We are a group of students, faculty, and alumni calling on the Swarthmore Board of Managers to divest our endowment from the “Carbon Underground 200,” which includes the 200 fossil fuel companies (including oil, natural gas, and coal) with the largest carbon reserves. Our Proposal:
- Immediately begin a process that will achieve a fossil fuel free endowment by 2020, the same year that global carbon emissions must peak if the world is to avoid catastrophic climate change. As the world moves toward a more sustainable future, it is unconscionable for Swarthmore to remain invested in fossil fuels. (For more detailed information, read our full proposal)
- Reinvest at least 1 percent of the endowment into community and renewable energy solutions, including community development financial institutions and revolving loan funds. Feedback on allocation will be provided by campus stakeholders working through the Committee on Investor Responsibility.
Fossil fuel corporations violate countless health, safety, and environmental regulations, the burdens of which are usually borne by low-income communities and communities of color. Swarthmore Mountain Justice strives to work in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of fossil fuel extraction, burning, transportation, and waste. The fossil fuel industry is also one of the primary culprits of the climate crisis and corrupts our political system with incredible financial influence. A large-scale divestment movement not only cuts into that financial power, but it also affects these companies on a political and moral level. We refuse to stand by while our school invests in the destruction of communities by deadly fossil fuels and climate change. Learn more about our campaign.
It is time for Swarthmore to become a true leader in the struggle for climate justice. Swarthmore has the opportunity to take a bold stand for a just and sustainable future by refusing to support the very companies that are destroying that future.
Have Questions? Read our FAQ.
Want to get in contact with us? Email us at SwarthmoreMJ (at) gmail.com
Swarthmore Mountain Justice 