Fossil Fuel Universities
Knowledge and Power Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities
1 Fossil Fuel Universities
CONTENTS
Executive Summary 5 Knowledge and Power: Introduction 10 Jargon Buster 14 Case Studies 16 1. Move The Money 19 2. Stop The Greenwash 32 3. Clean Up Research and Training 36 Appendices 46 Endnotes 47
3 Universities “have the future in their bones”.1 Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
Executive
This report was written by Ric Lander We are grateful for research contributions (riclander.wordpress.com) on behalf of from Nick Dowson, University of Edinburgh; Platform, People & Planet and 350.org. Nat Panda, University of Warwick; Robert Knowledge and Power: Summary Knowledge and Power: Pottinger, University of Newcastle; Peter Sims, Platform is a London-based arts, human rights University of Surrey; Lizzy Clark, University Cutting-edge research creates Fossil fuel executives are and environmental justice organisation. Based on of Manchester; Tara Clarke, Imperial College our technological future, and revered by universities, core values of solidarity, creativity and democracy, London; Beate Dirks, Oxford and Jane Rendell, education forms tomorrow’s Platform uses art, literature, activism and education UCL offered valuable comments on a draft. invited to speak at prestigious to achieve long-term systemic change. We have workforce. Right now, our events and given honorary been imagining a world beyond oil for more than This report is licensed under Creative future crucially hinges on our degrees. Senior executives 30 years, and are trying to make it a reality. Commons Attribution-NonCommercial society’s ability to go fossil- from BP and Shell have license. You are free to share and adapt its www.platformlondon.org contents for non-commercial purposes under the free, but UK universities are received 20 awards in the Twitter: @platformlondon condition that you provide an adequate reference. deeply entangled in the fossil last decade alone, including Email: [email protected] if you’d like to www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0 fuel industry: infamous ex-BP chief receive our monthly newsletter. executive Tony Hayward. 4 Platform is a registed charity no. 1044485 This report updates ‘Degrees of Capture: 5 Universities, the Oil Industry and Climate Change’. UK Universities have a Hayward, who was forced to People & Planet is the largest student network in Researched by Greg Muttitt for Platform, New combined investment wealth resign after the Deepwater Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend Economics Foundation and CorporateWatch. of £62.2 billion. Conservative Horizon disaster, has been human rights and protect the environment. We are a Available at: www.platformlondon.org/p- student-led movement that empowers young people publications/degrees-of-capture-universities-the- estimates suggest £1.9 awarded honours from Aston with the skills, confidence and knowledge they need oil-industry-and-climate-change/ billion of this sum is invested University, the University of to make change happen, at home and globally. Our in the fossil fuel industry but Birmingham, and Robert new climate change campaign, Fossil Free, aims to All web sources were last accessed 17 Aug 2013. expose ties between UK universities and the fossil our research suggests that a Gordon University. fuel industry and support students to sever them. Published in October 2013 figure of £5.2 billion is more Design by Sara Nilsson accurate: an investment Universities offer their www.peopleandplanet.org in fossil fuels of £2,083 for credibility for cash when www.peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free This publication was produced Twitter: @peopleandplanet, @fossilfree_uk with the financial assistance of the every student in the UK. they sign deals sponsoring Email: [email protected] if you’d European Union. The contents of the staff positions, buildings, like to sign up to our fortnightly emails. publication are the sole responsibility A small proportion of the wealth conferences and lectures with of Platform, People & Planet and 350.org and can 350.org is building a global grassroots movement under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting of university endowment funds fossil fuel companies. These to solve the climate crisis. Our online campaigns, the position of the European Union. is invested directly in the shares deals play a key role in shoring grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are of oil & gas companies. A far up the fossil fuel industry’s led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer greater proportion supports public image. (See ‘2. Stop organizers in over 188 countries. the industry by investments The Greenwash’, p. 32) www.350.org held in pensions unit trusts, and Twitter: @350 other financial products.(See ‘1. Move The Money’, p. 19)
This publication is available online at: www.platformlondon.org/p-publications/unis Students are trained in fossil sharing intellectual property Public campaigns and 4. Stop accepting sponsorship fuels by industry-tailored rights with companies and legislation have made from fossil fuel companies degree courses and high-level managers, e.g. at it unacceptable for arts for events and research, encouraged to work for oil, gas the University of Cambridge institutions and sporting or providing them with and coal firms at university- where the Head of the events to be sponsored prestigious platforms from hosted career events. Department of Engineering by tobacco firms. Lending which to speak. Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities is a Director of BP. cultural or academic The UK government research credibility to fossil fuel 5. Stop handing out honorary councils have stopped directly To move beyond fossil fuels, companies should be degrees to fossil fuel funding most fossil fuel we need to break the carbon similarly controversial. industry CEOs. research. However, energy links between universities research spending has fallen and fossil fuel companies. The Recruitment drives are 6. Publish full details of over the past 20 years,2 and opportunities are there. increasingly a struggle for financial and other ties to Knowledge and Power: the current Research Council oil companies as recent the fossil fuel industry. Knowledge and Power: annual energy research Refusal to invest in harmful reports suggest that in the budget is 13 times smaller corporate practice has 21st century the fossil fuel 7. Provide students with than the combined global proved a powerful force industry is “struggling to ethical careers advice and research budgets of Exxon, for change, most famously recruit” young people.4 opportunities rather than BP and Shell. in helping bring down the encouraging them to work apartheid government in To create a higher education for the fossil fuel industry. A number of higher education South Africa. However only sector of truly fossil-free institutions conduct advanced 13 universities have an universities, this report is 8. Stop training fossil fuel staff research and development on ethical investment policy calling for universities to: and drop courses designed 6 fossil fuels with Shell, BP and which they have put into to funnel students into oil, 7 Exxon funding £56.7 million. action and many policies are 1. Immediately freeze any gas and coal. Although this represents a flawed and ineffectual. new investment in fossil small proportion of the total fuel companies. 9. Phase out fossil fuel re- research budgets of these There is considerable search and refocus research companies, such programmes evidence showing that 2. Divest from the fossil towards climate solutions.5 help unlock more carbon by low-carbon investments fuel industry and shift discovering new sources of out-perform fossil fuel funds to lower risk, fossil fuels, and increasing investments. Companies ethical investments within the amount of fuel that can such as Shell and Cairn five years. Screen for be extracted from existing Energy’s activities in the and exclude the fossil sources. Sponsoring university Arctic have been shown fuel industry from their research is commonly seen to create huge risks for investment portfolios. by companies as a cheap investors, and much of the alternative to doing it value of shares in oil and 3. Call on their pension in-house.3 (See 3. Clean up gas companies is based on funds to exclude fossil Research and Training, p. 36) plans to exploit reserves fuel companies from their which, if extracted, will portfolios, and encourage Universities host and train create an ecological and employees to register their fossil fuel company staff social catastrophe. concerns with pension and work on high-profile providers and switch to collaborative programmes, fossil-free pensions. “From Anglo American “The BP Institute “Knowledge is “BP’s alliance with to Total, researchers at epitomises the embodied in people, The University of Imperial have worked exceptionally strong and they are the Manchester… with some of the bond between BP real key to the next enables BP to access Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities largest names in the and Cambridge” level of productivity. the University’s
industry. Many of them // David Eyton, Group Head No machine can world-class executive even used to work for of Research & Technology, BP9 innovate. No piece education, high-quality those same companies ___ of technology can research facilities and
Knowledge and Power: before moving into think about its own its undergraduate Knowledge and Power: academic research. My “The power and limitations and talent pool.” influence of the oil advice to companies? experiment with // The University of Manchester Visit us! Come and see and gas industry progress. No oil rig website8 us and talk to us about mean that their has ever walked into ___ your needs, we’re in policies and activities my office with a great the best position to try have a major influence new idea. That’s why “The aim of the [BP 8 to solve problems.” on the direction of in the new connected Bursary] scheme is to 9 energy-related R&D increase the existing // Professor Gringarten, Chair of knowledge economy, Petroleum Engineering at Imperial and the degree to the first war of this strong links between College London6 which society is century will be the war BP and the University ___ successful in tackling of Oxford.” for human talent.” these problems.” 10 // Rodney Chase, former // University of Oxford website Deputy CEO of BP7 // Scientists for Global ___ Responsibility, ‘Science and ___ the Corporate Agenda’, 200911 ___ Universities and fossil fuels Fossil-free universities? As C.P. Snow famously asserted, Public institutions such as universities “scientists have the future in their can take the responsible step and start Introduction bones”.17 Cutting-edge university untangling themselves from oil, coal research embodies our technological and gas. Instead of financing the fossil and cultural future, and university fuel sector, universities can keep money education forms tomorrow’s workforce. in clean, less risky investments. Instead Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
They therefore have a particular of greenwashing those industries that responsibility in shaping our future exacerbate climate change, universities society’s sustainability. can exemplify those who are leading the way in the transition to a low-carbon However, many universities are currently economy. Instead of training the doing the very opposite. This report industry and researching new ways to details how universities lend large extract fossil fuels, they can work to
Knowledge and Power: amounts of money, valuable credibility, research and train in technologies which Knowledge and Power: and their students and staff to oil, coal will build a clean and healthy future. The problem with fossil fuels can provide new energy solutions, and gas companies. Investments are The threat of climate change is globally rather than scraping the barrel of kept in fossil fuel company shares People & Planet’s new climate recognized, and the extraction and the old. Our universities are also through pension and endowment funds. campaign, Fossil Free, forms the consumption of fossil fuels is of central well-placed to lead on championing Universities accept lucrative sponsorship crucial student wing of a new coalition importance in how that threat is dealt social responsibility and sustainability: deals for buildings, staff and events, of organisations coming together in with. Even the relatively conservative year-on-year the People & Planet give senior fossil fuel executives awards the UK to challenge the risky business International Energy Agency admits that Green League has shown that many and honours, train corporate staff, and of fossil fuels.18 Fossil Free supports two thirds of the already discovered universities are eager to improve their 16 design courses with them. Universities students all over the UK to call on oil and gas must be left in the ground environmental performance. encourage students to work for fossil their universities to sever ties with 10 if we are to have a chance of avoiding 11 13 fuel companies, and conduct advanced fossil fuel companies. Students are catastrophic climate change. Now is the right time for them to research and development on their asking universities to move their get to the root of the problem. To behalf, investigating new ways to drill for money, stop the greenwash and to Yet carbon emissions world-wide keep reserves ever rising, fossil fuel inaccessible fossil fuel resources. support a clean energy future for all. continue to rise with 35% more CO2 companies are seeking out oil from deep being pumped into the atmosphere from oceans, threatening land with fracking Oil, gas and coal companies are more In the process of putting their house the burning of fossil fuels compared and tar sands extraction, and drilling 14 profitable with these relationships in order, universities will be pioneering with ten years ago. Renewable energy in the High Arctic (see Box no. 1, p. because they help them finance their a new way for public institutions to has become cheaper and easier to 12). These dangerous and damaging work, recruit staff, drill for new, riskier become truly independent of the fossil use, but the UK government continues “unconventional” fuels are spreading resources, sell products, and build a fuel economy, trailblazing a path for to subsidise oil and gas, threatening havoc in communities and pose great ‘social license to operate’. Universities, wider society to follow. to lock us into another half century of risks to human health and ecosystems pushed by governments fixated on the dependence on fossil fuels with 30 from spills and disasters. 15 commercialisation of higher education, proposed new gas power stations and enter into these relationships to enable proposed new pipeline infrastructures. The fossil fuel industry is driving us them to offer new staff positions, All the while climate change is causing towards a global climate crisis. The fund courses and pay for equipment more death, disease and disruption, and climate crisis cannot be meaningfully and buildings. Yet by doing this more communities and countries are addressed while we are still increasing they are trading the gains for their pushed to the limit. the amounts of fossil fuels being taken accountability, and failing in their role out of the ground. The imperative is in shaping a fossil-free future. The UK is home to two of the world’s to move beyond lowering the carbon fossil fuel giants: BP and Shell, but emissions of our households and also home to research centres and institutions, and start looking at how the institutions expert in developing extraction of the minerals which create new energy resources. These places this problem can be slowed to a halt. Box no. 1 Box no. 2 What are unconventional fossil fuels? Updating ‘Degrees of Capture’: What’s Changed in ten years? Unconventional fossil fuels are those that are extracted using resource intensive methods, which are only profitable when fuel Ten years ago Platform, the New Economics Foundation and prices are high. Similar terms include high carbon oil (oil with high Corporate Watch, published ‘Degrees of Capture’, an investigation Fossil Fuel Universities
carbon emissions from extraction) and marginal oil (oil with tight into how universities were supporting fossil fuels. What’s changed limits on its economic viability). in that time period?
There is no agreed definition of unconventional fuels but various definitions usually In 2003 we said, “Within less than a century, scientists are predicting temperature rises include the following: of up to six degrees centigrade, sea-level rises of nearly a metre and climatic chaos.”
