about $21.5 billion.
Energy experts and climate scientists say a rapid shift away from fossil fuel production and "an urgent system-wide transformation" are needed to keep the planet's temperature from rising by 2.8degC, as it is currently on track to do according to the United Nations Environment Program.
At Seton Hall University in New Jersey earlier this year, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on graduates to "be the generation that succeeds in addressing the planetary emergency of climate change."
"You hold the cards," said Guterres. "Your talent is in demand from multinational companies and big financial institutions. You will have plenty of opportunities to choose from."
"My message to you is simple," he added. "Don't work for climate wreckers. Use your talents to drive us towards a renewable future."
Following People & Planet's campaign, the new Wrexham Glyndwr University ethical careers policy states that it "seeks to facilitate collaboration that contributes to the betterment of society and the environment."
"Consequently, there are some industries that we see as fundamental barriers to a more just and sustainable world," said university officials, including fossil fuel and mining companies.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.