Divest USC from Fossil Fuels

USC Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Greg Hill and the University Council

There is an urgent need for action on climate change. USC states in its Strategic Plan that ‘sustainability is a core responsibility of the University’. But it has not yet made a commitment on investment in fossil fuels.

We call on USC to live up to its values and:

  • divest from any current investments in fossil fuels, and
  • make a public commitment that it will not make any future investment in fossil fuels.

Why is this important?

USC’s Strategic Plan is very clear. Supporting sustainability across social, economic, cultural and environmental domains is a core responsibility of USC. USC has also committed to strengthening leadership in sustainability for the region and beyond. And engaging with staff, students and the broader community to promote sustainability locally and beyond is one of USC's top priorities.

By making a public commitment not to invest in this dirty industry, USC can show leadership and join many other universities such as La Trobe University and QUT in Australia, or the University of Glasgow and the University of Maryland overseas, in sending a powerful message about the need to keep fossil fuels in the ground – a powerful message which would not only spread locally, but would reach far beyond our region.

As a University ‘founded to serve the needs of the wider Sunshine Coast community’, USC is uniquely placed to lead the region by recognising the urgency of our climate crisis and publicly stating that it will not invest in fossil fuels.


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To: USC Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Greg Hill and the University Council
From: [Your Name]

​There is an urgent need for action on climate change. USC states in its Strategic Plan that ‘sustainability is a core responsibility of the University’. But it has not yet made a commitment on investment in fossil fuels.

We believe divestment is one of the most powerful contributions USC can make toward the fight against climate change.

We would like to see USC live up to its value and take the following steps:

• divest from any current investments in fossil fuels, and 
• make a public commitment that it will not make any future investment in fossil fuels.

USC’s Strategic Plan is very clear. Supporting sustainability across social, economic, cultural and environmental domains is a core responsibility of USC. USC has also committed to strengthening leadership in sustainability for the region and beyond. And engaging with staff, students and the broader community to promote sustainability locally and beyond is one of USC's top priorities. By making a public commitment not to invest in this dirty industry, USC can show leadership and join many other universities such as La Trobe University and QUT in Australia, or the University of Glasgow and the University of Maryland overseas, in sending a powerful message about the need to keep fossil fuels in the ground – a powerful message which would not only spread locally, but would reach far beyond our region.

As a University ‘founded to serve the needs of the wider Sunshine Coast community’, USC is uniquely placed to lead the region by recognising the urgency of our climate crisis and publicly stating that it will not invest in fossil fuels.

We are calling on the University to take bold, decisive action to fight climate change by making a public commitment that it will not invest in fossil fuels.

Sincerely,