Historic legal complaint asserts that Harvard’s fossil fuel investments violate state law
On April 30, the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey met with Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard (FFDH) to discuss a historic legal complaint asserting that Harvard’s fossil fuel investments aren’t just immoral, but illegal. The complaint, which was filed in March by FFDH and over 110 cosignatories, has the potential to reshape institutional investing nationwide in a time of climate crisis.
Representing the complaint signatories at the meeting were former SEC Commissioner Bevis Longstreth (HLS ‘61), Representative Erika Uyterhoeven (HBS ‘19), Climate Defense Project staff…
In letter, FFDH called on Arch Capital director and Harvard Management Company board member to act on climate
On the morning of April 26th, Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard wrote an open letter to Eric Doppstadt, a director of global insurance firm Arch Capital who also serves on the Harvard Management Company board, calling on Arch to publicly rule out support of the Adani Carmichael coal mine. Following the letter, Arch has taken the important step of promising to never insure the dangerous and unsustainable initiative — a win for the planet and the future.
For years, the #StopAdani campaign and Indigenous communities have sought to oppose the continued construction of the Adani Group’s Carmichael coal mine project. The…
In a virtual event organized by Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard, members of the university came together to celebrate the lighter side of climate action
On April 22, members of the Harvard community came together to celebrate the lighter side of climate action at Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard’s second virtual Earth Day. The event, which drew attention to the urgency of environmental justice and Harvard’s continued refusal to act, featured a number of comedic performances by students from across the university.
In one of the night’s sketches, news anchors shared the latest headlines from campus in the style of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update. In another, “Mr. ExxonMobil CEO,” at the invitation of his many friends on the Harvard Corporation, gave a commencement address to…
Nearly 120 call on Harvard to cease its financial embrace of climate destruction
On March 15, Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard and a number of other members of the Harvard community filed a complaint with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, asserting that Harvard’s fossil fuel investments aren’t just immoral, but illegal. Today, nearly 30 additional signatories join the complaint, as momentum builds for an end to institutional complicity in the climate crisis.
The complaint—which is not a lawsuit, but rather a call for the AG to investigate the matter— argues that by investing an estimated $838 million in the fossil fuel industry, Harvard is violating its obligations under MA law. Specifically, the laws…
Harvard has said that it wants an open discourse on divestment. So why is it backing out of commitments to talk?
On March 15, our campaign filed a complaint with the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey arguing that Harvard’s investments in fossil fuels (estimated at around $838 million) are not only immoral, but illegal. The 56-page document, which outlines how these holdings violate the Harvard Corporation’s duties as a charitable institution, was signed by more than 80 elected officials; climate scientists; financial leaders; Harvard students, faculty, alumni, and community members; and campus, civic, and environmental organizations.
On March 16, the Harvard administration cancelled a previously…
Legal Strategy Has the Potential to Reshape Institutional Investing Nationwide
For nearly a decade, the Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard (FFDH) campaign has argued that in an age of climate crisis, it’s wrong to invest in the companies destroying the planet. Today, FFDH escalates that argument to the Massachusetts attorney general, asserting that Harvard’s fossil fuel investments aren’t just immoral — but also illegal. The legal strategy has the potential to reshape institutional investing in a time of climate crisis.
The argument takes the form of an official complaint filed this morning, in which student organizers, alongside concerned faculty, climate scientists, alumni, political leaders, civic groups, and community members, allege…
Report takes steps in the right direction, while leaving serious gaps that undermine commitments
In April 2020, Harvard announced a set of general net-zero climate principles for its investment portfolio — and pledged that more specific details would be released by “late 2020.” Yesterday, February 25, Harvard followed through, releasing an initial report on its commitments. The report reflects some positive developments — but also includes significant shortcomings, such as a refusal to divest from the industry most responsible for this crisis, that undermine Harvard’s stated commitments and reflect the continued and seismic disconnect between Harvard’s actions and its espoused rhetoric about the urgent need for climate action.
The report contains two important victories…
Parody website draws attention to Harvard’s inaction on climate crisis
They don’t wear capes, but they wield massive superpowers. Together, the 13 members of the Harvard Corporation control Harvard’s $42 billion and shape the university’s impact on its students and on the world. And yet, few even know who they are.
Students raise concerns about Harvard’s climate inaction, lay out pathways to institutional leadership
Last week, student organizers from Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard (FFDH) met with administrators to discuss the state of Harvard’s response to the climate crisis. The students at the meeting were Ilana Cohen ’22, Claire Pryor ’22, Joseph Winters ’21, Connor Chung ’23, and Isha Sangani ’24. Representing Harvard was President Lawrence Bacow, Senior Fellow William Lee, and members of the Corporation Committee on Shareholder Responsibility.
The discussion had been requested by students in hopes of identifying common ground, after months of growing community consensus — including resounding votes by students, faculty, and alumni — regarding the inadequacy of Harvard’s response…
Students: In Wake of Crises, Harvard’s Obligation to the World Cannot Be Ignored
CAMBRIDGE, MA — On Saturday, members of the Harvard community took to the Yard in a socially-distanced manner to call on Harvard to disclose, divest, and reinvest its fossil fuel holdings. The rally, which was organized entirely by first-year students, sent a loud and clear message to administration that in the wake of historic global crises, Harvard’s obligation to the world cannot be ignored.
During the event, the crowd called for change through song, chant, speeches, and more. The participants also wrote their personal reasons for supporting divestment on signs, and observed seven minutes of silence to mark the remaining…
Divest Harvard
We call upon Harvard to #divest its endowment from fossil fuel companies and reinvest responsibly.