Heavy oil including the tar sands in Canada and Venezuela In the last ten years global oil extraction has increased by 12%19 and carbon Deep-sea drilling emissions from the consumption of all fossil fuels has increased by 35%.20 Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities Drilling in the High Arctic or other extreme environments Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities Shale gas and coal-bed methane extracted by fracking In 2003 we said, “the commercialisation of academia skews public debate by Underground coal gasification and coal-to-liquids limiting the field of inquiry so that only study of subjects that have commercial application are fundable”. Although there are some companies which specialise in unconventional fossil fuels, most of the money behind their development and extraction comes from the conventional Today this is even more profoundly true. The government’s ‘impact agenda’ for industry. Unconventional fuels are the new frontier of the fossil fuel industry. research21 seems to be taken to largely mean universities catering for the needs of industry. In justifying the Natural and Environmental Research Council’s More information about the biggest companies involved in unconventional fuels and statement of “de-risking investment” in the polar regions as a strategic aim, their investors can be found in the appendices. Duncan Wingham, the NERC chief executive, said “all scientific institutes were now under pressure to ensure they were providing value to the UK economy.”22
12 In 2003 we said, “although university funding only makes up 5% of their annual 13 research and development, industry funding for oil and gas research is considerable with Shell spending £3.6 million a year in universities”.
Today this has increased exponentially, with just one example being the £5.9million partnership between Shell and Oxford’s Earth Sciences department. A further £3.6m in funding to other universities was also identified.23
In 2003 we said, “the publicly funded Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) determines academic grants through a peer review college containing 12 oil or gas executives” and “lists over 70 projects under oil and gas research”.
Today the EPSRC is giving most of its energy research funding to renewable energies and energy efficiency projects.24
In 2003 we said, “personal connections with academics give companies a direct link to students” with 23 academic positions sponsored by fossil fuel industry and many universities led by former oil execs, including Imperial College, and Heriot-Watt, Dundee, Exeter and Hull Universities.
Many former fossil-fuel industry staff still work in universities and have academic posts sponsored by fossil fuel companies. However none of the universities listed in Degrees of Capture are headed by executives from big oil anymore. Honorary degree – Social licence to operate – Honours given by universities, usually A phrase used in the extractives and at degree ceremonies, to recognise PR industries to refer to the need of Jargon lifetime achievements. companies to have public support for their operations. Intellectual property – Concepts, inventions and creative Stocks / shares – Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities Buster works which can be owned by a Pieces of equity which organisations person or organisation. and individuals can buy and sell on the stock market. Marginal oil – Sources of oil whose economic viability Supermajor – We’ve tried to avoid the more unusual Equity – is questionable. If costs increase or oil The largest publicly-owned oil and gas phrases in this report, but this glossary The value of a business. Commonly prices go down marginal oil becomes companies are referred to as ‘superma- may be useful when reading around used to refer to stock or share owner- Knowledge and Power: unprofitable. jors’, they are BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Knowledge and Power: and discussing these topics. ship of publicly owned companies. Shell and Total. Publicly-owned company – Biofuels – Ethical investment policy – A company whose shares are available Tar sands – Fuels produced from organic matter. A centrally agreed document held by an to buy on the stock market. Universities An unconventional source of oil present Industrial biofuels made from mono- institution which sets out industries or can invest in these companies. Does as highly impure bitumen deposits culture crops threaten livelihoods and types of investments to be avoided or not refer to state-owned companies. which require resource-intensive pro- environment in many parts of the world, emphasised in its investment portfolio cessing to become useable. Currently so this report does not include this fuel for ethical reasons. Renewables – exploited in Canada and Venezuela. 25 under renewables. Renewable sources of energy are those Also known as oil sands. Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) – which cannot be depleted by use. 14 Carbon emissions – An unconventional technique used Includes wind, wave, tidal, solar and Unconventional fossil fuel – 15 Gases released commonly by human for oil and gas extraction where high others. Sometimes used to refer to Oil, gas and coal extracted using activity which contribute to global pressure water is used to create fissures biofuels and, erroneously, nuclear energy. resource- intensive methods which are climate change. More properly called in oil- or gas-bearing rock seams. only economical when prices are high. greenhouse gas emissions and mea- Research Council – sured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Freedom of Information Act – The UK Government Research Coun- Universities Superannuation UK and Scottish Parliament law regulating cils are the primary state funders of Scheme (USS) – Coal-bed methane (CBM) – the rights to information held by state research in UK Universities. Pension scheme jointly owned by An unconventional source of natural gas bodies, including Universities. UK universities with a current value trapped in coal seams. Fracking may be Shale gas – of over £32bn. necessary to tap CBM resources. Also Green League – An unconventional source of natural known as coal-seam gas. People & Planet’s Green League is the gas trapped in shale rock. Fracking is only comprehensive and independent commonly used to exploit shale gas. Conventional fossil fuel – league table of UK universities ranked A source of oil, gas and coal which by environmental and ethical per- can be extracted and refined using formance. It is compiled annually by well-established methods. the UK’s largest student campaigning network, People & Planet. Endowment fund – Money held by universities, usually taken Heavy Oil – from donors, where the interest is used to Sources of oil with a high density that fund the university’s work. Endowments require resource intensive practices to may be invested in stocks and shares as extract and process it before they can well as other financial products. be used. The tar sands are the largest currently exploited form of heavy oil. Most recently, in June 2013, Heriot-Watt With an endowment value of £154 announced a new research deal with million55 (the UK’s 4th largest), Manchester Shell worth £3 million.46 does have an ethical investment policy, Case Studies but according to the 2013 Green League Heriot-Watt offers a number of pro- it has not taken any divestment actions in grammes in fossil fuels and boasts a line with this policy.56 large number of graduates working in Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
the industry. For example, their campus The University of Cambridge has the The University of Oxford has a number ber of bursaries and prizes sponsored in Dubai offers programmes such as highest research income of any university of deep connections with the fossil by BP including funding for 10 science, “Petroleum Engineering MSc”.47 In in the UK. In 2000 Cambridge received fuel industry, many of them channelled technology, engineering and mathemat- recent years they have awarded the the then largest ever grant from an oil 36 through the Oxford Institute for Energy ics students ; 33 Master of Public Policy then-head of BP John Browne and and gas company when BP gave a £23.1 37 Studies, over 50% of whose grants students; 19 students in the recently Chairman of Cairn Energy Bill Gammell million endowment to found the BP 26 come from oil and gas companies. Of wound-up “BP Bursary”; and the annual honorary degrees. Institute.57 The BP endowment funded 250 papers published by the Institute Department of Earth Sciences prize.38 Knowledge and Power: a new building, a professorship, four Knowledge and Power: only three are on renewables, perhaps According to the University website In 2012 BP announced it was opening permanent lectureships and support not surprising since their stated aims these schemes are intended to “increase a £64 million research centre at staff to carry out the work of researching and objectives are almost entirely about the existing strong links between BP and the University of Manchester to improvements in oil pipeline flow.58 27 39 fossil fuel production. The Institute the University”. “help its search for oil in deeper and The Institute also offers training and hosts the annual “Oxford Energy more challenging environments”,48 postgraduate courses for oil and gas Seminar” at St Catherine’s College. The University of Oxford and its colleges supporting 25 new academic posts, industry personnel.59 David Eyton, Group Speakers at last year’s event, tickets for have the largest endowment wealth of 100 post-graduate researchers and 80 Head of Research & Technology at BP, which cost £5,500, included the Senior any UK higher education institution: post-doctoral fellows.49 Manchester’s said of the Institute “it epitomises the Vice President of Exxon, the CEO of in 2012 the university’s endowments website says “BP’s alliance with The exceptionally strong bond between BP 40 Saudi Aramco, the Chairman of British were worth £3.8 billion, 41% of UK University of Manchester… enables BP and Cambridge.”60 16 Gas, the CEO of Total, the Operations universities’ total endowment wealth. to access the University’s world-class 17 Director of Schlumberger, the Executive Oxford does show some signs of taking executive education, high-quality The university also participates in BP’s Vice President and Chief Economists of responsible investment seriously: in 2013 research facilities and its undergraduate Energy Sustainability Challenge’61 and BP BP, the Chairman of the Board of E.ON, it scored 2/3 on ethical investment in talent pool”50 and it has trained 600 BP sponsors a 200-year-old professorship, 41 a Director of Shell, and the former the Green League and over the last staff at Manchester’s “BP Projects and since 1992 re-named the “BP Professor heads of BP, Saudi Aramco, Shell and five years has made steps to divest from Engineering College.”51 of Organic Chemistry.”62 In 2012 Dame 28 Anglo American. arms manufacturing companies on ethi- Ann Dowling, Head of Cambridge’s cal grounds, although only for directly Manchester also boasts close Department of Engineering, was 42 In 2012 the University announced multi- owned shares. research relationships with EDF and appointed a Non-Executive Director of million pound research deals working Shell52 and caters for BP staff who are B P. 63 In 2010 Gillian Evans, Professor of 29 on biofuels with BP and a £5.9 million Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh enrolled in “specialized operational Theology at Cambridge, criticised the deal with Shell to fund a new uncon- has eight main departments, one of and technical management pro- University’s relationship with BP, saying: ventional fuels-focused hydrocarbons which is the Institute for Petroleum grammes” at the University.53 30 laboratory. The Smith School hosts an Engineering, a major centre of oil and “There may be reputational damage 31 oil industry consultant, BP sponsored gas research. The Institute boasts that: Shell and BP both sponsored in store for the university. That professorships, “BP Professor of “We tailor our teaching and research Manchester’s School of Earth, would be bad enough in any case, 32 Information Engineering” and “BP to the needs of the petroleum industry Atmospheric and Environmental even if the connection were merely 33 Professor of Economics” and in 2012 and place considerable importance Sciences postgraduate conference in financial, but it is surely much worse the CEO of Shell was hosted by the on the maintenance of close links with 2012. Just £1000 from Shell and £500 if BP is engrafted into the academic 43 University in an address on the global the industry.” Controversial drilling from BP54 ensured that every participant fabric of the institution.”64 34 food and water crisis. company Cairn Energy has a “strategic of the conference got a BP-branded alliance” with Heriot-Watt involving a goodybag with a Shell-branded The combined endowment wealth of Oxford promotes BP careers to its number of projects including funding for screwdriver inside among other Cambridge and its colleges is £3.2 44 students, including the “BP Ultimate a professorship and a donation of £1.4 conference merchandise. billion, making it the UK’s second Field Trip Competition”35 and has a num- million for a new Postgraduate Centre.45 wealthiest, yet according to the 2013 Petroleum Geophysics.”76 Imperial Green League it has no approved ethical hosts speaker events for oil executives investment policy.65 including in March 2013 the new Chairman of Shell, Ed Daniels, at the 77 1. As of 2013 Imperial College London “Energy Futures Lab Annual Lecture.” has more research funding from fossil In the last year Imperial College’s fuel companies than any other UK careers events have been attended by Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities institution. It received £17.3 million from BP, Shell, Baker Hughes, EDF, Centrica, Move the Shell and BP alone (see appendices). Schulmberger and Total.78 Imperial The work is led by the Centre for has awarded honorary degrees to BP Petroleum Studies, formerly part of the Director Professor Dame Ann Dowling79 Royal School of Mines, one of Imperial’s and former BP Head John Browne. Money four original constituent colleges. Its £79.1 million endowment fund is the 80 Knowledge and Power: A great number of research projects UK’s 10th largest and £4,356,285 of Knowledge and Power: at Imperial are working to help the oil this is directly invested in oil, coal and industry drill deeper and make greater gas, 9.1% of the value of all their directly profits. Among others, Total funded owned shares.81 Further funds are likely experimental physics research into how to be invested in fossil fuels through their to get more oil out of reservoirs.66 BP large ownership of externally managed funded projects to remotely assess the financial products. Imperial has no active condition of machinery in refineries.67 ethical investment policy.82 Shell sponsored former oil man Professor Universities are some of the wealthiest By adding together the known endow- Al Fraser as their “Shell Distinguished Imperial has solidified its relationship and most prestigious public institutions ment wealth of universities with an Lecturer” to give talks about his work with the fossil fuel industry still further in the UK. Some are many hundreds of estimate of total pension investments 18 on drilling for oil in the Arctic and by inviting oil executives onto university years old with a directory of wealthy this report can reveal an estimate of the 19 prospecting in Angola,68 as well as jointly committees. BP’s Chief Executive of benefactors, valuable collections and total investment wealth of universities is funding, with Qatar Petroleum, a $70 Refining and Marketing, Iain Conn, is extraordinary buildings. They also have comfortably over £62 billion. million ten year cross-departmental a member of the Council of Imperial a significant amount of money. These project on the chemistry of carbon College83 and Chairman of the Imperial richer institutions may not be typical As well as these large sums in long- capture and storage.69 Longer term College Business School’s Advisory in higher education, but all universities term funds, universities hold money in strategic partnership agreements include Board.84 In a notable example of have money invested for the long term bank accounts for everyday use, and various agreements with Shell: a general privatising research outputs, in 2000 and all universities must take some own company shares directly. All these research partnership agreement,70 a Imperial signed a deal with BP giving measure of responsibility for the way forms of wealth will be considered in five year partnership to promote ‘Clean any division of BP Worldwide access to they invest this money. this section. Fossil Fuels’ ,71 and support for the Imperial’s research.85 Imperial ‘Energy Futures Lab’,72 and BP’s How much money do Endowment funds sponsorship of academic posts including Imperial presents itself publicly as a fossil universities have? Endowment funds are universities’ long- the “BP Chair of Inorganic Chemistry.”73 fuel university. Professor Gringarten, Higher education institutions have a term savings. They are commonly raised Chair of Petroleum Engineering at large amount of money held in various by fundraising from individual donors, As well as research funding, Imperial Imperial put it this way: “From Anglo forms, invested in endowment funds, often from wealthy alumni, and spent on receives a number of donations, American to Total, researchers at pension funds, directly-owned stocks any number of purposes from bursaries sponsorships and consultancy deals Imperial have worked with some of the and shares, and in bank accounts. to building work. Some universities brand with BP, Total, Shell, Schlumberger, largest names in the industry. Many of their endowment fundraising efforts StatOil, EDF, Anglo American,74 Aramco, them even used to work for those same By far the most significant of these forms as campaigns (e.g. “the Edinburgh ConocoPhillips, Exxon, Texaco, British companies before moving into academic of wealth are university endowment and Campaign”) and put huge resources into Gas and npower.75 research. My advice to companies? pension funds. Endowment funds repre- getting funds from their graduates. Those Visit us! Come and see us and talk to sent the long-term savings of universities, with the largest funds have extensive Fossil fuel degrees offered at Imperial us about your needs, we’re in the best and pension funds are the money put bureaucracies to manage them, although are numerous, including the “MSc position to try to solve problems.”86 aside to support staff in their retirement. many universities outsource some or all of How do university investments compare?
