Manifesto: Call for WUR to cut ties with the fossil fuel industry

As an academic community of students and staff, we are committed to the search for scientific knowledge, to unbiased research and to a just and liveable world for all. Fossil fuel companies have a decades-long track record of using the good name of science to peddle misinformation. Their sponsoring activities lead to research bias, and they are not committed, in word or deed, to a just and liveable world. On top of that their influence extends to more than undermining science alone. These companies’ activities are causing environmental catastrophes in the Global South, harming people, communities, and non-human nature. No institution, let alone our university, should support this.

WUR proudly wears the label of ‘the most sustainable university in the world’, while still being closely tied to the fossil fuel industry through sponsoring and recruitment activities on campus. Through these ties WUR allows fossil fuel companies to undermine science and to let them use WUR’s status for greenwashing. By working together with them, the university gives a green light to their destructive practices and human rights violations.

We cannot accept this. With bottom-up pressure rising, now is the time to move forward: we demand our executive board to cut the ties with the fossil fuel industry.

We ask you – student or staff member of the academic community – to sign this manifesto and send it to others who might be willing to sign as well. You can sign it as an individual staff or student, as a research or chair group or any other group associated with WUR. The manifesto will be used to show to the board that there is an overwhelming amount of concerned staff and students who care about our commitments as a university!

Sign this petition and call for WUR to cut ties with the fossil fuel industry!

Want to be involved in the Fossil Free WUR campaign. Join this whatsapp group for announcements and updates: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DTtzTs6A7EF4Ts52NZf5hC