A motion in favour of divestment from fos- sil fuels was passed by Trinity College JCR last Sunday, with a 51-15 majority and five absten- tions. The motion mandates the JCR President to support OUSU’s Environment and Ethics campaign to request the divestment of college investments from fossil fuel companies.
The motion was proposed by Rosemary Leech and seconded by Alice Jones, the JCR’s Environment and Ethics Reps. The motion stated, “Investment made by the University into unethical fossil fuel companies is socially irresponsible and inconsistent with the educa- tional objectives of the University”.
15 other JCRs have pledged to support the Oxford University Fossil Free Divestment Campaign, including Balliol, Keble, University and Exeter. A further fourteen MCRs have also pledged support for the campaign, and this in total represents over 8,200 students.
Oxford University’s Socially Responsible Investment Review Committee (SRIRC) has stated that it “has decided to canvass the opinions of stakeholders. We are therefore requesting evidence and opinions from relevant bodies in the collegiate University, and through the publication of this statement invite interested parties to submit evidence or views that might inform the committee’s consideration of the question of possible divestment from companies ‘that participate in exploration for and/or extraction of fossil fuel reserves’ as per the OUSU representation.”
Leech commented, “Essentially, we passed the motion to support the wider OUSU divestment campaign, which is bigger than anything we could do as a single college. So while other colleges passing the motion did influence me in proposing it in a way, this was something Alice and I wanted the support of the JCR in anyway. Personally, I think divestment is hugely important for large bodies like Oxford University. We hold significant investing power, and by divesting from a fuel source which damages the planet and makes life harder for the world’s most vulnerable people, we would send a strong message about the need to care for the future.”
The University Council will meet on 18th May to make a decision on divestment after deferring their decision at the first meeting.
Trinity College has not replied to Cherwell’s request for comment.