£9.3 bn Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities Cost of London 2012 Olympics91 £32.4 bn Value of universities Superannuation Scheme, third largest pension fund Knowledge and Power: Knowledge and Power: in the UK90
£62.2 bn £7.2 bn Estimated investment wealth UK Government aid budget92 of UK universities £9 bn 20 Total value of UK universities’ 21 endowment funds £37.7 bn Value of NHS pension scheme, the UK’s biggest87 £2.3 bn Total debt “owed” to UK by Global South94 £4.9 bn Annual bill for Job Seekers’ Allowance93 £37.5 bn Original RBS and Lloyds banking bailout, 200888
If universities have money on such a large scale, £34 bn it’s reasonable to suggest their investment choices Cost of replacement of Trident contribute significantly to how different sectors nuclear weapon system89 obtain finance. TOP 10 LARGEST this work to external fund managers. saving for a member of staff at a UK Totalling up the value of funds at all university99 we estimate the total value UK UNIVERSITY 16995 universities and higher education of UK universities’ pension schemes to ENDOWMENT FUNDS institutions we found that the combined be at least £44.8 billion. This figure is value of UK universities’ endowment likely to be an underestimate due to the funds was £9.27 billion.96 conservative figure we have used for the total number of staff. Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
This money was by no means equally shared among universities. At the top Deficits in University pension schemes end of the scale the University of Oxford since the financial crisis in 2009 have and its colleges had £3.8 billion.97 At the caused several schemes to close to new other end of the scale 17 institutions had members and change their benefits no endowment funds whatsoever. The schemes. New or altered schemes have median fund’s value was £1.8 million. moved away from being based on
Knowledge and Power: employees’ final salary towards career Knowledge and Power: Pension funds average salary systems and changes Pension funds are separate legal have been the cause of protest from entities from universities. Their educational unions.100 managers and trustees have a legal duty to act in the best interest of Other funds held by universities their members, i.e. employees, but Universities keep a small proportion University of Glasgow universities as employers can make of their funds in bank accounts for £129 mil recommendations and will inform their short-term purposes such as paying employees on aspects of pension funds, staff wages and purchasing goods. including their responsible investment Although the total funds are likely to be University of 22 Edinburgh Universities policy or lack of it. insignificant compared to endowments, 23 £238 mil Superannuation Scheme (Pension Scheme) universities are important customers for £32,400 mil There is no single source that can commercial banks. provide the total value of UK universities pension schemes. However a cursory Some universities also invest small University of Manchester look shows they are highly valuable. amounts in spin-off companies such £154 mil as commercial arms that sell research The largest centralised fund, the outputs, or research parks, consultancy Universities Superannuation Scheme and catering service companies, or University of (USS), was worth £32.4 bn in 2011,98 start-up companies set up by graduate Birmingham University of CAMBRIDGE £83 mil £3,182 mil making it the third largest pension entrepreneurs. These investments fund in the UK. usually represent a way for universities LSE to externalise certain activities from £83 mil University of University of The USS is used by higher paid staff. direct university management. On the OXFORD READING King’s College £3,772 mil £79 mil London Universities commonly have their own scale of funds discussed in this report £131 mil pension schemes for lower paid staff, such funds are not significant and as well as using local government and universities usually sell their shares if teachers’ schemes. the business becomes self-sufficient.
Imperial College Using an estimate for the total number London of staff at UK universities and an £79 mil average of the per-person pension How much Do universities Endowment investments in fossil fuels this way. Some fund managers include Pro-active or positive investment invest in fossil fuels? Legal & General, Newton, Schroder, can help kick start socially and Given their considerable wealth, we know Lower estimate: £278 million and Baillie Gifford. Universities who environmentally beneficial industries surprisingly little about how universities (based on 3% exposure, Smith School) wish to reduce risk and simplify their such as renewable energy generation spend and invest their money. This accounting are likely to find these by increasing their access to cash. information is not held by any central Higher estimate: £775 million types of arrangements attractive as Promoting such industries in this way database and very few institutions make (based on 8.36% exposure, Reading, they offer some security of return and also highlights their positive nature Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
any specific information about their Edinburgh, Imperial, UCL average) reduce the amount of knowledge and making them more attractive to other investments publicly available. day-to-day management required to responsible investors. In time it can (Total endowment wealth invest large sums of money. However, promote them widely, reducing their There is enough information available £9.27 bn108) money invested in this way is less costs, driving custom and encouraging to glimpse the scale of higher education transparent as investors rarely have favourable government regulation. investment in fossil fuels and this report Estimated total university investment any knowledge of where the money can reveal an estimate of the total. wealth in fossil fuels in such funds is spent – indeed it may On the other hand, divestment
Knowledge and Power: be further invested in other financial directly deprives industries of finance, Knowledge and Power: A list of companies invested in was Lower estimate: £1.87 bn (based products before eventually reaching, for increasing running costs and ultimately obtained for six of the large endowment on 3% exposure, Smith School) example, an oil company. making it more difficult for them funds: the University of Edinburgh101 to operate. This ‘blacklisting’ of (3rd largest), Universities of Glasgow102 Higher estimate: £5.20 bn (based In 2012 People & Planet carried out companies, such as those invested in (6th), University of Reading103 (10th), on 8.36% Fossil-fuel investment a survey of universities’ banking fossil fuels from university investments, Imperial College London104 (9th), based on exposure Reading, arrangements and found that almost promotes the idea that their actions University College London105 (11th), and Edinburgh, Imperial, UCL average) all universities used the biggest UK are unacceptable and not socially the University of St. Andrews106 (20st). banks because they felt they were ‘normal’. Marginalising companies All six funds were invested in fossil (Total university investment more tailored to business banking. A challenges their reputation and fuels: the smallest number of separate wealth £62.2 bn) proportion of money held in university makes it more difficult for them to sell 24 fossil fuel companies being five bank accounts, will be used to provide products to consumers, make deals with 25 (University of Reading) and the largest Additional information from the finance for the fossil fuel sector by government and partners, and access 12 (University of Glasgow). Four of the University of Surrey,109 the University those banks.119 funds. It undermines their vital ‘social universities own shares in BP and all six of Edinburgh,110 University College licence to operate’. were invested in Shell. London, Imperial College London111 and In total these indirect investments may the University of Reading112 describes be of sizeable value when compared Government and industry have his- The Smith School, Oxford107 suggest £69.7 million of university investments in with known direct fossil fuel investments torically been comfortable in investing an investment of 2-4% in fossil fuels specific oil, coal and gas companies. from universities. More transparency is some funds positively in sustainable would be typical for a general invest- required to better understand how this industries, but have not yet made the ment portfolio. However, Freedom These figures suggest an investment in money is spent. step to deprive unsustainable industries of Information responses from the fossil fuels of between £748 and £2,083 of funding. Nonetheless such measures University of Reading, University of for every student in the UK.113 Divestment and ethical have been used successfully by public Edinburgh, Imperial College London investment bodies as a response to a number of and University College London show a Indirect investments in fossil fuels ‘Socially responsible’ or ‘ethical’ invest- issues in the past. much higher average exposure to fossil Many universities, in common with ment is the adoption of policies and fuels of 8.36% in their endowments. other public institutions, invest their practices to invest in environmentally funds in managed schemes rather and socially beneficial companies and These proportions allow us to estimate than by direct share ownership. For projects and/or withdraw (or ‘divest’) the university endowment investment in example, Imperial College London114 funds from socially harmful investments. fossil fuels, which is the money held by and the Universities of Reading115 and ‘Ethical’ investment is more strongly universities usually from donors. We can Edinburgh116 invest some funds in associated with divestment or screening also apply the same proportions to our externally managed financial products, for unethical businesses, though largely estimate of total university investment and Kings College London,117 London the terms are interchangeable. wealth, including endowments and School of Economics and the University pension funds: of Birmingham118 invest all their funds in Box no. 3 Graph no. 1 Endowment Funds of UK Universities in 2012 Apartheid Divestment campaign, c.1969-1989 Grouped by Green League 2013 Ethical Investment Score
There is no greater testament to the basic dignity 5,000 4,505 4,500 4,172 of ordinary people everywhere than the divestment 4,000 Fossil Fuel Universities movement of the 1980s. 3,500 - Desmond Tutu126 3,000 2,500
The apartheid divestment campaign of the late 20th century is a great £ Million 2,000 example of what can be achieved by using financial flows to make radical 1,500 political changes. A campaign that began with a small group of students 1,000 320 eventually became a broad coalition that took on, and changed, some of 500 116 Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities the largest financial institutions in the UK, and was credited as an important 0 Knowledge and Power: factor that supported the efforts of South African activists in bringing down 3 2 1 zero / no data the apartheid regime. Green League Ethical Investment score (from 2013) out of a total of 3 points. In 1969 student protesters took direct action against touring ‘White-only’ South African cricket and rugby sides and took the issue to the National Union of Students, who launched a campaign in 1970 against the largest What has been achieved before? – A number of People & Planet UK bank in South Africa: Barclays. Gathering support from churches, trade Divestment as a campaigning tactic has groups have been running unions and councils, a coalition “End Loans To Southern Africa (ELTSA)” been used in many high-profile progres- independent ethical investment was formed. As part of a wide movement against apartheid the coalition sive campaigns over the last 30 years. campaigns since the early 2000s 26 gathered steam with considerable numbers of people leaving Barclays. focusing on a variety of issues from 27 High-profile public figures joined the campaign setting up a “Shadow – The apartheid divestment the arms trade, mining and fossil Barclays Board of Directors”. At the same time, the crimes of the apartheid campaign of the 1980s - a broad fuels.123 Some groups have worked government often appeared on TV news. coalition of churches, universities with Campaign Against the Arms and councils - is credited as a Trade who have long advocated In 1985 Barclays sold its shares in its South African wing and the campaign major factor in the collapse of the divestment as a campaign tactic. moved on to other investors such as Standard Chartered and Hill Samuel, apartheid Government in South achieving further success. Ultimately South Africa’s lack of access to funds Africa (see Box no. 3, p. 26)120. – Many universities, particularly those contributed to multiple financial crises in the final years of the regime, and who carry out large amounts of its downfall. – People & Planet successfully medical research, have withdrawn campaigned for the Universities funds from tobacco companies.124 Nerys John, writing in Journal ‘African Affairs’, said that South Africa’s Superannuation Scheme (USS) to financial instability following divestment by UK banks was the single biggest adopt an ethical investment policy – Six universities and colleges have 127 factor in forcing the end of the apartheid. in the late 1990s121, though USS’s already pledged divestment as new policy does not provide for part of 350.org’s “Go Fossil-Free” In 1991 a British Parliamentary Committee recognized that financial screening out dangerous industries. divestment campaign in the 128 sanctions were an ‘important lever for change’ in South Africa. United States.125 – At the height of the 2007 protests in Burma, a campaign secured a number of university divestments from oil company Total, one of the few companies operating in the country.122 University ethical and responsible – All but one of the policies would be – Specific statement of process To ensure universities invest investment policies best described as reactive. Rather for students to raise concerns responsibly this report calls Under pressure from campaign groups than having a policy which set out a or provision for Student Union such as People & Planet and Campaign plan to positively invest their funds representatives to sit on special for them to: Against the Arms Trade, 73 universities they were based on a requirement committee (University of Glasgow, have adopted some sort of policy for University finance staff, fund University of York). 1. Screen for and exclude the concerning responsible investment managers, or in a few cases, students fossil fuel industry from Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities (Green League 2013). These policies state to raise concerns about specific – Three policies stipulated that their investment portfolio. they are intended to ensure the university investments which were a problem. the policy must be published acts responsibly by only investing in online and two stated that a list of companies which fit with their socially – Only two institutions had taken investments should be published 2. Immediately freeze any responsible aims as a charity. Some also proactive measures to switch online (although no such lists new investment in fossil list specific exclusions, such as arms and to ethically managed funds and could be found). fuel companies. tobacco, and have some detail on how one had done so without actually
