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    VisionandLeadershipTowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity

    ByChristopherBangs

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    VisionandLeadership

    TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity

    November2012

    Ifwearecomplacent,theworldwillpassusby.

    PrincipalMonroe-Blum

    ByChristopherBangs

    Globalclimatechangeiscalledthemostsignificantthreatfacinghumanity.

    Anthropogenicgreenhousegasemissionshavesteadilyraisedthetemperatureof

    theplanetsincethestartoftheIndustrialRevolutioninthe18thcentury.TheEarths

    surfacetemperatureisnow0.8Cwarmerthanin1911,with0.6Cofthatwarming

    occurringinthelastthirtyyears(BASC,2011).

    Thescienceonglobalwarmingisclearandcompelling.Thisbriefwilllayout

    theimpactsofclimatechangeontheplanet,discussthenegativeeffectsofclimate

    changeonMcGillUniversitysfuturefunding,detailtheinvestmentlinksbetween

    theUniversityandfossilfuelcompanies,andarguethattheBoardofGovernors

    mustdivestfromfossilfuelcompaniestofulfillitsmoralobligationtohumanityand

    itsfiduciaryobligationstotheUniversity.

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    Giventheurgencyofclimatechangeandtheclearandcompellingrationale

    fordivestment,thestudents,faculty,staff,andalumniofMcGillUniversitydemand

    that:

    1. ThattheInvestmentCommitteebeinstructedtoimmediatelydispose,inanorderlyandresponsiblefashion,oftheUniversitysholdingsincorporations

    whichdeveloptheCanadiantarsands,transportorrefinehydrocarbonfrom

    theCanadiantarsands,sellproductsoftheCanadiantarsands,orare

    otherwiseinvolvedintheproduction,distributionorsaleofgoodsfromthe

    Canadiantarsands,asdeterminedbytheCommitteetoAdviseonMattersof

    SocialResponsibility.

    2. ThattheInvestmentCommitteebeinstructedtodispose,inanorderlyandresponsiblefashioninnolongerthanthreeyears,oftheUniversitysholdings

    incorporationswhichproduce,refine,transport,orsellfossilfuels,as

    determinedbytheCommitteetoAdviseonMattersofSocialResponsibility.

    3. ThattheInvestmentCommitteebeinstructedtodispose,inanorderlyandresponsiblefashioninnolongerthanthreeyears,oftheUniversitysholdings

    infinancialinstitutionswhichhavenotadopted,asdeterminedbythe

    CommitteetoAdviseonMattersofSocialResponsibility,apolicyofmaking

    nofurtherloanstocorporationsthatproduce,refine,transport,orsellfossil

    fuels.

    CanadasFutureinPeril

    AccordingtotheBoardofAtmosphericSciencesandClimate,thearmwithin

    theAmericanNationalAcademiesforatmosphericandclimatesciences,The

    preponderanceofthescientificevidencepointstohumanactivitiesespeciallythereleaseofC02andotherheat-trappinggreenhousegases(GHGs)intothe

    atmosphereasthemostlikelycauseformostoftheglobalwarmingthathas

    occurredoverthelast50yearsorso(CommitteeonAmerica'sClimateChoices15).

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    ScientistsagreethatthehighestsafelevelofC02at350partspermillion;

    humanemissionshavenowpushedthelevelofC02intheatmosphereto392ppm

    (350.org).

    TheBASCfurtheradvisesthat,Thefasteremissionsarereduced,thelower

    therisksposedbyclimatechange.Delaysinreducingemissionscouldcommitthe

    planettoawiderangeofadverseimpacts..[and]therisksassociatedwithdoing

    businessasusualareamuchgreaterconcernthantherisksassociatedwith

    engaginginstrongresponseefforts(CommitteeonAmerica'sClimateChoices2).

    Canada,throughitsinternationalagreementshasmadestrongcommitments

    toagreenfuture.Inthe2010CancunagreementsoftheUnitedNationsFramework

    ConventiononClimateChange,Canadaaffirmed:

    thatclimatechangeisoneofthegreatestchallengesofourtime...

