De-carbonize Villanova- A Petition for Action after Town Hall on Fossil Fuel Divestment

De-carbonize Villanova- A Petition for Action after Town Hall on Fossil Fuel Divestment

Started
January 26, 2023
Petition Closed
This petition had 288 supporters

Why this petition matters

Started by Shawn Proctor

Dear Father Peter and Villanova Board of Trustees,

Although Villanova has taken some steps to reduce the carbon emissions of our campus operations, we have not yet held ourselves accountable for the carbon footprint of our $1 billion endowment. As the climate crisis worsens, we must do more to keep fossil fuels in the ground and to speed the transition to renewable energy. 

In today’s economy, there are more ways than ever to protect the university’s future while also investing in a low-carbon, more equitable economy. Since 2020, five of our peer institutions have announced divestment from fossil fuels. But Villanova has no public investment policy statement, leaving the University community with questions about how our endowment is managed.

A responsible plan for divestment would allow Villanova to flourish and promote a just and sustainable world.

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the University—under the leadership of the President and the Board of Trustees—take the following actions:

·       Immediately divest from all holdings, direct and indirect, in fossil fuel companies.

·       Commit to a new policy of transparency with the campus community about the principles and monitoring practices that govern Villanova’s investment approach. 

·       Engage in a deliberate process with stakeholders in the University community to determine how Villanova’s investment approach can be aligned with the President’s public commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. 

·       Consistent with the Catholic and Augustinian values of the University, commit to reach a Net Zero portfolio by 2030 and develop metrics to track progress toward this goal. Both the commitment and the metrics should be made public within two years from today. 

 

Petition Closed

This petition had 288 supporters

Share this petition

Share this petition in person or use the QR code for your own material.Download QR Code