Knowledge and Power: the policy should be brought into effect. having an ethical investment policy. – Disclosing lines of responsibility for Knowledge and Power: both staff and committees who will 3. divest from the fossil According to the People & Planet Green – 13 policies said the policy should report on and oversee the policy fuel industry and shift League 2013, 8 universities achieved be reviewed regularly, but only (Sheffield Hallam University). funds to lower risk, full marks for ethical investment (EI). seven listed specific timescales. ethical investments They were rewarded for having a Although a powerful force for change, within five years. publicly available EI policy, engaging – The majority of the policies set out the potential positive influence of with stakeholders and reporting against no clear line of responsibility for universities’ investments is untapped. the policy annually, and taking concrete enacting the policy nor did they list This report shows that universities 4. Call on their pension action based on the policy. A further specific actions to be taken. could be doing more to invest respon- funds to exclude fossil 48 universities gained 2 points out of sibly, withdrawing their funds from fuel companies from their 28 3, 25 were given only 1 point, whilst 62 – Only a few policies specifically set companies which cause social ills and 29 achieved no score. The Green League’s out the types of investment that the supporting companies which promote portfolios, and encourage ranking shows that the better policies policies covered and only one of the sustainability and social justice. Current employees to register their cover only a very small proportion of policies referenced pension funds. funds invested in fossil fuels could concerns with pension endowment investments (see Graph 1). be re-purposed and positive actions providers and switch to Very few policies covered all areas well, enshrined in effective policy to ensure fossil-free pensions. The Green League’s evaluation gives a but stronger clauses could be found in the sustainability of universities’ actions clear view of the number of institutions some, including the following: for years to come. There is work to be done at every taking basic steps toward responsible university. Our analysis shows that investment. Building on the Green – Clear process for the implementa- Action to invest responsibly very few, if any, socially responsible League’s methodology this report analy- tion of their policy and actions to Public institutions should be expected to investment policies are water-tight and sed the wording of investment policies be taken (Oxford Brookes University use their power and wealth responsibly. most do not cover all their investments. of 20 universities who scored highly for and University of Glasgow). The importance of the global fight ethical investment in the 2013 Green against climate change means that For those with existing policy, better League. The results were concerning: – Entering a clause into contracts universities should not be giving financial policy clauses, such as those listed with fund managers that they will support to companies extracting the above, can be used as a template to – Most university pension schemes use ethical screening programmes very resources which are creating the amend current policy to make it clear are structured as legally separate (Edinburgh Napier University). carbon emissions that are threatening and effective. As well as demanding and so not covered by university people’s lives and ecosystems. withdrawal from fossil fuel investments, investment policies. Pension trusts – Requiring fund managers to supply we should also push for our institutions to could adopt their own responsible copies of voting records in relation go further by adding clauses to pro- investment policies, but none could to concerns over “lack of attention actively invest in sustainable investments. be found that screen (i.e. include to social, ethical or environmental or exclude) companies on environ- matters.” (University of Glasgow). mental or social grounds. For the 70 educational institutions with Yet pension funds represent a major value.135 Even current extraction comes Divestment campaigning is timely be- no investment policies there is a fresh proportion of investment by universi- with great risks: a 2012 report showed cause it can draw strength from projects opportunity to implement effective and ties, with the Universities Superannua- the high risks to shareholders posed by seeking to reconsider our financial radical policy from the start. tion Scheme (USS) alone worth three Arctic drilling programmes, currently system following the financial crisis, and a half times more than all the the focus of many oil companies with a number of groups campaigning Action on managed funds university endowment funds combined. invested in by universities such as on banking reform, monetary reform Given the number of university funds This wealth is also spread much more Shell and Cairn Energy.136 and ethical investment more broadly. Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
invested in externally-managed financial equally across institutions. New funds The long-running campaign calling for products (see ‘Indirect investments are being set up and opportunities may Avoiding these risks and choosing the nationalised RBS to stop financing in fossil fuels’, p. 24) universities can, arise to ensure new funds invest more to invest in safer, sustainable options fossil fuels is still moving forward with on the one hand, switch to specific, sustainably. Universities and pension should align well with public institu- the National Union of Students recently scrutinised ethical funds. This requires fund members can call on existing funds tions’ traditional preference for more joining calls to stop banking with RBS/ careful research: many “green” or to include the financial risks of climate secure, long-term investments, over Natwest. University divestment is a “ethical” funds still invest in fossil change, as well as their members’ high-risk short-term ones. complementary campaign tactic to all 129 Knowledge and Power: fuels and transparency in the financial concerns over fossil fuels, into their of these efforts. Knowledge and Power: sector is very poor. On the other hand, definitions of ‘members’ benefit’, and Now is the right time for universities can be encouraged to screen for fossil fuel companies. responsible investment Universities need to be encouraged challenge their existing fund managers There is considerable evidence of to take both the positive, responsible to de-carbonise. Past precedent shows Action on banking support for this campaign. While step of removing their funds from fossil universities have fallen short when Since the proportion of university funds campaign groups have already formed fuels as well as being pro-active about ethical concerns have required them to invested in fossil fuels may be quite on some campuses, the main academic supporting sustainable industries. challenge external fund managers: in significant to the university’s finances, trade union, UCU, has pledged formal Divestment is a vital step to freeing 2010 the University of Oxford decided universities are likely to be cautious support for fossil fuel divestment137 and universities from one part of their fossil to apply its brief investment policy only about making quick decisions about wide-ranging groups have supported fuel addiction. And universities and to direct share-holdings130 and Middle- divestment. Fortunately there is signifi- 350.org’s divestment campaign in the their pension fund members should 30 bury College, Vermont, USA, stalled cant evidence showing that sustainable United States, where six universities demand that their pension funds do the 31 on taking action when it was informed funds give the same or higher returns on and colleges have already pledged same. Ultimately carbon emissions will it would need agreement with all the investments compared with fossil fuels. divestment.138 Campaigners can only be reduced when companies stop other investors in its pooled fund.131 draw considerable support working pulling fossil fuels out of the ground. The S&P US Carbon Efficient Index has internationally with partners such as With the ‘Move Your Money’ campaign been outperforming the S&P 500 Index 350.org and others working on the gathering momentum and offering and, according to a study by consultants established, long-running global local authorities guidance on switching Mercer, 86% of the 36 academic studies campaign for ethical investment, with its to positive alternatives to high-street considering the issue showed a neutral successes on Darfur, tobacco companies, banks,132 it is time to also encourage or positive link between environmental, and South Africa. universities to switch bank accounts. social and governance factors and investment performance.133 Action on pensions University pensions present both Much of the value of fossil fuel new challenges and opportunities. investments flows from estimates of Almost no university pension funds use the worth of yet unused reserves. ethical investment policies to screen But since these resources cannot be damaging industries. Often kept at used without creating catastrophic arm’s length from university decision economic and human costs, such makers, these funds can be difficult to resources may, by necessity, become influence. Many pension funds are still “stranded” assets.134 Considering the in turmoil since the financial crisis, with shift from ‘easily accessible’ to risky a number of funds closed completely unconventional oil, reserves statistics in the last few years. are further undermined as indicators of “Shell Distinguished Lecturer” to give Platforms for oil executives talks about his work on drilling for oil in Universities invite executives of industry the Arctic and prospecting in Angola.140 to speak to students, staff and the gen- 2. A number of academic posts are eral public on platforms at prestigious sponsored by fossil fuel companies, speaking events and hold them up as for example the “BP Professor of “distinguished leaders.” Ostensibly Organic Chemistry” at Cambridge141 (a these are to give attendees valuable Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities Stop the 200-year-old professorship rebranded insights into the major challenges of the with “BP” since 1992), the “BP Chair day. However, their habit of inviting the of Inorganic Chemistry” at Imperial current bosses of fossil fuel firms means College London,142 and the “BP Profes- talks are more frequently a thinly veiled Greenwash sor of Information Engineering”143 and advertisement for their company and “BP Professor of Economics”144 at the their industry. Recent examples include: University of Oxford (see more in next
Knowledge and Power: chapter, p.36). – In 2011 the University of Warwick Knowledge and Power: hosted the then Chairman of Shell Universities often award prizes to students to “discuss the future of Shell who excel and these can be funded or and energy production” for their sponsored by fossil fuel companies, such “Distinguished Lecture” series.151 as at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford “BP Prize” for – The new Chairman of Shell, Ed Fossil fuel companies rely on Toxic sponsorships overall performance.145 Daniels, has since spoken at universities to help maintain their As part of their efforts to show their Imperial College London for social licence to operate. Money is contribution to society, fossil fuel Bursaries and student grants are com- the “Energy Futures Lab Annual offered in exchange for credibility: companies sponsor a wide variety of monly sponsored by corporations and Lecture”, detailing Shell’s official 32 152 33 a course is sponsored here and an public facing courses, grants, talks and the University of Oxford has a number energy forecasts. honorary degree awarded there, and conferences. These arrangements give of such arrangements including funding a picture is painted of an industry the company advertising space on for 10 science, technology, engineering – The University of Oxford hosted the which is charitable, thoughtful and programmes, banners and hoardings; and mathematics students;146 33 Master CEO of Shell on a panel discussing prestigious, all the things which help opportunities to meet and greet staff, of Public Policy students;147 and a further how to address the global food and them recruit graduates and continue students and managers; and a way 19 students in the recently wound-up water crisis in 2012.153 to make their business profitable. to claim they are making a positive “BP Bursary”. The University of Oxford Universities take some income from contribution to society. said these schemes are intended to – Oxford also hosts the annual this process, and in return they “increase the existing strong links “Oxford Energy Seminar” at greenwash the fossil fuel industry. Trade journal ‘Lloyds List Energy Day’ between BP and the University”.148 The St Catherine’s College, Oxford. says for oil companies to gain student Royal Society also offers scholarships Speakers at last year’s event, tickets Universities give credibility to fossil recruits they must “make integrated for students who want to work with for which cost £5,500, included fuel companies in a number of ways: university visits” and “supply brand- industry, and sponsors include BP.149 the Senior Vice President of Exxon, honouring their senior staff with awards, building advertising at universities”.139 the CEO of Saudi Aramco, the inviting them to speak, and accepting Some universities receive funding to Chairman of British Gas, the CEO branded funding for courses, scholar- Put simply, sponsorship is vital in helping support specific courses and projects. of Total, the Operations Director of ships and prizes. the fossil fuel industry look good. The University of Glasgow’s short-course Schlumberger, the Executive Vice on ‘Advanced Sequence Stratigraphy’ President and Chief Economists of This section illustrates the many ways Some of the most high profile sponsor- is funded by high-risk oil company BP, the Chairman of the Board of in which universities help to greenwash ships are public events such as confer- Cairn Energy best known for its failed E.ON, a Director of Shell, and the fossil fuel companies. Funding of research ences and lecture series. In early 2013 at Arctic drilling operation off the coast of former heads of BP, Saudi Aramco, also serves this function, and is discussed Imperial College London, former oil man Greenland. Although only giving £6,000 Shell and Anglo American.154 in the next section (see p. 36). Professor Al Fraser was appointed the a year,150 it is enough for Cairn to mention the gift on their annual review as an example of their “positive social impact”. Honours for big industry This report demands Awarding honorary degrees is a very that universities: public way in which universities give credibility to fossil fuel companies. Examples are not hard to come by 1. Stop accepting sponsorship with senior executives from BP and from fossil fuel companies Shell receiving 20 awards in the last or providing them with Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities decade alone. prestigious platforms to speak from. Universities have seen fit to honour even the most controversial figures including ex-BP CEO Tony Hayward, forced to 2. Stop giving out honorary TonyTony Hayward Hayward JohnJohn KerrKerr BillBill Gammell Gammell Anne Dowling Malcolm John Browne resign after the Deepwater Horizon degrees to fossil fuel DisgracedDisgraced ex-BP FormerFormer deputydeputy ChairmanChairman of Head of Brinded Boss of BP, the 6th spill, who received honours from Aston CEOBoss quitquit after ChairmanChairman ofof ArcticArctic drilling oil oil University of Current boss of largest oil industry CEOs. Deepwater Royal Dutch Knowledge and Power: University, the University of Birmingham Deepwater Royal Dutch Shell companycompany Cairn Cambridge Knowledge and Power: Shell, the 7th company in the Horizon disaster. Shell. Energy Engineering largest oil world until 2007. and Robert Gordon University, while Horizon disaster. Energy Dept. and a company in the 3. publish full details of Honours to date from: the Chairman and founder of highly Honours to date Honours to date Honours to date Director of BP. world. Honours to date: controversial Arctic drilling oil company financial and other ties to Honoursfrom: to date from: from: Honoursfrom: to date from: Cairn Energy has received honours the fossil fuel industry. University of Honours to date Honours to date from Heriot-Watt and Robert Gordon St. Andrews from: from: Universities (see appendices). Universities have many constraints and rejecting funding is not necessarily an Honours such as these are usually easy thing to ask for. It should be noted bestowed at undergraduate and post- that the amount of money they receive graduate degree ceremonies where 34 in exchange for their credibility is often 35 they are guest speakers. very small: is it fair that this toxic industry should be able to buy its “social licence” If universities truly believe in the for such tiny proportion of its wealth? value of using honours to inspire their students to better society, they Furthermore the high esteem that need to find better examples than fossil fuel executives are afforded by the wealthy corporate elites from universities is not of the kind given to massively polluting industries. other controversial industries, such as the arms and tobacco industries. The Come clean and stop extent to which their activities are seen the greenwash as socially acceptable is both fuelled by This report shows the many ways in university supportTony andHayward used as an excuseJohn Kerr Anne Dowling Malcolm Brinded John Browne which universities help to greenwash Bill Gammell Anne Dowling Malcolm John Browne for the currentDisgraced status quo. ex-BP In a worldFormer deputy Chairman of fossil fuel companies, lending them Non-ExecHead of FormerBrinded Exec FormerBoss of BP,CEO the of 6th where climateBoss change quit afteris responsible Chairman of Arctic drilling oil University of Current boss of largest oil credibility in exchange for cash. We need Director of BP Director of Shell. BP, now Chairman for large numbersDeepwater of deaths, fossil Royal Dutch company Cairn Cambridge Shell, the 7th ofcompany Cuadrilla in the universities to be giving their credibility Horizon disaster. Shell. Energy Engineering fuel companies cannot continue to be largest oil (fracking)world until 2007. to those striving for sustainability. treated as just another industry. Dept. and a company in the Honours to date Honours to date Honours to date Director of BP. world. HonoursHonours to to date date: from: from: from: from: To show their commitment universities University of HonoursHonours to to date date from: HonoursHonours to todate date from: should take an initial step of publishing St. Andrews from: from: their links to big industry including spon- sorship deals, but also the deeper ways in which they have entangled their staff and students in the fossil fuel industry.
3. Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities Clean up Research
Knowledge and Power: and Knowledge and Power: Training
Students in Manchester disrupted the RBS stall at their Careers Fair in 2008.
36 Our educational institutions have Fossil fuel companies and their finan- attended by BP, Shell, Baker Hughes, 46% came from just four institutions: 37 become still more deeply entangled ciers ingratiate themselves to potential EDF, Centrica, Schulmberger and Total156 Robert Gordon University, University in the fossil fuel industry in a number employees through their research and the University of Warwick hosted of Aberdeen, Imperial College London of concerning ways. They train connections, shared staff, and spon- Petronas oil company.157 and Heriot-Watt University.162 company staff, design courses for and sored events, as discussed elsewhere in with fossil fuel companies, encourage this document. But they are also invited Educational institutions also promote The importance of these recruitment their students to work for them, onto university campuses specifically a number of schemes to their students channels to the fossil fuel industry is and, perhaps most significantly, are for the purpose of recruiting students to such as the “BP Ultimate Field Trip underlined by recent reports that in the delivering research which will unlock their companies. Competition”, promoted by the 21st century the fossil fuel industry is new fossil fuels. As well as giving University of Oxford:158 the Shell Step finding it hard to attract new staff. The them money and credibility, universi- The University of Manchester says: Initiative, advertised at the University average age of staff working in fossil ties are pushing their people and of Warwick;159 BP, ConocoPhillips and fuels has increased in recent years and skills towards fossil fuels. “BP’s alliance with The University Chevron’s STEM project160 and the it has been reported that the industry is of Manchester… enables BP to “ExxonMobil Engineering Challenge” “struggling to recruit” young people.163 Recruiting the next access the University’s world-class which offers an all-expenses paid generation executive education, high- weekend of “Water sports, Raft On top of the perceived unattrac- UK universities are recruiting and quality research facilities and its Building, Abseiling and site visits” to tiveness of fossil fuels as a career, training grounds for future engineers, undergraduate talent pool.” 155 potential recruits.161 dwindling reserves, the push for new geologists, marketing experts, unconventional sources of fuel, new designers, and managers. The fossil A comprehensive survey of such Although fossil fuel recruitment in pro-safety and environmental regula- fuel industry are competing against activities is beyond the scope of this education is widespread, much of the tions and increasingly difficult political more socially responsible employers report, but enough is known to see that activity is focused at universities with landscapes mean fossil fuel companies and going to great lengths to attract these practices are widespread. For the largest industry-focused research will be even more desperate to entice bright young potentials to their example careers fairs at Imperial College departments. In 1998 of the 795 gradu- the brightest into their fold. graduate schemes. London have over the last year been ates who took up careers in oil and gas As Rodney Chase (Non-Executive research member of staff, universities work166 and this is likely to still be the companies is much greater: £1.4 billion Chairman of Genel Energy plc and offer a cheap way of conducting riskier, case. But fossil fuel companies continue in 2009. Information about exactly former Deputy CEO of BP) points out: more speculative research. With public to spend a proportion of their research how fossil fuel companies spend their funding for energy research low and budget in universities because: internal research budgets is not publicly “Knowledge is embodied in dwindling, and government increasingly available. However, it is reasonable people, and they are the real key encouraging educational institutions to – Research in universities is to expect, as suggested by Scientists to the next level of productivity. No provide research to industry, universities cheaper and companies can for Global Responsibility,168 that fossil Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
machine can innovate. No piece of are driven towards fossil fuels. take advantage of their range of fuel companies would fund research technology can think about its own expertise and resources. in a way consistent with their capital limitations and experiment with Who funds and influences spending. If so the vast majority of this progress. No oil rig has ever walked energy research? – Universities are better suited to money would be spent on oil, gas and into my office with a great new idea. The vast majority of energy research in more experimental, long-term and coal research and development. That’s why in the new connected the UK is funded by fossil fuel companies collaborative research. knowledge economy, the first war and takes place outside of universities. Fossil fuel research is vital to the
Knowledge and Power: of this century will be the war for – Funding universities implies that industry at a time where it is increas- Knowledge and Power: human talent.” 164 The UK government funds energy fossil fuel companies are important ingly reliant on unconventional and research through the research councils: parts of society, giving them marginal sources of fuel. Oilfields such Researching the the Engineering and Physical Sciences credibility and supporting their as the Athabasca Tar Sands and new fossil fuel frontier Research Council and the Natural Envi- “social licence to operate”. oil fields under the Arctic Ocean are A number of UK universities have ronment Research Council. This funding currently very expensive and difficult to built deep connections with the fossil has declined dramatically over the last – Working in universities gives fossil extract. Research and development is fuel industry in the form of long-term 25 years and is now dwarfed by that of fuel companies access to students necessary for fossil fuel corporations to research collaborations. By proving the biggest fossil fuel companies.165 who can become future recruits. exploit such reserves. themselves vital to industry, some of the UK’s most prestigious universities In 2009 Shell, BP and ExxonMobil spent How is energy research Industry research is focused on five 38 have secured considerable income and £1,400 million on research and devel- funding spent? main purposes, assisting fossil fuel 39 research status. Despite wide changes opment: 13 times the energy research Over the last decade the UK government companies to: in legislation and public practice aimed budget of the UK Research Councils. research councils have stopped directly at driving sustainable innovation, a funding all fossil fuel research except 1. Find new fields as cheaply as small core of universities still work on In 2003, the “Degrees of Capture” for carbon-capture and storage, shifting possible, by minimising on-site breaking new frontiers for oil, coal and report estimated that 95% of this their focus towards renewable energy work through more predictive gas. As a science PhD studentship money was spent in-house on highly and energy efficiency technologies. 75% geology and modelling. costs considerably less than a full-time secretive and tightly results-focused of their £106 million energy funding in 2012 was spent explicitly on renewables 2. Extract from risky or small fields, research with the rest spent on carbon since “easy to access” fossil fuels Graph no. 2 capture and storage and general energy are being exploited already. Research and Development spending on Energy research. The UK Energy Research Centre, jointly funded by the Research 3. Extract more hydrocarbons from Councils, also directs most of its funding existing reservoirs, using new UK Government Research Councils (2012) towards renewables and general recovery techniques and improved energy research. This change marks a instrumentation technology. ExxonMobil (2009) considerable positive step for supporting a sustainable future. 4. Reduce costs of extraction, BP (2009) through new techniques and However, current energy research seismic mapping. Royal Dutch Shell (2009) spending by the Research Councils 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 is far smaller than 20 years ago.167 As 5. Meet tighter safety and Million GBP we have seen the combined research environmental regulations budgets of the biggest fossil fuel and improve image. Although most of this research takes was appointed a Non-Executive Director BIG OIL FUNDING TO place in-house, research into solving all of BP.170 At Imperial College, London, of these problems is still being carried BP funds various projects including UK UNIVERSITIES out in UK universities. one which can assess the condition of machinery in refineries remotely171 and Value of live research projects funded by Projects take place in a variety of in 2000 Imperial signed a deal with BP Shell, BP and Exxon in 2013 departments. In a survey by Platform, giving any division of BP Worldwide Case Study 172 Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
nef and Corporate Watch (2003) it access to Imperial’s research. was found that “over a third of the Live grants from BP, Shell and projects were carried out in geology In 2012 BP announced new multi- Exxon in £ million departments, another third in various million pound research deals working Sources: ESPRC, NERC, ESRC, Scientists for Global Responsibility engineering-type disciplines (including on biofuels with the University of materials and marine science), about Oxford173 and opening the £64 million 20% in specialist minerals, energy or “BP Centre for Advanced Materials” Robert Gordon University has Knowledge and Power: petroleum departments, and 7% in based at the University of Manchester awarded honorary degrees to Knowledge and Power: three oil execs in the last three chemistry-related subjects”. to “help its search for oil in deeper and years. It offers many fossil fuel 174 degrees including “MSc Drilling more challenging environments.” and Well Engineering” Based on data from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Shell has announced a number of
Council (EPSRC) the three biggest oil major new research deals with UK Heriot-Watt University’s Institute for Petroleum Engineering has companies operating in the UK (Shell, universities in recent months. In August deals with many smaller fossil fuel Shell companies including Arctic drilling Total research BP and Exxon) funded £56.7 million 2013 it announced a £3 million grant Cairn Energy and offers degree spending 2009 of research in our universities (see to develop oil and gas extraction with programmes such as “Petroleum Engineering MSc” 175 appendices). There are active projects Heriot-Watt University and in May the NEWCASTLE University at 19 diverse universities covering a University of Oxford announced a £5.9 £1.2 mil 40 range of topics, but many are explicitly million deal with Shell to fund a new 41 fossil fuel focused, and the university hyrdocarbons laboratory.176 University of Manchester, base of the soon to be opened £64 which received the lion’s share of this million BP International Centre for Advanced Materials. funding, Imperial College London, The University of Newcastle has ongoing LANCASTER University specialises in fossil fuel research. research funded by Shell working to £4.3 mil improve fossil fuel extraction177 and The University of Cambridge BP Institute researches improvements University of UK Government in pipeline flow. BP also sponsors Examples of research partnerships at Imperial College London, Shell SHEFFIELD Research Councils senior academic positions and the £7.3 mil BP and Shell are the largest corporate sponsored work about drilling in the Total energy spending Head of the Dept. of Engineering is funders of fossil fuel research and have Arctic and Angola178 as well as jointly a BP Director. The Oxford Institute for Energy LOUGHBOROUGH high-profile deals with some of the UK’s funding, with Qatar Petroleum, a $70 Studies: research is focused on fossil University University of fuel extraction and over 50% of £1.2 mil most prestigious universities. million 10-year cross-departmental funders are fossil fuel companies. CAMBRIDGE project on carbon capture.179 £7.1 mil In the last 15 years BP has worked closely University of CARDIFF OXFORD with a number of universities. In 2000 A number of academic positions are University £1.8 mil £1.5 mil BP gave a £23.1 million endowment to sponsored by fossil fuel companies, for University College LONDON Imperial College found the ‘BP Institute’ at Cambridge. example the BP Professor of Organic £6.8 mil LONDON £17.4 mil Largely focused on improving oil pipeline Chemistry at Cambridge.180 the “BP University of Exeter’s Camborne University of School of Mines runs degrees such SOUTHAMPTON £3.2 mil flow, the grant was at the time the largest Chair of Inorganic Chemistry” at Impe- as “BEng Mining Engineering” and 181 Vice-Chancellor visits Kazakhstan ever sum handed over from an oil and rial College London; and the “BP with David Cameron to get research 169 funding for mining of metals, gas company to a British university. In Professor of Information Engineering” minerals and gas. Imperial Centre for Petroleum 182 Studies has major research 2012 when Dame Ann Dowling, Head of and “BP Professor of Economics” at collaborations with Total, BP, Shell 183 and is funded by Schlumberger, Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, the University of Oxford. StatOil, EDF, Anglo American, Aramco, ConocoPhillips, Texaco, British Gas, npower and Exxon. As well as the BP Institute at Cambridge the companies derive considerable “The power and influence of the fuel companies to advise and even a handful of universities have dedicated value-for-money from these oil and gas industry mean that direct the content of their courses. fossil fuel research centres which swallow partnerships with even small amounts their policies and activities have a The University of Manchester offers BP up a high proportion of “energy” research of funds tied to other agreements. major influence on the direction of staff “access the University’s world-class funding. Some of these are marked on energy-related R&D and the degree executive education”192 with 600 staff the map on p.41 and include the Oxford Shifting the focus to which society is successful in trained in Manchester’s “BP Projects Institute for Energy Studies, over 50% It is a positive step that government tackling these problems.”191 and Engineering College.”193 Imperial Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
of whose grants come from oil and gas funding for energy is mostly fossil-free, College London runs various courses companies184 and which focuses almost but it doesn’t represent anywhere near – Scientists for Global Responsibility, throughout the year for “delegates from entirely on fossil fuel production;185 a significant enough proportion of ‘Science and the Corporate Agenda’, 2009 industry” at their School of Professional the Centre for Petroleum Studies at energy research funding to support the Development,194 and the University of Imperial College London with income of wide-scale changes we need to build a Where they have succeeded, fossil fuel Cambridge’s dedicated “BP Institute” £17.3 million from Shell and BP alone; sustainably-powered society. companies have built deep connections offers training and postgraduate courses Heriot-Watt University’s Institute for with universities. The income universities for oil and gas industry personnel.195
