We, the undersigned, call upon Dartmouth to dissociate from the fossil fuel industry. The science is clear that continued fossil fuel extraction is incompatible with a safe, healthy, and livable future. Yet, many of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies have doubled down on oil and gas production and continue to engage in climate misinformation and delay tactics.

Dissociation refers to cutting all financial ties with fossil fuel companies by “no longer soliciting or accepting gifts or grants from a company, purchasing the company's products, or forming partnerships with the company that depend upon the exchange of money,” according to Princeton University’s Dissociation Policy.

At Dartmouth specifically, dissociation from fossil fuel companies could look like:

1. Implementing an institutional Fossil Free Research policy to reject donations and research funding from fossil fuel companies.

The fossil fuel industry has a long track record of skewing climate science to mislead the public and delay action. This is why Princeton and Harvard, among others, have already implemented some form of fossil free research policies. For example, Harvard's Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability says it “will not accept funds from, or partner with, any company that does not share the goal of moving our global economy away from fossil fuels.”

The Fossil Free Dartmouth Investigating Irving Report demonstrates that Dartmouth’s ties with the fossil fuel industry threaten the College’s academic credibility, greenwash the fossil fuel industry’s reputation, and filter out engagement from important climate leaders who are critical of the fossil fuel industry.

2. Ensuring a fossil free Advisory Board for the Irving Institute for Energy and Society

We call on the Dartmouth Board of Trustees to remove current fossil fuel representatives from the Irving Institute Advisory Board by the end of the academic year (Spring 2024). The Irving Institute should further commit to a policy to ensure future Advisory Board members do not represent fossil fuel companies. We believe these steps are crucial to emphasize Dartmouth’s commitment to academic independence, particularly in accordance with the College’s Gift Acceptance Policy which states that gifts to Dartmouth “should not be granted with any degree of expected benefit or influence over Dartmouth activities.”
Furthermore, the Irving Institute Advisory Board should increase representation from the policy, non-profit, and civil society sectors to at least 50%. Leadership positions in sustainability-related institutions should be reserved for people actively driving forward climate solutions, rather than those profiting from continued extraction of fossil fuels.

Dartmouth holds significant weight in guiding society’s approach to climate action through education, research, and the financial partnerships it chooses to embrace. It is time for the College to take a stance against fossil fuels and step up as a true climate leader.

Read the full Investigating Irving Report here: https://www.fossilfreedartmouth.com/report.html.