The document recommends that Columbia University implement a policy to transition away from fossil fuel investments and lead efforts to address climate change through its investments, campus activities, and research. It calls on Columbia to divest from coal companies and engage in shareholder activism with oil and gas companies. It also recommends that Columbia reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions and devote resources to sustainability initiatives on campus. The signatories are faculty and researchers at Columbia University's Earth Institute who support this policy.
The document recommends that Columbia University implement a policy to transition away from fossil fuel investments and lead efforts to address climate change through its investments, campus activities, and research. It calls on Columbia to divest from coal companies and engage in shareholder activism with oil and gas companies. It also recommends that Columbia reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions and devote resources to sustainability initiatives on campus. The signatories are faculty and researchers at Columbia University's Earth Institute who support this policy.
Original Description:
Released on March 1, 2016
Original Title
Statement on University Investment and Sustainability Policy
The document recommends that Columbia University implement a policy to transition away from fossil fuel investments and lead efforts to address climate change through its investments, campus activities, and research. It calls on Columbia to divest from coal companies and engage in shareholder activism with oil and gas companies. It also recommends that Columbia reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions and devote resources to sustainability initiatives on campus. The signatories are faculty and researchers at Columbia University's Earth Institute who support this policy.
The document recommends that Columbia University implement a policy to transition away from fossil fuel investments and lead efforts to address climate change through its investments, campus activities, and research. It calls on Columbia to divest from coal companies and engage in shareholder activism with oil and gas companies. It also recommends that Columbia reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions and devote resources to sustainability initiatives on campus. The signatories are faculty and researchers at Columbia University's Earth Institute who support this policy.
Statement on University Investment and Sustainability Policy
The undersigned faculty and researchers of Columbia University's Earth Institute recommend that Columbia University implement a policy that recognizes the critical need for society to transition to non-fossil fuel energy sources, the role of the University in promoting public good through its investments, and the importance of upholding these principles through activities on its campuses. Columbia University should proactively lead these efforts both within and without the University and recognize that such investment choices need not adversely affect University finances, but they do provide an opportunity to strengthen the University financially, civically and morally. We are aware of no evidence of a clear correlation between fossil fuel divestment and portfolio return. 1. Coal combustion is the largest and fastest-growing anthropogenic source of greenhouse gas emissions. Major reductions in global coal use are an essential part of any strategy to fight climate change. Coal companies are bad investments for the planet and for forward-looking investment portfolios. If these companies are losing money (as many of them are), Columbia University should not suffer the losses; if they are making money, Columbia should not share in the profits. Columbia should engage in orderly divestment from the stock of any companies that are primarily in the coal mining business, and should refrain from buying any such stock in the future. 2. Companies that are primarily involved with other fossil fuels need to transition to clean sources of energy in the decades to come. In order to stay in or join Columbia Universitys stock portfolio, oil and natural gas companies should provide satisfactory affirmative answers to these questions, and should provide documentation supporting the answers: a. Has the company publicly and clearly subscribed to the goal agreed to by 196 countries in Paris in December 2015 to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C above preindustrial levels, and to the limits on GHG emissions needed to meet that goal? b. Has the company left, or never joined, business groups that lobby or litigate against effective climate policies to achieve the temperature goal, and does it refrain from such activities itself? c. Has the company ended, or never engaged in, any exploration and development of unconventional reserves (for example, in the Arctic and much of the Canadian oil sands)? 1
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d. Has the company demonstrated that it remains a good investment despite
societys transition away from fossil fuels, and has it published and is it implementing a plan to transition to low-carbon energy sources and technologies, as called for by the Paris Agreement? 3. Columbia University should hold no shares in any company, in whatever sector, that directly or through organizations that it supports rejects the scientific consensus on climate change. 4. The University should be an active investor in companies whose shares it continues to hold. The University should initiate or participate in shareholder resolutions and other activities that urge companies to behave in a responsible manner toward climate change, including, inter alia, the reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases and the transition to non-fossil fuel energy sources. In doing so, the University should cooperate with other organizations engaged in similar activities. 5. At the same time that Columbia University faculty, researchers and students are urging others to reduce their GHG footprints, the University should reduce its own footprint and prepare for the climate change that is coming. The University should carry out the accompanying Columbia University Sustainability Principles that have been jointly prepared by the Earth Institute faculty and the Universitys facilities staff (subject to any revisions that result from planned community forums on the Principles). The University should also devote sufficient financial and managerial resources to implement these Principles. Though some short term capital expenditures will be needed, implementation is expected to yield net savings due to reduced energy bills, and may also lead to technological innovations that can be more broadly applied. The University should task its sustainability governance team with producing a report within the next twelve months that identifies how significant expenditures of short term funds may reduce its GHG footprint in the immediate near term. 6. Through its research, educational and public service activities, Columbia University should be a leader in developing and disseminating humanitys understanding of the nature, causes and effects of climate change, and solutions to address this global problem. Note: The full-time faculty members (Officers of Instruction) and researchers (Professional, Staff, and Postdoctoral Officers of Research), listed below are signing in their individual capacities. Affiliations are given for purposes of identification only.
