To: The University of Hawaii Foundation and UH Board of Regents
Divest UH From Fossil Fuels
I urge you to immediately cease new investment in any fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds, including commingled funds, and to immediately begin divestment from all such holdings.
Unchecked, global warming will disrupt everything living on Earth for centuries. UH students will have to live in the world fossil fuel use has disfigured. You can help us salvage it.
Unchecked, global warming will disrupt everything living on Earth for centuries. UH students will have to live in the world fossil fuel use has disfigured. You can help us salvage it.
Why is this important?
Trevor Alexander is a University of Hawaii student in the part of the U.S. most vulnerable to climate change and most dependent on fossil fuel. He is concerned about where UH dollars are going: the UH Foundation has invested $261 million in funds including fossil fuels! This is dangerous and counterproductive--global warming threatens the livelihood of everyone in Hawaii [1].
In his words: "Current projections indicate global warming could change Hawaii forever as early as 2029 [2]. This isn't a problem for our children, it's our problem--we students will have to try to make a life in a world with more frequent, stronger hurricanes; severe damage to tourism; beach loss; increased disease; water shortages; dying coral reefs; and agricultural losses. It won't look like home anymore."
[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/28/climate-change-study-hawaii_n_5731956.html
[2] http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/mora/Publications.html
In his words: "Current projections indicate global warming could change Hawaii forever as early as 2029 [2]. This isn't a problem for our children, it's our problem--we students will have to try to make a life in a world with more frequent, stronger hurricanes; severe damage to tourism; beach loss; increased disease; water shortages; dying coral reefs; and agricultural losses. It won't look like home anymore."
[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/28/climate-change-study-hawaii_n_5731956.html
[2] http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/mora/Publications.html