Liverpool Hope University has strengthened its commitment to environmental sustainability by excluding fossil fuel companies from any of its investment holdings.
The move aligns the University with a campaign by People & Planet for universities across the UK to sign a Fossil Free Declaration.
People & Planet is the largest student network in the UK campaigning for social and environmental justice and is working in partnership with the National Union of Students on the Fossil Free Declaration.
By joining the campaign, Liverpool Hope has declared that it holds no direct investments in extractor fossil fuel companies, and will never directly invest in these companies.
The University has worked closely with Liverpool Hope Students’ Union to make this happen, joining more than 100 UK universities in lending its support to this campaign.
Professor Claire Ozanne, Vice Chancellor at Liverpool Hope University said: "I am delighted to confirm that we have no investments in extractor fossil fuel companies and will continue to exclude them from any future investments that the University makes.
“The University's Strategic Plan sets out our commitment to achieve environmental sustainability and includes addressing it in the curriculum, delivering carbon net zero targets across our portfolio and stewarding our local environment to reduce and mitigate our footprint on the natural world."
Ella Taylor, Vice-President Welfare and Community at Liverpool Hope Students’ Union and Ellie Baldwin, Student Sustainability Representative added: "We're thrilled to announce that Liverpool Hope has signed the Fossil Free Declaration. Many thanks to Mel and Ebony, who started the campaign in 2021, and to former VP Welfares Stephanie and Liv for their work on the campaign.
“This is a much needed positive step forward for Hope's role in tackling climate change. We look forward to further improving the University's environmental credentials with a commitment to Fossil Free Careers next."
Laura Clayson, Climate Campaigns Manager at People & Planet, said: “Universities are a site of power in the struggle against an industry that is both driving the climate crisis and forcing frontline and Indigenous communities to continually resist ongoing, destructive extraction operations on their lands.
“Severing institutional investment ties are a vital act of solidarity with these communities and I look forward to seeing the industry excluded from Liverpool Hope’s recruitment opportunities next.”