Paul Ward, Professor in Modern History and Head of the Department of History, English, Languages and Media said: “The University has recently stated that is does not invest in fossil fuels so it should not be a big ask for it to sign up to the Fossil Free Declaration enshrining this policy for the future. By making a public Fossil Free commitment Huddersfield would join over a third of UK Universities who have already committed to going Fossil Free. We call on the University to act now and show us to be a shining example of a Higher Educational institution. I’ve learnt through my study of the past, that it needs individuals and institutions to speak up to protect the future.”
Megan Bennett a postgraduate student at the University added “Huddersfield University has a moral responsibility to its students and staff to protect our futures and do everything in its power to tackle the threat of catastrophic climate change. Signing the Fossil Free Declaration would help stigmatise the fossil fuel companies responsible for climate change. The University is telling us that it already screens its investments for fossil fuels, which is fantastic news, so making a public commitment would just affirm what it is already doing. We are unsure as to why the University is reluctant to take this next step.”
Climate Emergency Fire Engine at Huddersfield University
Text of OPEN LETTER to the Vice Chancellor & University Council, Huddersfield University
We are encouraged by the commitments the University has already made towards Sustainability especially regarding the University’s Ethical Investment policy: “The University will not invest directly into organisations whose values do not reflect those of the University in regard to social, environmental and humanitarian concern. These would for example include but not be limited to: human rights abuse; discrimination on grounds of race, gender, disability, age or religion; serious and persistent environmental damage; arms trading”. We welcome the University’s recent public statement on its fossil fuel investments, clarifying the University’s position regarding the current screening of its investments for fossil fuels.
The UK Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry recently stated in Parliament that “70-75% of known fossil fuels must be left unused, in order to have a 50% chance of limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degrees”. The futures of our student population and, indeed, everyone on the planet depend on a rapid transition away from fossil fuels. It clearly does not make good financial or ethical sense for Huddersfield University to have financial links with companies which are trying to extract even more unburnable oil, coal and gas. We therefore believe that Huddersfield University should sign the Fossil Free Declaration, making a public Fossil Free commitment which commits the University to refusing any future investment in fossil fuel companies.
We fully support and encourage the University’s commitments to reducing its own carbon emissions. However, in parallel with that we advocate that the University makes a clear public divestment commitment that it does not support the fossil fuel industry. The need for urgent action is clear. The climate crisis requires action on all fronts including: using our research and teaching to inform and enable change, reducing the University’s own carbon emissions, and making a public Fossil Free commitment by signing the Fossil Free Declaration. We very much hope that the University management will come to the same view.
1. Hana Benesova , Research Assistant
2. Alex Bridger, Senior Lecturer
3. Jarek Bryk, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology
4. Merrick Burrow, Head of English & Creative Writing
5. Brendan Canavan, Senior Lecturer in Marketing
6. Hilary Chadwick, Senior Lecturer, Architecture
7. David Colley, Marketing & Recruitment Manager, Business School
8. Geoffrey Cox, Lecturer, Department of Music
9. Ildiko Csengei, Senior Lecturer
10. Patricia Cullum, Principal Lecturer in History
11. Ioanni Delsante, Reader in Urban Design in the School of Art, Design and Architecture and Departmental leader for Internationalisation
12. Liam Devlin, Departmental Lead for internationalisation Department of Art.
13. Lindsey Dodd, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History
14. Graham R Gibbs, Reader
15. Joe Hancock, PTHP Lecturer in Contemporary Art and Illustration
16. Pam Hanley, Senior Research Fellow
17. Jean Hatton, Senior Lecturer in Youth and Community Work
18. Jeff Hearn, Professor of Sociology
19. Fiona Hesselden, Research Assistant
20. Stephen Hibbert, Lecturer
21. Jackie Hughes, Senior Lecturer
22. Lesley Jeffries, Professor of Linguistics and English Language
23. Judith Kidder, Senior Lecturer, School of Education and Professional Development
24. D E Kitchin, Department of Informatics
25. Michael Klontzas, Department of Journalism and Media
26. Jackie Lane, Senior Lecturer in Law
27. John Lever, Senior Lecturer in Sustainability
28. Jessica Malay, Professor of Renaissance Literature
29. Dan McIntyre, Professor of English Language and Linguistics
30. Alison McNab, Academic Librarian
31. Julia Meaton, Senior Lecturer in Sustainability
32. Carl Meddings, Subject Leader for Architecture
33. Bridie Moore, Lecturer in Drama, Theatre and Performance
34. Jim O’Driscoll, Senior Lecturer in English Language
35. Nigel Parton, Professor
36. George Pearson, Sports Centre Assistant
37. David Peebles Reader in Cognitive Science
38. Malcolm Pollard, Head of Linguistics & Modern Languages
39. Martin Purcell, Senior Lecturer
40. Alison Ryan, Senior Lecturer
41. Emma Salter, Senior Lecturer
42. Robert Smith, Emeritus Professor
45. Gerald Swaby Senior Lecturer in Law
46. Ros Walker, Assistive Technology and Accessibility IT Trainer
47. Paul Ward, Professor of Modern British History and Head of the Department of History, English, Languages and Media
48. Graham Watts, Senior Lecturer
49. Jade Whitson-Smith, Lecturer
50. Stewart Worthy, Subject Leader for Music and Music Technology.
Huddersfield Friends of the Earth 