2013- S21
Whereas, global climate change is an increasing threat to our world’s
wellbeing, and fossil fuel divestment both sends a strong message of
the University’s commitment to address this issue and withdraws
support from companies that profit off contributing to climate change,
and;
Whereas, Earth has undergone an increase in its mean surface
temperature of 1.4 °F since the beginning of the 20th century, with
about 1.0 °F of that increase occurring in the last thirty years, and;
Whereas, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
established by the United Nations Environment Programme and renowned
as the leading body on climate change, estimates that mean surface
temperatures are likely to rise 2-5.2 °F further in their lowest
emissions scenario in the 21st century, and;
Whereas, the IPCC’s highest emissions scenario increases that range to
4.3-11.5 °F, and;
Whereas, the 2009 International Climate Science Congress declared that
“recent observations confirm that, given high rates of observed
emissions, the worst-case IPCC scenario trajectories (or even worse)
are being realized,” and;
Whereas, these increases in mean surface temperatures pose enormous
threats to our economic and environmental wellbeing, including the
disappearance of Arctic Sea ice, increased droughts, and more severe
weather events, and;
Whereas, the IPCC is more than 90% confident that these increases in
mean surface temperatures are due to human activities, primarily the
burning of fossil fuels, and;
Whereas, fossil fuel extraction and consumption negatively affect
human health and are fundamentally unsustainable practices, and;
Whereas, the University of Massachusetts is signed onto the American
College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, affirming its
commitment to sustainable practices and reaching carbon neutrality, and;
Whereas, the University of Massachusetts Foundation Investment
Committee has set a moral precedent for its investments by divesting
from corporations complicit with the South African Apartheid regime in
1978 and the genocide in Darfur in 2007, and;
Whereas, the Investment Committee Chairman Roy J. Zuckerberg said of
the 2007 Darfur divestment, “we take seriously our fiduciary
responsibilities to the University, its students, faculty and alumni.
We are taking this action because we believe that it is the right
thing to do,” and;
Whereas, Hampshire College, Unity College, and Sterling College have
already divested, therefore;
Be it enacted that the Student Government Association recommends that
the UMass Foundation Investment Committee:
1. Immediately freeze any new investment of the endowment in fossil
fuel companies,
2. Divest completely from direct ownership and from any commingled
funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds
within five years, and
3. Consider the environmental and social impacts of all current and
future investments.
Sponsored by Senator Cusher and Secretary of Sustainability Raich
This is the group of students that fight for the students. No one should be complacent with the way things are, and the only real way for us to change the status quo is to pick the officials that we think would best represent us. A lot of students do not think that electing student officials will make a difference in their lives; this could not be further from the truth. The student government is the body who decides which RSO’s to fund and how much to fund them, the legislation which we think would help the campus community, defend student rights, and even sit on committees to pick new deans and chancellors. Underrepresented groups on this campus especially need to take the initiative and vote this campaign season as they have the most to gain. Greek Life and Multicultural organizations have usually been less inclined to vote on campus issues; however this year seems to see the tide turning, with a more Diverse and Greek body running for Senate. So make sure to vote for your area’s candidates and as always let me know if you have any concerns