Knowledge and Power: Petroleum Engineering whose sponsors The last 15 years have seen a consistent gain comes at the cost of their integrity Knowledge and Power: include Arctic-drillers Cairn Energy who stream of government policy designed and independence. By helping industry Where course curricula are tailored funded a new Postgraduate Centre and to encourage universities to provide reduce extraction costs or exploit to meet the needs of industry, the a professorship;186 and the University of more services to industry and to riskier reserves they are helping unlock universities involved are often very Exeter’s Camborne School of Mines, on become more like the private sector the sources of oil, coal and gas which proud of the extent to which their whose behalf the Vice-Chancellor visited themselves. Indicative of this was when can drive dangerous climate change programmes are set by industry Kazakhstan in 2013.187 government management of universities for decades to come. Research which priorities. Whole degree programmes was subsumed into the Department for supports further extraction of fossil fuels are designed to meet the needs of Fossil fuel funding in context Business, Innovation and Skills in 2009. is no longer in the public interest, so the fossil fuel industry and courses are For simplicity this report, including the universities shouldn’t be doing it. offered at many different institutions: data shown in the graph on p. 38, focus Even if the government’s ‘impact 42 on current funding from Exxon, BP and agenda’ for research is supposed to be There is an urgent need for cutting- – “MSc Petroleum Refining Systems 43 Shell. A number of universities have about more than simply catering for the edge research to refocus from private Engineering” and related courses research deals with other oil, gas and needs of business,189 it seems largely short-term gain to long-term sustainable at the University of Surrey.196 coal companies, and as has been shown, to be taken to mean exactly that. In solutions. Reform of the research some of the biggest deals have only been justifying the Natural and Environmental councils is not enough. Renewable – “MSc Integrated Petroleum announced in recent months. Some more Research Council’s statement of energy needs more research funding, Geoscience” and related courses examples of these partnerships can be “de-risking investment” in the polar while research on how to extract at the University of Aberdeen.197 found in the case studies on p.16. regions as a strategic aim, “Duncan more fossil fuels should be stopped. Wingham, the NERC chief executive, This would be greatly facilitated by – “MSc Petroleum Geophysics” Although the total funding detailed said all scientific institutes were now government giving universities the space and related courses at Imperial here is high, they pale in comparison to under pressure to ensure they were to pursue longer-term open research and College London.198 the research and development budgets providing value to the UK economy.”190 removing incentives to commercialise of the companies that gave them. research for short-term gain. – At their Dubai campus and in Grants registered on the EPSRC data- Dwindling public funding for energy Edinburgh Heriot-Watt University base cover only 0.6% of the big three’s research coupled with government Education for the fossil offer fossil fuel programmes such as research spending (see appendices) and drives for universities to pursue commer- fuel industry “Petroleum Engineering MSc.”199 in 2003 the Degrees of Capture report cialisation push universities towards fossil A select group of universities have estimated that only 5% of oil and gas fuels as dependable sources of income. become further integrated into the fos- – “BEng Mining Engineering” and company research and development sil fuel industry by involving oil, gas and similar fossil fuel courses at the budgets were spent in universities.188 As the UK is home to two of the world’s coal companies in their courses. This University of Exeter.200 largest fossil fuel companies, BP and takes two forms: firstly, some institu- Despite their relative financial Shell, UK universities are easy prey tions directly train industry staff in areas – “MSc Drilling and Well Engineering” insignificance to the companies that for fossil fuel companies looking for such as management and engineering; and many other courses at Robert fund them, as this section has shown, departments to take over. secondly, some universities invite fossil Gordon University.201 These arrangements make it easier for Business School’s Advisory Board.206 in making proprietary, that is… having Universities have become embroiled in students and industry staff to access Staff sponsorships and appointments as their personal property, whatever the business of fossil fuels in a number state-subsidised training at prestigious in- allow fossil fuel companies to influence intellectual capital is generated from their of key ways and challenging these stitutions, ensuring the fossil fuel industry and make decisions about the way sponsorship, but academic freedom – relationships requires sustained action. It is better trained to exploit more sources work is carried out within universities, indeed, the life of the mind – depends is difficult to challenge systems on which of coal, oil and gas in years to come. and even determine the direction of on the free flow of information.” people’s education and livelihoods may entire faculties. These appointments depend. For this reason action is needed Fossil Fuel Universities Fossil Fuel Universities
Who works for who? can be used by industry to direct public There are few examples of UK universities from government as well as individual Some educational institutions are institutions to focus on corporate profit giving oil, coal and gas companies direct universities: there needs to be more so involved in training, research and at the expense of public good. control of academic agendas. But if govern- funding for renewables and energy providing services to the fossil fuel ment drives for university commercialisation efficiency research. Universities also industry that they have seen fit to host Intellectual property continue unopposed, UK institutions may need to be given the freedom to pursue industry staff and even give senior and the USA: A foretaste be tempted to follow in the footsteps broad socially beneficial aims rather than academic positions to ex-industry and of things to come? of their US counterparts. They would be encouraged to seek narrow short-term
Knowledge and Power: current fossil fuel company staff. The nature of intellectual property highly likely to build on, and depend upon income deals with the private sector. Knowledge and Power: agreements in university-corporate their working relationships with fossil fuel The appointment of ex-industry funding relationships is of central companies and so give away knowledge for There is also much universities can staff is commonplace in engineering importance. If universities maintain their industry profits rather than public good. do by themselves. It is up to them to departments. These personal connec- right to knowledge generated within ensure their governance structures have tions give companies a direct link to their departments, they can make some Untangling fossil fuels integrity and decisions are not made students and research staff. claim that this knowledge can be put from our universities by individuals compromised by their to public use. However, when they start A number of universities are deeply ties with the fossil fuel sector. Students Some universities host staff and to give these rights away, such research entangled in the fossil fuel industry, should have increased opportunities projects of fossil fuel companies on can no longer truly be said to be public. carrying out research that unlocks riskier to take part in university governance their campuses. For example, the This has started to happen at Imperial fossil fuels, hosting and training their so they can scrutinise appointments. 44 University of Oxford hosts a private College London, which signed a deal staff, and encouraging a new generation Universities can also take a lead, giving 45 oil consultant in the Smith School.202 with BP allowing the company access to run the industry. As well as giving students better options for courses and The largest instance is the Energy to Imperial research (see “Research them money and credibility, universities career choices. Finally it is vital that Technology Institute which is housed at Collaborations”, p.40). are giving away some of their best universities retain their right to keep Loughborough University and majority- people to the fossil fuel sector. their discoveries for the benefit of the controlled by private sector funders, In the USA, universities giving fossil fuel general public and not to give away including BP, EDF, E.ON, and Shell.203 companies oversight and governance We need to re-purpose fossil-fuelled their intellectual property to industry. responsibilities is much more common. universities to focus their staff and Many specific professorships are The Centre for American Progress207 students on creating a sustainable As the case studies in this report show, sponsored by fossil fuel companies, and the Center for Science in the future by: each university’s situation is unique and such as those detailed in “Research Public Interest (CSPI)208 show that oil presents different opportunities for Collaborations” (see p.40). companies are routinely invited to sit on 1. Providing students with ethical student campaigns. People & Planet’s governing boards, offered intellectual careers advice and opportunities Fossil Free campaign aims to support There are also startling examples of property, given power to decide which rather than encouraging them to students to work out what is appropri- influential academic appointments held areas to research, and allowed to veto work for fossil fuels. ate for their university and to start an by current fossil fuel executives at the and delay publication of research. The appropriate and targeted campaign.209 UK’s most prestigious universities. Since CSPI concluded that “as universities 2. Stopping training fossil fuel staff 2012 Dame Professor Ann Dowling, become more commercialized, there and dropping courses designed Government and higher education Head of Cambridge’s Department of is less space to perform research that to funnel students into oil, gas institutions need to recognise the Engineering, has been serving as a is critical of industry or challenges the and coal extraction. damage caused by their entanglement Non-Executive Director of BP Group,204 conventional wisdom” and suggest with the fossil fuel industry, making and BP’s Chief Executive of Refining that “there is an inherent conflict 3. Phase out fossil fuel research steps to progress sustainability at local and Marketing, Iain Conn, is a member between the interests of universities and refocus research towards and national levels, in order to build an of the Council of Imperial College205 and the interests of corporations” since climate solutions. education system fit for the future. and Chairman of the Imperial College “corporations obviously are interested appendices ENDNOTES
Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities 1. A full list of all UK university endowments is available at: 1 C.P. Snow, ‘The Rede Lectures’ 1959. Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities http://peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free/resources http://s-f-walker.org.uk/pubsebooks/2cultures/Rede-lecture-2-cultures.pdf 2 Richard Jones, ‘We sold out our energy future’. 2. Full results of the People & Planet Green League 2013 ranking of UK universities http://www.softmachines.org/wordpress/?p=1285 (including ethical investment scores) is available at: http://peopleandplanet.org/greenleague 3 Science / Business ‘Making Industry-University Partnerships Work’. http://www.sciencebusiness.net/Assets/94fe6d15-5432-4cf9-a656-633248e63541.pdf 3. Further detailed information and source material for this report can be found in Online Appendices at: http://peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free/report-extras 4 Financial Times, ‘Will green jobs eat all the brown jobs?’ blog article, 14 Oct 2010. http://blogs.ft.com/energy-source/2010/10/14/will-green-jobs-eat-all-the-brown- jobs/#axzz2IeAOJDh9 These include the following: a. Detailed lists of fossil fuel companies 5 Read more about these aims online http://www.peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free. b. Estimate of total value of UK universities pensions 6 Imperial College London, ‘Advising the oil and gas industry’ website. 46 c. Examples of fossil fuel staff in receipt of university honours http://www.imperialconsultants.co.uk/showcases/advising-oil-and-gas-industry 47 d. List of funding for energy research, comparisons 7 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: e. Examples of current Shell, BP and Exxon research funding to UK universities Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003 (p.146). http://platformlondon.org/ppublications/degrees-of-capture-universities-the-oil-industry- and-climate-change/ 8 University of Manchester, ‘Global Partnerships’ website. http://www.energy.manchester.ac.uk/globalpartnerships/ 9 University of Cambridge, ‘Research at the BP Institute for Multiphase Flow’, 2010. http://www.bpi.cam.ac.uk/research/bpi_B5_portrait_aw_V12b.pdf 10 University of Oxford, ‘BP Bursary’ website. http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/ugcurrent/enhanced/bp/ 11 Scientists for Global Responsibility, ‘Science and the Corporate Agenda’, 2009 (p.52). http://www.sgr.org.uk/publications/science-and-corporate-agenda 12 Desmond Tutu, ‘Build Moral Pressure to End the Israeli Occupation’, New Perspectives Quarterly, 14 Jun 2002. http://www.digitalnpq.org/global_services/nobel%20laureates/06-14-02.html 13 International Energy Agency, ‘World Energy Outlook 2012’ http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/English.pdf 14 Tyndall Centre, ‘Record high for global carbon emissions’ news story, May 2013. http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/communication/news-archive/2012/record-high-global-carbon-emissions 15 The Guardian. ‘Why the dash for gas has got off to a false start’. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/aug/04/dash-for-gas-false-start 16 People & Planet’s Green League is the only comprehensive and independent league table of UK universities ranked by environmental and ethical performance. It is compiled annually by the UK’s largest student campaigning network, People & Planet. http://www. peopleandplanet.org/greenleague 17 C.P. Snow, ‘The Rede Lectures’ 1959. 38 Exeter College, University of Oxford, ‘Exonian wins BP Prize for the best overall performance http://s-f-walker.org.uk/pubsebooks/2cultures/Rede-lecture-2-cultures.pdf in the second year, Department of Earth Sciences’ news story. http://exeterlive.nsms.ox.ac.uk/news/item%3Fgid%3D1319545084 18 For more information see People & Planet’s Fossil Free campaign online http://www. peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free 39 University of Oxford, ‘BP Bursary’ website. http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/ugcurrent/enhanced/bp / 19 BP, ‘Statistical Review of World Energy’, 2013. http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-bp/statistical-review-of-world-energy-2013.html 40 University of Oxford, ‘Aggregated College Accounts’, 31 Jul 2012. http://d307gmaoxpdmsg.cloudfront.net/collegeaccounts1112/aggregated.pdf 20 Tyndall Centre, ‘Record high for global carbon emissions’ news story, May 2013. http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/communication/news-archive/2012/record-high-global-carbon-emissions 41 People & Planet, ‘Green League 2013’ website. http://peopleandplanet.org/green-league-2013/tables 21 Research Councils UK, ‘Pathways to Impact’. http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/impacts 42 University of Oxford, ‘Recommendation on Divestment from Arms Manufacturing Companies’ news story, Apr 2012. 22 The Guardian, ‘Environmental science agencies told to help oil firms drilling in polar http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/councilsec/committees/srirc/report_march_2010/ regions’, October 2012. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/oct/14/environmental-science-agencies-oil-polar 43 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. 23 Compiled with data from the EPSRC. See appendices for more information. http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- and-climate-change/ Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities 24 These are Schlumberger (2 people), E.On (1 person), and British Gas (1 person). EPSRC, Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities ‘College Member List by Organisation, 2013. 