Oxford University's ties with ExxonMobil and BP exposed
OXFORD University has accepted more than £11m from oil, gas and petrochemical companies since 2015 despite its well-advertised climate pledge.
A damning report from the student-run Oxford Climate Justice
Campaign (OCJC) revealed that the university has received at least £8.2 million
in research grants and £3.7 million in donations from oil giants like
Schlumberger, ExxonMobil and BP.
This comes after the Oxford Mail exposed Oxford University's
'toxic' relationship with big oil.
Last month, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by
the newspaper to the university revealed that, in 2019-2020, it received
between one and five million pounds from both oil company Eni Spa and Donald
Porteous, BP’s former head of crude.
Now, research from the student-led activist group claims
that already this year the university has accepted £100m from the UK-based
petrochemical conglomerate Ineos for a new institute to study antimicrobial
resistance.
OCJC argue that the donation is a 'clear example of
greenwashing'.
The £100m Ineos donation was not included in the grand total
because as a single donation it appeared to skew the total.
Earlier this year, the university released a new
sustainability strategy committing itself to achieving net zero carbon
emissions and net biodiversity gain by 2035.
The strategy, however, does not address the ties to the
industry raised by the report, the authors says.
An OCJC spokesperson added: "The fossil fuel industry
perpetuates the climate crisis and upholds global injustice.
"It contributes to the death and destitution of people
worldwide, particularly the marginalised and disenfranchised.
"The University of Oxford must cut all its ties to this
extractive industry.
"We acknowledge that cutting ties with the fossil fuel
industry will require great effort.
"This makes it all the more important to start this
process as soon as possible.
"We will not stop campaigning until the university
stands free from these ties."
In addition, the group has now launched an online petition
in an effort to pressure the university to accept their demands.
It has now been signed by a little over 600 people.
A spokesperson for the university addressed the findings:
"Those donating money or sponsoring programmes at the university have no
influence over how academics carry out their research or what conclusions they
reach.
"Researchers publish the results of their work whether
the results are seen to be critical or favourable by industry or governments.
"Partnerships with industry allow the university to
apply its knowledge to real challenges of pressing global concern, with funding
often going directly into research into climate-related issues and renewables.
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