The dangers posed by our climate crisis are enormous. As the crisis continues to unfold, we can expect increases in societal instability, economic hardships, violent conflicts, biodiversity loss, weather-related disasters, famine, water insecurity, poverty, malnutrition, disease and death.
I am confident that this is not the future we want. We have to muster the willpower and take meaningful action now.
I ask the University of Utah president and Board of Trustees to please quicken our pace in making our community carbon neutral, and to divest the university's endowment from any investments that include fossil fuels.
It’s unethical to have investment in an industry that is at the heart of our climate crisis. The fossil fuel industry has spent millions lobbying against clean energy, and they have spent millions more funding climate denial. Additionally, their business plan is not in line with what scientists say we can safely emit and keep below the dangerous 2 degrees Celsius tipping point. This places our communities at risk and is at odds with our value of human rights.
Please find it in your hearts to act courageously, boldly and aggressively. To help create a more just, compassionate and sustainable world for us all.
Michael Bard, Salt Lake City