NC State is dedicated to teaching and fostering innovative approaches to solving problems faced in today’s world. One of today’s most pressing issues is dependence on the fossil fuel industry. According to the EPA, “The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.” Fossil fuels also produce air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals. By investing in the fossil fuel industry, NC State and many other UNC System schools, are contributing to this issue. To face the fossil fuel industry head-on, universities in the UNC school system have begun to divest. UNC Asheville is one of these schools.
James Smith and other UNCA students in the UNCA Divest environmental group are leading the way to divestment. Smith and others have interviewed companies that responded to a Request for Proposals released by UNCA. The request sought out an investment management company able to manage a portion of their endowment sustainably. According to Smith, UNCA and other schools in the UNC System have mission statements that express a commitment to environmental and social sustainability.
“In our opinion, at NC Reinvest, it is directly against the university’s missions to profit off of investments in the fossil fuel industry.” Smith said. “Universities should be funding a future that cultivates student success and health, and investments in fossil fuels that contribute to climate change do not lead to such a future.”
Currently, NC State invests over $43 million into “Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels”, which makes up approximately 4.3% of the $1 billion invested in the NC State Investment Fund. Yet, investments in renewable energies continue to outperform fossil fuels. The benefits of using renewable energies include economic development and jobs in manufacturing and installation, diversification of energy supplies, and reducing dependence on imported fuels.
By divesting from fossil fuels, not only would NC State be making more responsible, progressive choices in energy consumption, but we would also quickly advance towards strategies set by the Sustainability Strategic Plan. Specifically, those set in Goal 3. These strategies include Strategy 1: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from the 2008 baseline, and Strategy 3: to expand the amount of renewable energies used. Once NC States chooses to invest in clean energy, strategies such as these can be achieved more efficiently. Divestment would also reinforce NC State’s strong emphasis on sustainability. By joining the Climate Reality Project Campus Corps, or by signing our petition, you can play a key role in the historic movement that will transform the global economy and create a safe, sustainable, and prosperous future for all.
Evelyn Rowan is a first-year studying environmental science and a member of the Climate Reality Project at NC State.
