The University of Toronto’s School of the Environment will no longer accept funds from fossil fuel companies, making it the only North American academic institution with such a policy after Princeton's recent reversal.
Dharna Noor reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- The University of Toronto’s environment school will stop accepting money from fossil fuel companies for research, scholarships, events, and recruitment.
- This decision comes after long-term advocacy from climate activists pushing for an end to corporate influence on climate-related research.
- While this policy does not apply to the entire university, broader discussions about fossil fuel ties are ongoing.
Key quote:
"Faculty, researchers, and students stood together at the University of Toronto to ensure that their School of the Environment will be a place for just climate research, not an avenue for corporate influence."
— Alicia Colomer, managing director of Campus Climate Network
Why this matters:
Financial ties between academic institutions and fossil fuel companies can create conflicts of interest, undermining critical climate research. Dissociating from these companies may lead to more unbiased and impactful research on sustainable solutions.