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SIGNATORIES Michela Biasutti Lamont Associate Research Professor Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Mark A. Cane Earth Institute faculty member G. Unger Vetlesen Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences Robert S. Chen Earth Institute faculty member Director, Center for International Earth Science Information Network Columbia University Manager, NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center Peter Coleman Earth Institute faculty member Professor of Psychology and Education, Dept. of Social-Organizational Psychology, Teachers College Director, International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution Chair, Advanced Consortium for Cooperation, Conflict and Complexity Richard Deckelbaum Earth Institute faculty member Director, Institute of Human Nutrition Professor of Pediatrics and Epidemiology Robert R Williams Professor of Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center Ruth DeFries Earth Institute faculty member Denning Family Chair of Sustainable Development, The Earth Institute Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Co-Director, Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development Peter deMenocal Associate Chair, Earth Institute faculty Director, Center for Climate and Life Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Michael B. Gerrard Chair, Earth Institute faculty Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law 3
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School of Law Lisa Goddard Earth Institute faculty member Director, International Research Institute for Climate & Society Joseph Graziano Earth Institute faculty member Professor, Environmental Health Sciences Professor, Department of Pharmacology, College of Physicians and Surgeons Radley Horton Associate Research Scientist Center for Climate Systems Research Peter Kelemen Earth Institute faculty member Arthur D. Stroke Memorial Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Deputy Director for Education, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Chair, Earth and Environmental Sciences Patrick Kinney Earth Institute faculty member Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Sciences Director, Columbia Climate and Health Program Yochanan Kushnir Earth Institute faculty member Lamont Research Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Edward Lloyd Earth Institute faculty member Evan M. Frankel Clinical Professor of Environmental Law Malgosia Madajewicz Associate Research Scientist Center for Climate Systems Research Shahid Naeem Earth Institute faculty member Professor and Chair, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Director, Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability
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Benjamin Orlove Earth Institute faculty member Senior Research Scientist, International Research Institute for Climate and Society Professor of International and Public Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs Professor, Department of Anthropology Angela L. Slagle Science Program Officer, U.S. Science Support Program, IODP Associate Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Stephanie Pfirman, Earth Institute faculty member Alena Wels Hirschorn 58 and Martin Hirschorn Professor of Environmental and Applied Sciences Co-Chair of the Department of Environmental Science, Barnard College Robert Pollack Earth Institute faculty member Director, Study for the Study of Science and Religion Maureen E. Raymo Bruce C. Heezen Lamont Research Professor Director, Lamont-Doherty Core Repository Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University Irwin Redlener Earth Institute faculty member Director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness Clinical Professor of Health Policy and Management and Pediatrics Jeffrey Sachs Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University Earth Institute faculty member Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development Professor of Health Policy and Management School of International and Public Affairs Pedro Sanchez Earth Institute faculty member Director, Agriculture and Food Security Center Elliot Sclar Earth Institute faculty member Professor of Urban Planning, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation Professor of International Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs 5
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Director, Center for Sustainable Urban Development
Richard Seager Earth Institute faculty member Lamont Research Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Jason Smerdon Earth Institute faculty member Lamont Associate Research Professor, Ocean and Climate Physics Division, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Co-Director, Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development Kathryn Nadine Vasilaky Earth Institute Postdoctoral Research Fellow International Research Institute for Climate & Society Elke Weber Earth Institute faculty member Jerome A. Chazen Professor of International Business, Columbia Business School Professor, Department of Psychology Co-Director, Center for Research on Environmental Decisions
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Columbia University Sustainability Principles
The university is committed to following a set of sustainability principles in all facets of planning and operations so that Columbia can improve environmental performance, ensure a healthy community and contribute to local, regional and global solutions. These principles apply university-wide not only to the Morningside Heights campus but also to the Medical campus, Lamont, Nevis, Manhattanville, Baker Field, the many residential properties owned by the university, and to other facilities such as the Columbia Global Centers. It is recognized that implementation may not occur at all places all at once, and that some of the principles will require more advance work than others; implementation will be phased in on as expedited a basis as practicable. Each campus should adopt ways to adhere to these principles through targeted policies, commitments, and standard practices as well as individual everyday actions. These will be essential to realize our vision of incorporating sustainability into every aspect of campus life. PRINCIPLES Advance Columbias core educational, research and outreach missions to demonstrate its leadership around the world. Enhance education, research and public outreach activity to promote sustainability and disseminate knowledge about how earth systems operate, how humans affect them, and how negative impacts can be reduced and reversed; prepare current and future generations to utilize and advance this knowledge.
Enhance the sustainability of the physical operations of the university to improve its own environmental performance, and also to develop, test, measure and improve methods that can be broadly applicable around the world.
Plan, develop, implement and measure strategic sustainability initiatives.
Columbia commits to adopt institutional practices that promote sustainability. All of these practices should apply to Columbia's own operations, and should be used as primary criteria for selecting suppliers of energy, food, materials, products and services.
Develop baseline measures of use and efficiency for energy, water and other resources, and adopt periodic monitoring and reporting of these and other measures of Columbias environmental performance.
Using a consensus-building and participatory process, adopt and periodically update
campus-specific measurable goals. Where applicable, goals should be science-based, and take into consideration the appropriate city, state, federal or international goals and standards, in the following areas. o Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations and electricity and fuel purchases o Conserve resources and minimize waste through efficiency, conservation, reuse, recycling, source reduction and composting 7
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o Maximize the use of renewable resources (including energy)
o Use water resources efficiently, and minimize total water demand. o Construct, maintain and renovate buildings to provide safe, healthy, and productive indoor environments that use energy, water and other natural resources efficiently. o Seek mode shift in order to reduce the number of drive-alone commuters by expanding the number of alternative mobility options such as bicycling, shared vehicles, shuttles, and mass transit o Seek ways to reduce the need for travel through various means of electronic communications
Take into consideration projections and other information about future climate conditions and adaptation in its capital and operational planning, and make appropriate preparations.
Organize an inclusive sustainability governance model that centralizes sustainability
reporting and decision-making around these topics.
Develop publicly available sustainability indicators and planning tools to enable
monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement; to enable comparative analysis of environmental performance; and to facilitate and support engagement of the university community.
In order to ensure implementation of these principles, devote sufficient organizational
and financial resources, put in place mechanisms of responsibility and accountability, and integrate the goals into management decision-making. Consider the potential for operational cost savings (such as through lower energy bills) in making decisions on capital projects.
Foster a culture of sustainability.
Columbia commits to fostering a culture of sustainability. Targeted policies and practices as well as individual, everyday actions are essential to realizing our vision of incorporating sustainability into every aspect of campus life. The university should foster thinking and decisionmaking that persist even after students graduate and other members of the community move on. The university encourages all members of its community to: Increase each others level of awareness around sustainability, encouraging each other to personally take action to support the Universitys sustainability efforts and obligations.
Lead by example by exhibiting day-to-day behavior that minimizes environmental impacts
on the campus grounds, our local workspaces, our living quarters, and recreation spaces.
Empower students, staff and faculty to be agents of behavior change who mobilize their knowledge in concrete ways on campus to build a sustainable campus community. 8
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Collaborate to set goals around sustainability and provide transparency about where we are with our work on campus and beyond. Seek ways to participate in events and teams that bring the campus community together around sustainability, including but not limited to school-based Green Teams, student energy challenges, donation fairs, and recognition events that celebrate success.
Each individual Columbia community campus should work closely with its surrounding community through collaboration with the following stakeholders to develop ways to enhance the sustainability of New York City, or the appropriate region, so they may serve as models for and learn from other major urbanized areas of the world: colleagues and students in other schools
PALMER, M. Et Al. 2004. Ecological Science and Sustainability For A Crowded Planet-21st Century Vision and Action Plan For The Ecological Society of America.
PALMER, M. Et Al. 2004. Ecological Science and Sustainability For A Crowded Planet-21st Century Vision and Action Plan For The Ecological Society of America.