44 Heriot-Watt University Magazine, ‘Strategic Alliance’ article, 2013 (p.16). http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/other/CollegeMemberListbyOrganisation.pdf http://www.hw.ac.uk/ppr/docs/strategic-alliance.pdf 25 For more information see BiofuelWatch http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/ 45 The Journal (Edinburgh), ‘Heriot-Watt opens new postgrad centre: the centre was partly 26 The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, ‘Annual Report’, 2011 (p.59, ‘List of contributors’ section). funded by a donation by Cairn Energy of over £1 million’, 13 Oct 2010. https://www.oxfordenergy.org/about/annual-report/ http://www.journalonline.co.uk/article/6982-heriotwatt-opens-new-postgrad-centre 27 Of the 258 donations and grants they have ever received, 8 out of the 10 biggest oil companies 46 The Scotsman, ‘Shell Pumps 3m Into Research Centre at Heriot-Watt’ newspaper are represented and over 50% of grants listed came from oil and gas companies. The Oxford article, 6 Aug 2013. Institute for Energy Studies, ‘Annual Report’, 2011 (p.59, ‘List of contributors’ section). http://www.scotsman.com/business/energy/shell-pumps-3m-into- research-centre-atheriot- https://www.oxfordenergy.org/about/annual-report/ watt-1-3030404 28 Oxford Energy Seminar, ‘Objectives’ webpage. 47 Heriot-Watt University, ‘Petroleum Engineering MSc’ website. http://www.hw.ac.uk/what-can-istudy/dubai/postgraduate/petroleum-engineering.htm 48 http://www.ecollaboration.co.uk/seminar/home.shtml 49 29 University of Oxford, ‘New collaboration with University of Brasilia and BP Biofuels’ 48 The Daily Telegraph, ‘BP Invests in UK research to help it drill deeper’ newspaper news story, 10 Sep 2012. article, 7 Aug 2012. http://www.p21c.ox.ac.uk/news/10/09/2012/new-collaboration-university-brasilia-and-bpbiofuels http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9457340/BP-investsin-UK- research-to-help-it-drill-deeper.html 30 University of Oxford, ‘Oxford announces Shell support for energy research’ news story, 9 May 2013. 49 University of Manchester, ‘Manchester to host £64m BP research centre’, news story, 7 Aug 2012. http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2013/130509_1.html http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=8589 31 University of Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, ‘Justin Adams: Visiting 50 University of Manchester, ‘Manchester Energy Global Partnerships’ website. Business Fellow’ website. http://www.energy.manchester.ac.uk/globalpartnerships/ http://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/people/justinadams.html 51 University of Manchester, ‘Business Engagement Case Study: BP’ pamphlet. 32 University of Oxford, ‘Professor Michael Brady FRS FEng, BP Professor of Information http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=15003 Engineering’ website. 52 University of Manchester, ‘Manchester Energy Global Partnerships’ website. http://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~jmb/ http://www.energy.manchester.ac.uk/globalpartnerships/ 33 University of Oxford, ‘Tony Venables, BP Professor of Economics’ website. 53 BP, ‘Annual Review 2011’ (p.66). http://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/index.php/academic/tony-venables http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/investors/annualreporting/archive.html 34 University of Oxford, ‘Royal Geographical Society 21st Century Challenges: The Energy 54 Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Conference Fund 2012 Final Review Report. Water Food Stress Nexus’ news story, 12 Dec 2012. http://www.researchsupport.eps.manchester.ac.uk/documents/funding/RCF_Reports/EAES_ http://www.futureoffood.ox.ac.uk/events/royalgeographical-society-21st-century-challenges PGRC_2012.pdf -energy-water-food-stress-nexus 55 University of Manchester, ‘Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 July 2011’. 35 University of Oxford Careers Service, ‘Win an international trip with BP’ website. http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=12021 http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/win-an-international-trip-with-bp/ 56 People & Planet, ‘Green League 2013’ website. 36 University of Oxford, ‘BP STEM Scholarships’ website. http://peopleandplanet.org/green-league-2013/tables http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/ugcurrent/2012/bpstem/ 57 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: 37 University of Oxford Blavatnik School of Government, ‘BP Awards launched’ website. Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. http://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/announcements/bp-awards-launched http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- and-climate-change/ 58 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: 76 Imperial College London, ‘Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering: Postgraduate Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. Courses’ website. http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/courses/postgraduatecourses and-climate-change/ 77 Imperial College London, Energy Futures Lab Annual Lecture 2013’ news story, 12 Mar 2013. 59 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/administration/energyfutureslab/ Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. eventssummary/event_14-2-2013-16-28-28 http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- and-climate-change/ 78 Imperial College London, Engineering Careers Fair’ brochure, 25 Oct 2013. https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/careers/Public/FAIRS/Eng%20Fair%20brochure%202012.pdf 60 University of Cambridge, ‘Research at the BP Institute for Multiphase Flow’ brochure, 2010. Imperial College London, ‘Science Careers Fair’ brochure, 31 Jan 2014. http://www.bpi.cam.ac.uk/research/bpi_B5_portrait_aw_V12b.pdf http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/careers/employers/promotion/careersfair/science 61 BP, ‘Energy Sustainability Challenge’ webpage. 79 Imperial College London, ‘Fellows and Honorary Graduates’ website. http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/sustainability/the-energy-future/the-energy-challenge/ http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial/imperial_people/fellows energysustainability-challenge.html 80 Imperial College London, ‘Annual Report and Accounts 2011–12’. 62 Wikipedia, ‘BP Professor of Organic Chemistry’ article. https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/finance/Public/annual_report/annual_report_11_12.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Professor_of_Organic_Chemistry 81 Imperial College London, ‘Amount invested in companies and financial products by the Endowment’ 63 BP, ‘Energy Sustainability Challenge’ webpage. response to FOI request, Aug 2013. Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/sustainability/the-energy-future/the-energy-challenge/ https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund_8#incoming-421829 Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities energysustainability-challenge.html 82 People & Planet, ‘Green League 2013’ website. 64 Times Higher Education, ‘Close links to BP could tar Cambridge reputation’ newspaper http://peopleandplanet.org/green-league2013/tables story, 24 Jun 2010. http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=412186 83 BP, ‘Iain Conn, Chief Executive, Refining and Marketing’ website. http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-bp/company-information/board-and-executive- 65 People & Planet, ‘Green League 2013’ website. management/theboard/iain-conn.html http://peopleandplanet.org/green-league-2013/tables 84 Imperial College London Business School, ‘Advisory Board’ website. 66 Imperial College London, ‘TOTAL Laboratory for Reservoir Physics’ website. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/people/advisoryboard http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/research/perm/totallab 85 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: 67 BP, ‘Annual Review 2011’ (p.75). Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/investors/annualreporting/archive.html http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- 50 and-climate-change/ 51 68 Imperial College London, ‘December / January ESE Newsletter’, 1 Feb 2013. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/engineering/ 86 Imperial Consultants, ‘Advising the Oil and Gas Industry’ website. earthscienceandengineering/newssummary/news_1-2-2013-16-25-28 http://www.imperialconsultants.co.uk/showcases/advising-oil-and-gas-industry 69 Shell, ‘World leading carbon storage research laboratories open in London’ news story, 16 Sep 2011. 87 Professional Pensions (magazine), ‘Top 100 Pension Schemes 2010’ supplement, February 2010. http://www.shell.co.uk/gbr/aboutshell/media-centre/news-and-media-releases/2012/carbonstorage- http://www.lucidaplc.com/uploads/2010_PPTOP100LR.PDF research-laboratories-london.html 88 BBC News, ‘UK banks receive £37bn bail-out’ news story, 13 Oct 2008. 70 Imperial College London, ‘Imperial College London and Imperial Consultants to continue on-going http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7666570.stm collaboration with Shell’ news story, 11 Jul 2013. http://www.imperialconsultants.co.uk/news/2013/imperial-college-london-and-imperial-consultants- 89 Estimate by Greenpeace quote on BBC News, ‘Q&A: Trident replacement’, 16 Jul 2008. continue-goingcollaboration-shell http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13442735 71 Imperial College London, ‘Shell – Imperial College Grand Challenge on Clean Fossil Fuels’. 90 Professional Pensions (magazine), ‘Top 100 Pension Schemes 2010’ supplement, February 2010. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/energyfutureslab/research/grandchallenges/cleanfossilfuels http://www.lucidaplc.com/uploads/2010_PPTOP100LR.PDF 72 Imperial College London, ‘Energy Futures Lab’ website. 91 BBC News, ‘2012 London Olympics ‘still on budget’ news story, 14 Feb 2011. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/energyfutureslab http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12445712 73 Imperial College London, ‘Professor Nick Long, The Sir Edward Frankland BP Chair of 92 DFID ‘Annual Report 2011 Volume 1’, 2011. Inorganic Chemistry’ website. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/documents/publications1/departmental-report/2011/annual-report-2011-vol1.pdf http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/naturalsciences/chemistry/ 93 The Guardian, ‘UK Benefit Welfare Spending’ newspaper story, 8 Jan 2013. newssummary/news_26-5-2011-13-37-50 http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jan/08/uk-benefit-welfare-spending 74 Imperial College London, ‘Corporate Partnerships: Who We Work With’. 94 The Guardian, ‘Third of debts owed by poor countries to UK is interest on original loans’, http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/corporatepartnerships/whoweworkwith 22 Jan 2012. Imperial College London, ‘Chemical Engineering: Alliances’. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/22/poor-countries-debt-uk-interest http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/chemicalengineering/partnerships/alliances Imperial College London, ‘Careers Service: Patrons Club’. 95 Note: no data could be found for 18 of the smaller higher education institutions. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/careers/about/careersserviceatimperial/patronsclub 96 Data are most recent total available using 2011-12 annual reports. See appendices for 75 Imperial Consultants, ‘Clients’ website. more information. http://www.imperial-consultants.co.uk/clients 97 Data from 2012. 98 USS Annual Report 2012. 120 Nerys John, ‘The Campaign Against British Bank Investment in Apartheid’ journal article, http://www.uss.co.uk/HowUssIsRun/publications/AnnualReportsaccounts/Pages/default.aspx 2000 (‘African Affairs’ no. 99). 99 Based on internal pension schemes at the University of Reading, University of Liverpool, 121 Times Higher Education, ‘When Ethics Wins the Pension Fund Debate’, 17 Dec 1999 (Guy Hughes). University of Cambridge and University of Edinburgh. See appendices for detail. http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=149342§ioncode=26 100 ‘UK lecturers’ strike over pensions disrupts students’ BBC News Website, 24 March 2012. 122 Free Burma Coalition, ‘Blogspot’ website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12830435 http://freeburmacoalition.blogspot.co.uk/ 101 University of Edinburgh, ‘Re. List of investments through endowments’ Freedom of Information 123 Ethical Investment Wiki, ‘Ethical Investment Case Studies’ website. request email response. http://ei.wikia.com/wiki/Campaign_case_studies https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/list_of_investments_through_endo 124 In the USA “Six states, nearly 10 major municipalities and more than 15 colleges and universities have set 102 University of Glasgow, ‘media_143766’ spreadsheet. policies to restrict or divest tobacco stocks”. PR Newswire, ‘Most Funds Resist Urge to Divest Tobacco http://www.lib.gla.ac.uk/media/media_143766_en.xlsx Stocks Despite Worsening Performance on Wall Street, IRRC Study Finds’, 1 Feb 2000. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/most-funds-resist-urge-to-divest-tobacco-stocksdespite- 103 University of Reading, ‘FOI request IMPS 00990’ response to FOI request, Aug 2013. worsening-performance-on-wall-street-irrc-study-finds-72336352.html https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund_3#outgoing-294363 125 Go Fossil-Free, ‘Commitments’ website. 104 Imperial College London, ‘Amount invested in companies and financial products by the http://gofossilfree.org/commitments/ Endowment’ response to FOI request, Aug 2013. Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund_8#incoming-421829 126 Desmond Tutu, ‘Build Moral Pressure to End the Israeli Occupation’, New Perspectives Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities Quarterly, 14 Jun 2002. 105 Personal correspondence with UCL Finance Department, available on request. http://www.digitalnpq.org/global_services/nobel%20laureates/06-14-02.html 106 University of St. Andrews, ‘FOI-710’ response to FOI request. 127 Nerys John, ‘The Campaign Against British Bank Investment in Apartheid’ journal article, http://www.standrews.ac.uk/media/finance/documents/FOI-710.pdf 2000 (‘African Affairs’ no. 99). 107 Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, ‘Divestment and what it could mean for the 128 Nerys John, ‘The Campaign Against British Bank Investment in Apartheid’ journal article, valuation of fossil fuel assets ‘, awaiting publication. 2000 (‘African Affairs’ no. 99). 108 Data are most recent total available using 2011-12 annual reports. See appendices for 129 The Guardian Sustainable Business, ‘Fossil-fuels Pension Divestment’ website. more information. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/fossil-fuels-pension-divestment 109 Source: personal letter from the Deputy Director of Corporate Finance, University of Surrey. 130 University of Oxford, ‘Recommendation on Divestment from Arms Manufacturing Companies’ 110 University of Edinburgh, ‘Re. List of investments through endowments’ Freedom of Information news story, Apr 2012. 52 request email response. http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/councilsec/committees/srirc/report_march_2010/ 53 https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/list_of_investments_through_endo 131 Middlebury College, ‘Panel weighs costs, benefits of divestment’ news story, 23 Jan 2013. 111 Imperial College London, ‘Amount invested in companies and financial products by the http://www.middlebury.edu/newsroom/archive/524638/node/444010 Endowment’ response to FOI request, Aug 2013. 132 Move Your Money, ‘Councils challenged to ‘use their money twice’ and make banking and https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund_8#incoming-421829 investments work harder’, July 2013. 