Fossil Free UCT campaign submits testimony on divestment to the UCT Institutional Reconciliation and Transformation Commission

The aims of the UCT Institutional Reconciliation and Transformation Commission (IRTC) include making ‘recommendations on institutional culture, transformation, decolonisation, discrimination, identity, disability and any other matters that the university community has raised over the past 18 months, or may wish to raise in the future.’ In the light of this mandate of the IRTC, we offer a submission from the Fossil Free UCT campaign (which includes the Green Campus Initiative and Climate Action Project, supported by Fossil Free SA) arguing that the University of Cape Town needs to move quickly to ethical and responsible management of its investments. In particular, in the light of the massive human rights crisis posed by climate change, UCT must immediately adopt bold targets for ending its investments in fossil fuel companies.

Summary of recommendations

We note that UCT is to be commended for being the first African university to adopt a responsible investment policy, but that the university can and should act more whole-heartedly. UCT should become a pro-active and visionary leader on issues of ethical and responsible investment. It must take specific, urgent measures (outlined below in our recommendations) to end its tacit support of fossil fuel corporations, and initiate divestment from fossil fuels. It should also address other ethically questionable investments, such as those in tobacco, while accelerating work to reduce on-campus environmental impacts.Continued inaction, especially as the divestment movement grows in SA, threatens to leave UCT looking tardy and unresponsive given how long it has been aware of the issues.The full document, including detailed recommendations for action, can be downloaded here (pdf): Submission to the UCT IRTC from the Fossil Free UCT campaign