Dear University of Cambridge,
RE: Announcement of divestment from fossil fuels
As an ALUMNA / ALUMNUS of the University, I have been waiting for an announcement like this for some time. I therefore had very mixed feelings about today's message. On the one hand, I welcomed the fact that there is now a commitment in place. But on the other hand, I was devastated to hear that divestment will not take place until 2030 - and that net zero across the University’s investment portfolio will not be reached until 2038. Wildfires are burning across the globe, ecosystems are dying, and temperatures records are smashed again and again. People are dying; this is an emergency.
The University is moving in the right direction, but its actions are still nowhere near proportionate to the crisis we face. This is still a victory for profit over people, of fund managers over our young people's future. The deadly consequences of the dirty investments of rich institutions are apparent everywhere. We need immediate and drastic action, not distant targets to please fund managers and serve business as usual.
I am proud to have studied at Cambridge University, but along with that, I am also ashamed of today's announcement which is too far in the future to be meaningful.
One of the great things about Cambridge University is that once you become a member, you keep your membership for life. I ask you therefore to please listen to my voice as an ALUMNA / ALUMNUS, as well as the voices of activists and campaigners across the world, as we call on you to play your part in immediate, drastic action in the face of a climate emergency.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME