Glasgow Caledonian University’s vow to stop investing in fossil fuels has been hailed a “significant step”.
The UK’s largest student campaign organisation, People and Planet, revealed the institution had invested £97,357 into non-renewable energy in 2017.
Campaigners are praising the move to cut gas and electricity use but GCU sustainability officer, Paulo Cruz, says the university is still “a long way off being fossil free”.
Mr Cruz said: “GCU are only not putting money into the sector. We will very likely still offer training through a number of oil and gas modules so we’re contributing to the sectors’ capacity.
“The gas GCU use is fossil-based and the electricity from the national grid still has a component from gas and coal although the proportion of renewables is increasing each year,” he added.
It is the fifth Scottish university to withdraw from investment following Glasgow, Abertay, West of Scotland and Queen Margaret Universities.
Friends of the Earth divestment campaigner, Ric Lander, said: “The climate crisis is being driven by fossil fuel use and GCU’s decision to end their relationship with the companies responsible is a really significant step.”
People and Planet has a league table which ranks universities based on their overall environmental performance, with Edinburgh Napier University as the best performing Scottish university this year.
GCU ranked as third, Glasgow School of Art came tenth, the University of Strathclyde in twelfth and the University of Glasgow placing last of the Scottish institutes and 133 out of the 154 UK universities.
The whole league is available by clicking on this link.
Co-director for research and campaigns, Hannah Smith, said: “The league table has consistently and unashamedly held universities to account over the last decade and today we’re excited to celebrate yet another Scottish university taking the decision to break ties with the fossil fuel industry.”
The university’s ethical investment policy states that it will not have “direct investment in the fossil fuel sector” due to the industry being highly responsible for climate change.
Researcher in sustainable urban environments at GCU, Dr Keith Baker, says he is “delighted” to see recognition for the divestment.
Dr Baker said: “This is an industry that must now undergo a managed decline towards 2025-2030 if we are to meet our emissions reduction targets.”
© All photos were taken by Tamsin Ross
Scottish Journo in Training 
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