    [and]thatdeepcutsinglobalgreenhousegasemissionsarerequired

    accordingtoscience,andasdocumentedintheFourthAssessment

    ReportoftheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,withaview

    toreducingglobalgreenhousegasemissionssoastoholdtheincrease

    inglobalaveragetemperaturebelow2Cabovepreindustriallevels,

    andthatPartiesshouldtakeurgentactiontomeetthislong-termgoal,

    consistentwithscienceandonthebasisofequity(UnitedNations2,

    3).

    Despitethescientificconsensustheconsensushasbeenendorsedby

    everyNationalAcademyofscienceofeverymajorcountryontheplanet,every

    majorprofessionalscientificsocietyrelatedtothestudyofglobalwarmingand98

    percentofclimatescientiststhroughouttheworld,writesAlGore(Gore)and

    despiteCanadasstrongpubliccommitments,ourcountryispushingforwardwithdevelopingtheTarSands,hasbarelyevenslowedtherateofgreenhousegas

    emissionsgrowthletalonereducedemissions,andunderthecurrentgovernment

    haspulledoutoftheKyotoProtocol.

    Climatechangeraisesglobaltemperatures.Everysummer,newtemperature

    recordsaresetacrosstheglobe.MuchoftheSouthWestUnitedStatessaw

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    unprecedentedwildfiresanddroughts,whileregionsacrosstheworldface

    extraordinaryfloodingandstorms.

    Climatescientistsusedtosaythatglobalwarmingstacksthediceinfavourof

    moreextremeweather:whatmighthaveusedtobeastormsolargethatitoccurred

    onlyonceevery1,000yearsnowmighthappenevery500,ora100-yearfloodmight

    insteadhappenevery60years.Nowtheysaythatweareaddingmoredotsonthe

    dice:whereasbeforewemighthaverolleda12,nowwearerolling13sand14s.

    Entireneighborhoodsofmanymajorcitiesarethreatenedbyglobalwarming.

    Vancouver,NewYork,NewOrleansandmanyotherNorthAmericancitiesareso

    closetosealevelthatprojectedsealevelincreasescouldputsectionsunderwater

    (Gore).

    Asthetemperaturerises,wecanexpectmoreandmoresevereimpacts.The

    IntergovernmentalPanelofClimateChange,inits2007report,discussedsome

    examplesofimpactsassociatedwithglobalaveragetemperaturechange.Appendix

    1.1reproducesafiguredemonstratingsomeoftheimpactsofclimatechange

    (IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange).InNorthAmerica,thereport

    continues,

    Warminginwesternmountainsisprojectedtocausedecreased

    snowpack,morewinterfloodingandreducedsummerflows,

    exacerbatingcompetitionforover-allocatedwaterresources.

    Intheearlydecadesofthecentury,moderateclimatechangeis

    projectedtoincreaseaggregateyieldsofrain-fedagricultureby5to

    20%,butwithimportantvariabilityamongregions.Majorchallenges

    areprojectedforcropsthatarenearthewarmendoftheirsuitable

    rangeorwhichdependonhighlyutilisedwaterresources.

    Citiesthatcurrentlyexperienceheatwavesareexpectedtobefurtherchallengedbyanincreasednumber,intensityanddurationof

    heatwavesduringthecourseofthecentury,withpotentialfor

    adversehealthimpacts.

    Coastalcommunitiesandhabitatswillbeincreasinglystressedby

    climatechangeimpactsinteractingwithdevelopmentandpollution.

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    AndforCanadianslivinginPolarRegions,thereportdiscussessome

    projectedregionalimpacts,including,

    Themainprojectedbiophysicaleffectsarereductionsinthickness

    andextentofglaciers,icesheetsandseaice,andchangesinnatural

    ecosystemswithdetrimentaleffectsonmanyorganismsincluding

    migratorybirds,mammalsandhigherpredators.

    ForhumancommunitiesintheArctic,impacts,particularlythose

    resultingfromchangingsnowandiceconditions,areprojectedtobe

    mixed.

    Detrimentalimpactswouldincludethoseoninfrastructureand

    traditionalindigenouswaysoflife.

    Inbothpolarregions,specificecosystemsandhabitatsareprojected

    tobevulnerable,asclimaticbarrierstospeciesinvasionsarelowered.

