SUNY SA Passes Resolution Calling on SUNY to Divest from Fossil Fuels

New York – The Executive Committee of the Student Assembly of the State University of New York (SUNY SA) passed a resolution calling on SUNY to fully divest from companies and interests that manufacture fossil fuels.  The resolution was put forth to the Assembly’s Executive Committee and successfully passed during the Committee’s business meeting on Saturday, September 26.

The resolution calls upon SUNY and its universities to freeze new investments in fossil-fuel companies immediately and to divest completely from any direct ownership in these companies or in funds that include fossil-fuel equities and corporate bonds, and instead invest in alternative energies and technologies.  The Assembly believes that this action is paramount in maintaining SUNY’s role at the forefront of sustainable economic progress.

This mandate comes in response to a number of factors including the $950 billion that has been divested from fossil-fuels worldwide, the exponential growth of the solar industry and other alternative industries that has occurred inside the U.S. over the past five years and will continue to occur far into the future, and the World Health Organization’s statistics on the 4.2 million yearly global deaths linked to climate change. 

Multiple SUNY universities currently have divestment campaigns in place, and in passing this resolution, the Assembly formally states that it is time for SUNY to begin the process of divestment.   

Zachary Beaudoin, Chair of SUNY SA’s Sustainability Committee, stated, "As divestment becomes a recognized and heralded global financial decision, I am thrilled that the Assembly has called upon SUNY to fully divest from fossil fuels. This action speaks to the ongoing measures in which SUNY SA actively participates that continue to shape SUNY's status as a world leader on such important topics.”

SUNY Student Assembly President Thomas Mastro believes that the Assembly made a strong, productive decision in the passing of this resolution. His remarks were as follows:“Passing this resolution and calling upon SUNY to divest from fossil fuels were progressive steps for SUNY SA to take. From Plattsburgh to Geneseo, our students have asked their home campuses and SUNY itself to divest, and as student representatives, our organization formally agrees. By removing fossil fuels and potentially harmful technologies from its list of investments and instead involving itself with alternative technologies and clean energy, SUNY will take the lead on this important initiative and continue to be a beacon of progress for our nation and our world.”

Source: The Student Assembly of the State University of New York (SUNY SA)