Statement of Divestment

The Columbia University Democrats support Columbia Divest for Climate Justice's campaign to divest Columbia University in the City of New York's endowment from the top 200 publicly traded fossil fuel companies, as ranked by the potential carbon emissions content of their reported reserves.

We urge Columbia to acknowledge the political power of divestment and stand up for climate justice, remembering that those who are most affected by climate change are those who did the least to cause it. Columbia is not only a leader in the study of climate science, but an institution known and respected throughout the world as a major center of research and forward thinking. Columbia, when confronted with the global divestment movement, is clearly implicated in this debate.

By investing in, and profiting from, the fossil fuel industry, Columbia’s administration hinders urgently required political action. Fossil fuel investment at Columbia immorally contributes to governmental inefficacy in responding to climate justice concerns of underrepresented frontline communities. It demonstrates a disregard for the clear consensus of students, faculty, and alumni.

The Columbia Dems endorse divestment as a means of calling upon both our university and our peers to recognize the urgency of climate change, and avoid the patterns of complacency that currently plague climate politics. The social license of the extraction industry must be revoked. And we must do this as soon as possible, on all fronts.

Signed,
The Columbia University College Democrats Executive Board
‪#‎divestnow‬

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The above statement was voted on, and supported by, the current Executive Board in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Constitution. For questions, comments, or concerns, please contact: dems@columbia.edu.