112 University of Reading, ‘FOI request IMPS 00990’ response to FOI request, Aug 2013. http://www.moveyourmoney.org.uk/blog/councils-challenged-to-use-their-money-twice-andmake- https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund_3#outgoing-294363 banking-and-investments-work-harder 113 Total number of students in the UK was 2,496,645 in 2011/12. HESA, ‘Statistics - Students and 133 The Guardian Sustainable Business, ‘Sustainable Investment Does Not Mean Lower Returns’ qualifiers at UK HE institutions’ website. newspaper story, 23 Jul 2013. http://www.hesa.ac.uk/content/view/1897/239/ http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainableinvestment-lower-returns 114 Imperial College London, ‘Amount invested in companies and financial products by the Endowment’ 134 Carbon Tracker, ‘Stranded Assets’ http://www.carbontracker.org/stranded-assets response to FOI request, Aug 2013. 135 OilChange International, Greenpeace UK, Platform ‘Reserves Replacement Ratio in a https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund_8#incoming-421829 marginal oil world’. 115 University of Reading, ‘FOI request IMPS 00990’ response to FOI request, Aug 2013. http://www.greenpeace.org/austria/Global/austria/dokumente/Studien/klima_RRR_final_A4pages.pdf https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund_3#outgoing-294363 136 Platform, Greenpeace, FairPensions, ‘Out in the cold: investor risk in Shell’s Arctic exploration’, 116 University of Edinburgh, ‘Re. List of investments through endowments’ Freedom of Information May 2012. request email response. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/reports/out-cold-investor-risk-shells-arcticexploration https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/list_of_investments_through_endo 137 UCU, ‘Environmental News’ pamphlet, Jul 2013. 117 Kings College London, ‘kcl – legal-compliance’ reponse to FOI request, Aug 2013. http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/d/f/Environmental_News_July_2013.pdf https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund#incoming-416743 138 Go Fossil-Free, ‘Commitments’ website. 118 University of Birmingham, ‘Freedom of Information request - Endowment fund’ response to http://gofossilfree.org/commitments/ FOI request, Aug 2013. 139 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/endowment_fund_2#incoming-421906 Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003 (p.67). 119 The Guardian, ‘RBS involved in £40bn loans to fossil fuel companies in past six months’ http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degreesof-capture-universities-the-oil-industry- newspaper story, 28 May 2012. and-climate-change/ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/may/28/rbs-loans-40bnfossil-fuel-companies 140 Imperial College London, ‘December / January ESE Newsletter’, 1 Feb 2013. 161 ExxonMobil, ‘ExxonMobil Engineering Challenge (EMEC)’ website. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/engineering/ http://www.exxonmobil.co.uk/UK-English/HR/jobs_EMEC.aspx earthscienceandengineering/newssummary/news_1-2-2013-16-25-28 162 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: 141 Wikipedia, ‘BP Professor of Organic Chemistry’ article. Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Professor_of_Organic_Chemistry http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-of-captureuniversities-the-oil-industry- and-climate-change/ 142 Imperial College London, ‘Professor Nick Long, The Sir Edward Frankland BP Chair of Inorganic Chemistry’ website. 163 Financial Times, ‘Will green jobs eat all the brown jobs?’ blog article, 14 Oct 2010. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/naturalsciences/chemistry/ http://blogs.ft.com/energy-source/2010/10/14/will-green-jobs-eat-all-the-brown-jobs/#axzz2IeAOJDh9 newssummary/news_26-5-2011-13-37-50 164 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: 143 University of Oxford, ‘Professor Michael Brady FRS FEng, BP Professor of Information Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003 (p.146). Engineering’ website. http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- http://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~jmb/ and-climate-change/ 144 University of Oxford, ‘Tony Venables, BP Professor of Economics’ website. 165 Scientists for Global Responsibility, ‘Science and the Corporate Agenda’, 2009. http://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/index.php/academic/tony-venables http://www.sgr.org.uk/publications/science-and-corporate-agenda 145 Exeter College, University of Oxford, ‘Exonian wins BP Prize for the best overall performance 166 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: in the second year, Department of Earth Sciences’ news story. Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003 (p.34). Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities http://exeterlive.nsms.ox.ac.uk/news/item%3Fgid%3D1319545084 http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities and-climate-change/ 146 University of Oxford, ‘BP STEM Scholarships’ website. http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/ugcurrent/2012/bpstem/ 167 Richard Jones, ‘We sold out our energy future’. http://www.softmachines.org/wordpress/?p=1285 147 University of Oxford Blavatnik School of Government, ‘BP Awards launched’ website. http://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/announcements/bp-awards-launched 168 Scientists for Global Responsibility, ‘Science and the Corporate Agenda’, 2009 (p.53). http://www.sgr.org.uk/publications/science-and-corporate-agenda 148 University of Oxford, ‘BP Bursary’ website. http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/ugcurrent/enhanced/bp / 169 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. 149 The Royal Society, ‘Industry Fellowship’ website. http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-of-captureuniversities-the-oil-industry- http://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/industryfellowship/ and-climate-change/ 150 University of Glasgow, ‘Re: Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information’ 170 BP, ‘Energy Sustainability Challenge’ webpage. 54 email (information obtained by Freedom of Information request). http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/sustainability/the-energy-future/the-energy-challenge/ 55 https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/cairn_energy_2 energysustainability-challenge.html 151 University of Warwick, ‘Distinguished Lecture Series: Stepping up the Energy Challenge’ 171 BP, ‘Annual Review 2011’ (p.75). news story, 16 Feb 2011. http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/investors/annualreporting/archive.html http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/events/events/distinguished_lecture_energy_challenge/ 172 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: 152 Imperial College London, ‘Energy Futures Lab Annual Lecture 2013’ news story, 12 Mar 2013. Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/administration/energyfutureslab/ http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-of-captureuniversities-the-oil-industry- eventssummary/event_14-2-2013-16-28-28 and-climate-change/ 153 University of Oxford, ‘Royal Geographical Society 21st Century Challenges: The Energy Water 173 University of Oxford, ‘New collaboration with University of Brasilia and BP Biofuels’ Food Stress Nexus’ news story, 12 Dec 2012. news story, 10 Sep 2012. http://www.futureoffood.ox.ac.uk/events/royalgeographical-society-21st-century-challenges- http://www.p21c.ox.ac.uk/news/10/09/2012/new-collaboration-university-brasilia-and-bpbiofuels energy-water-food-stress-nexus 174 The Daily Telegraph, ‘BP Invests in UK research to help it drill deeper’ newspaper story, 7 Aug 2012. 154 Oxford Energy Seminar, ‘Objectives’ webpage. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9457340/BP-investsin-UK- http://www.ecollaboration.co.uk/seminar/home.shtml research-to-help-it-drill-deeper.html 155 University of Manchester, ‘Energy: Global Partnerships’ website. 175 The Scotsman, ‘Shell pumps £3m into research centre at Heriot-Watt’ newspaper story, 6 Aug 2013. http://www.energy.manchester.ac.uk/globalpartnerships/ http://www.scotsman.com/business/energy/shell-pumps-3m-into-research-centre-atheriot- 156 Imperial College London, Engineering Careers Fair’ brochure, 25 Oct 2013. watt-1-3030404 https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/careers/Public/FAIRS/Eng%20Fair%20brochure%202012.pdf 176 University of Oxford, ‘Oxford announces Shell support for energy research’ news story, 9 May 2013. Imperial College London, ‘Science Careers Fair’ brochure, 31 Jan 2014. http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2013/130509_1.html http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/careers/employers/promotion/careersfair/science 177 University of Newcastle, ‘Deep Bioengineering’ website. 157 University of Warwick, ‘Impact Fair Guide’ brochure, 11 Oct 2012. http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ceg/research/geoscience/geoenergy/deepbioengineering/index.htm https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/scs/whatson/fairs/impact_fair_guide.pdf 178 Imperial College London, ‘December / January ESE Newsletter’, 1 Feb 2013. 158 University of Oxford Careers Service, ‘Win an international trip with BP’ website. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/engineering/ http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/win-an-international-trip- with-bp/ earthscienceandengineering/newssummary/news_1-2-2013-16-25-28 159 University of Warwick, ‘Shell Step Initiative’ website. 179 Shell, ‘World leading carbon storage research laboratories open in London’ http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/news/warwickpeople/shell_step_initiative news story, 16 Sep 2012. 160 Techfestsetpoint, ‘STEM In The Pipeline Winners’ website. http://www.shell.co.uk/gbr/aboutshell/media-centre/news-and-media-releases/2012/ http://www.techfestsetpoint.org.uk/activities/pipeline/ carbonstorage-research-laboratories-london.html 180 Wikipedia, ‘BP Professor of Organic Chemistry’ article. 201 Robert Gordon University, ‘Postgraduate Study’ website. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Professor_of_Organic_Chemistry http://www.rgu.ac.uk/areas-ofstudy/subjects/engineering/study-options/postgraduate 181 Imperial College London, ‘Professor Nick Long, The Sir Edward Frankland BP Chair of 202 University of Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, ‘Justin Adams: Visiting Inorganic Chemistry’ website. Business Fellow’ website. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/naturalsciences/chemistry/ http://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/people/justinadams.html newssummary/news_26-5-2011-13-37-50 203 Energy Technologies Institute, ‘Annual Review 2011’. 182 University of Oxford, ‘Tony Venables, BP Professor of Economics’ website. http://eti.co.uk/downloads/literature/ETI_Annual_Review_2011.pdf http://www.economics.ox.ac.uk/index.php/academic/tony-venables 204 BP, ‘Energy Sustainability Challenge’ webpage. 183 University of Oxford, ‘Professor Michael Brady FRS FEng, BP Professor of Information http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/sustainability/the-energy-future/the-energy-challenge/ Engineering’ website. energy-sustainabilitychallenge.html http://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~jmb/ 205 BP, ‘Iain Conn, Chief Executive, Refining and Marketing’ website. 184 The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, ‘Annual Report’, 2011 (p.59, ‘List of contributors’ section). http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-bp/company-information/board-and-executive- https://www.oxfordenergy.org/about/annual-report/ management/theboard/iain-conn.html 185 Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, ‘About Us’ website. 206 Imperial College London Business School, ‘Advisory Board’ website. https://www.oxfordenergy.org/about/ http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/people/advisoryboard
Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities 186 Heriot-Watt University Magazine, ‘Strategic Alliance’ article, 2013 (p.16). 207 Center for American Progress, ‘Big Oil Goes to College’ report, 2010. Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities http://www.hw.ac.uk/ppr/docs/strategic-alliance.pdf http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/report/2010/10/14/8484/big-oil-goes-to-college/ 187 University of Exeter, ‘Vice-Chancellor accompanies PM on high profile business mission to 208 Center for Science in the Public Interest, ‘Big Oil U.’ report, 2008. Kazakhstan’ news story, 1 Jul 2013. http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/bigoilu.pdf http://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/news/title_300093_en.html 209 For more information see People & Planet’s campaign aims. 188 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: http://peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- 210 Financial Times, ‘FT 500 2012’ website. and-climate-change/ http://www.ft.com/companies/ft500 189 Research Councils UK, ‘Pathways to Impact’ 211 Motley Fool, ‘Is Arctic Drilling a Boom or Bust Proposition?’ news story, 2013. http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/impacts http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/01/16/is-arctic-drilling-a-boom-or-bust-proposition.aspx 56 190 The Guardian, ‘Environmental science agencies told to help oil firms drilling in polar regions’, 212 Friends of the Earth Scotland, ‘Cairn Energy in the Arctic Casino’ briefing, Sep 2012. 57 October 2012. http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/sites/files/CairnEnergy_Public%20Briefing2012web.pdf http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/oct/14/environmental-science-agencies-oil-polar 213 The USS is for high-paid management and academic staff. The USS is excluded from the average 191 Scientists for Global Responsibility, ‘Science and the Corporate Agenda’, 2009 (p.52). because the majority of unaccounted-for pensions will be for administrative and lower-paid positions. http://www.sgr.org.uk/publications/science-and-corporate-agenda 214 STV, ‘University defends degree for Deepwater Horizon boss Tony Hayward’ news story. 192 University of Manchester, ‘Manchester Energy Global Partnerships’ website. http://news.stv.tv/scotland/232676-robert-gordon-university-gives-degree-to-former-bp-boss-tonyhayward/ http://www.energy.manchester.ac.uk/globalpartnerships/ 215 University of Birmingham, ‘Distinguished Leader - Tony Hayward, From Zero to Hero and 193 University of Manchester, ‘Business Engagement Case Study: BP’ pamphlet. Back’ webpage, Mar 2013. http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=15003 http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/business/mba/events/2013/march/distinguished-leader- tonyhayward.aspx 194 Imperial Consultants, ‘Oil and Gas’ website. http://www.imperial-consultants.co.uk/expertise/oilgas 216 Aston University, ‘Alumni News, Graduation 2009’ webpage, 2009. http://astonalumni.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=498 195 New Economics Foundation, Corporate Watch and Platform, ‘Degrees of Capture: Universities, the oil industry and climate change’, 2003. 217 http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial/imperial_people/fellows http://platformlondon.org/p-publications/degrees-ofcapture-universities-the-oil-industry- and-climate-change/ 196 University of Surrey, ‘Petroleum Refining’ website. http://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/engineering/petroleumrefining/ 197 University of Aberdeen, ‘Integrated Petroleum Geoscience - Taught Programme’ website. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/prospectus/pgrad/study/taught/petrol/ 198 Imperial College London, ‘Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering: Postgraduate Courses’ website. http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/courses/postgraduatecourses 199 Heriot-Watt University, ‘Petroleum Engineering MSc’ website. http://www.hw.ac.uk/what-can-istudy/dubai/postgraduate/petroleum-engineering.htm 200 University of Exeter, ‘MEng/BEng Mining Engineering’ website. http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/miningminerals-engineering/undergraduate/degrees/mining-engineering/ Knowledge and Power: Fossil Fuel Universities
58 “The power and influence of the oil Fossil Fuel Universities and gas industry mean that their policiesKnowledge and Power: and activities have a major influence on the direction of energy-related60 R&D and the degree to which society is successful in tackling these problems.”
// Scientists for Global Responsibility, ‘Science and the Corporate Agenda’, 2009