• Climate
    • Climate Change
    • Extreme Weather
    • Mitigation
    • Natural Phenomena
  • Green Living
    • Buildings
    • Farming
    • Food and Drink
    • Holidays
    • Home & Garden
    • Natural Health
    • Personal Journey
    • Shopping
  • Resources
    • Finance
    • Water
      • Fresh Water
      • Oceans
    • Energy
    • Trees
    • Waste
      • Composting
      • Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Reduction
      • Repurpose
      • Reuse
  • Biodiversity
    • Air
    • Water
    • Land
  • Innovation
    • Creativity
    • Design
      • Green Building
    • Science
  • Community
    • Civil Society Work
    • Climate Express
    • Eco Communities
    • Faith communities
    • Gatherings
      • Awards
      • Conferences
      • Expo
    • Green Jobs
    • Vulnerable People
  • Responsibility
    • Calls to Action
    • Business
      • Corporate
      • SME’s
    • Governance
      • Cities & Towns
      • Governments
      • Policy Development
    • Individual
  • Training
    • Books
    • Courses
    • DVD’s & Films
    • Youth
      • Bursaries
      • Challenges
      • Competitions
      • Internships
      • Mentorships
      • Schools

The Green Times

Climate change is the most widespread & complex problem humanity has ever faced! There is no time to waste and we need to turn green talk into profound green action. This is the intention of the GREEN TIMES.

9695-green-times_cop21_paris-agreement
You are here: Home / Articles / Archbishop Tutu joins students’ call for fossil free UCT

Archbishop Tutu joins students’ call for fossil free UCT

August 1, 2014 Leave a Comment

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has endorsed a campaign amongst staff, students and alumni at the University of Cape Town calling on the university to freeze and phase out its fossil fuel investments, to help stop dangerous climate change.

The Archbishop’s call came 10 days before the formal launch of the UCT campaign during a public meeting on 30 July..

His statement echoed his international call for fossil fuel divestment, made in an op-ed in the Guardian on 10 April.

The international fossil fuel divestment campaign was begun in the US by 350.org, and has been called the ‘fastest growing divestment in history’, already supported by nine US colleges and universities, numerous faith-based organisations, and cities as large as Seattle.

Hundreds of campaigns are underway on other campuses. Stanford University has announced its withdrawal from any investment in coal. Institutional investors are scrambling to produce carbon-free indices.

Clear moral case for divestment

The moral case for fossil fuel divestment is clear. Scientists have estimated that humanity can produce no more than 565 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide by 2050, if there is to be a good chance of meeting the internationally agreed target of keeping average global warming below two degrees.

But fossil fuel companies’ existing reserves are estimated at 2,795 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent – five times the safe limit. If they follow their business plans and burn these reserves, humanity is likely to face extremely dangerous climate change. The impact of such climate change on Africa, especially for the poor and vulnerable, is likely to be particularly severe.

A fossil fuel bubble?

The conventional business case for fossil fuel investment is also beginning to look very poor. Since 2011, renewable energy has led global investment in new power plants. Fossil fuel’s share of power generation will shrink to 46% in 2030 from 64% now, according to Bloomberg. Many observers believe there is a bubble in the fossil fuel market.

Ten days ago, the lead economic commentator of the Daily Telegraph described the industry as “the sub-prime danger of this cycle”. Numerous analysts point to the danger of potential “stranded assets” – reserves that fossil fuel companies will be unable to burn should the world agree on stronger action to stop climate change.

More that you may like:

Cape Town school kids participate in international coastal clean up
Time is ripe for large-scale solar photovoltaic
Natural Building part 1: What is it?
Cameroon conservation efforts clash with human survival

Share this:

  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • Email
  • Print
  • Pinterest
tgt_bottom_banner_border_two_frames

Leave a Reply or Follow Cancel reply

tgt_top
Welcome to SA\s green news portal
JOIN OUR MONTHLY NEWSFEED
Like our work? Please help Subscribe-now
  • ECO DIRECTORY
    • Accommodation
    • Animals
    • Building
    • Cleaning
    • Clothing
    • Cosmetics
    • Electronics
    • Energy
      • Saving
      • Solar
    • Financial Services
    • Food/Farming
    • Gardening
    • Government
    • Health
    • Office
    • Publications
    • Restaurants
    • Supermarkets
    • Training
    • Transport
    • Trees
    • Waste
      • Composting
      • Recycling
    • Water
    • Web Services

Topics

Africa agriculture animals awards Cape Town carbon emissions children climate change community conference conservation drought economy education energy Eskom extreme weather farming food fracking global warming government Greenpeace health ocean oceans organic petco plastic Plastics Federation of South Africa protect protests Recycling renewable energy research rhino science solar energy South Africa sustainability united nations waste Water wildlife youth

RSS Feed & Email Subscriptions

The Green Times
The Green Times» Biodiversity
The Green Times» Climate
The Green Times» Community
The Green Times» Governance
The Green Times» Innovation
The Green Times» Mitigation
The Green Times» Resources
The Green Times» Responsibility
The Green Times» Training
The Green Times» Youth
2012-giving-thanks-for-environmental-wins
CONTRIBUTE HERE
Do you like what we do? Would you like to help keep this work afloat with a small monthly contribution? Join as a member and let's do it together.
nedbank-plays-pivotal-role-in-sas-first-green-bond
BECOME A SPONSOR
Doing good is good for business. We rely on corporate CSI and philanthropic support to drive sustainability mainstream, where it belongs.
  • ABOUT GREEN TIMES
    • Our Ethos
    • Our Intention
    • Contributors
  • Support
    • Editorial
    • Sales
    • Contributions
  • Journalist Training
  • Feedback from Our Clients
  • Newsfeed Archive
JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORKS
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
JOIN OUR MONTHLY NEWSFEED
Like our work? Please help Subscribe-now

Return to Top of Page · Copyright © 2011–2016 All rights reserved · GREEN TIMES +2721 855 0518 · Design & Admin - ARACHNE DESIGN ·

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.