    ItisclearthatCanadafacesclearandpressingchallengesfromclimate

    change.

    PressedfromAllSides

    ThemanyproblemsposedbyclimatechangearepressuresontheUniversity.

    WarmingthreatensalloftheUniversitysfundingsourcesinmanyways.Falling

    returnsoninvestmentcanbeexpected,whileinfrastructurecostswilldemanda

    largerpercentageoftheQuebecgovernmentexpenditures.Alumniandparentswill

    belessabletogive.Thesethreefoundingsourcescomprisethevastmajorityof

    McGillUniversitysannualbudget. Governmentfundingwillbemoredifficulttocomeby.48%ofthe

    Universitysannualbudgetcomesfromprovincialsubsidies(McGillUniversity

    OfficeoftheProvost),ahugesourceoffundingthatwouldbehardtoreplace.Asthe

    claimsongovernmentrevenueriseduetoglobalclimatechangenewpublic

    infrastructurewillneedtobebuilt,oldinfrastructurewillneedtobereplacedmore

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    often,emergencydisasterspendingwillbeneededmoreoften,andincomesupport

    programsmightneedtobeexpandeditisclearthatthemoneywillhavetocome

    fromeitherincreasedtaxesorsavingsinotherpartsofthebudget.Taxincreases

    ultimatelyeitherfallonindividualsorshareholders,hittingMcGillatbothends.The

    formerLiberalgovernmentandthecurrentPQgovernmenthavebothshown

    themselveswillingtoreducetherelativegovernmentcontributiontohigher

    education,andtheMELSgrantstopublicuniversitiesinQuebecmightshoulder

    someoftheburdenofgovernmentcutbacks.Continuedpublicsubsidiesarenot

    guaranteedtoremainatasustainablelevelalthoughtherearemanyofusstudents

    whowanttoseethemincreasedgreatlyandglobalclimatechangethreatensthe

    continuedpublicinvestmentinhighereducation.

    Theeconomiccostsofglobalwarmingthreatenthereturnoninvestmentfor

    McGillUniversitysendowment.Allsectorsoftheeconomywillfacerisingcoststhat

    willbefactoredintoeitherprofitsorconsumerprices.Theriseofextremeweather

    eventslikefloodingandhurricanesmeansthatbusinessesmustpurchasemore,and

    moreexpensiveinsuranceandwillhavetoreplacecapitalfaster.Vancouver,New

    York,andotherlarge,coastalNorthAmericancitiesinwhichtheUniversityhas

    largeinvestmentscouldseeentireneighborhoodsengulfedbytheocean.

    AccordingtotheIPCC,infrastructureacrossthecoastisimpactedbymanyeffectsof

    globalwarming,includingtemperaturerise,extremeweatherandoceanevents,

    flooding,erosion,andsaltwaterintrusion(M.L.Parry6.4.2,14.2.3;Sinoski).These

    factorsmeanthattransportationcostswillrise,andthatcapitalmighthavetobe

    movedinland,andthatshippingandpipelineinfrastructurewillbelesssecure.

    Appendix1.2detailsthedirectandindirectimpactsonthebuilt

    environment,infrastructureindustries,andnaturalresourceinfrastructures.Many

    ofthesecostswillbebornbygovernments,andotherswillbebornbyindividualsandcorporations.Governmentsacrosstheworldwillhavetolevytaxestoraise

    seawalls,expandsewers,andrespondtodisasters.Thatgovernmentmoneywill

    comefromcorporations,eitherthroughdirectcorporatetaxesorthroughincreased

    taxesonlabour,andthosecorporationswilllikelypasssomeofthosecostsonto

    theirshareholders.Corporationswillpayhigheroperatingcosts,includingheating,

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    coolingandbuildingmaintenance,andincreasedpricesforinputsduetomitigation

    effortsandscarcitywillhavetobebornbyeitherconsumersorshareholders.

    Backingupthisanalysisarethepredictionsofglobalcapitalistinvestors.Onein

    threesurveyedtoldBloombergNewsthattheyexpectedcorporateprofitstofalldue

    toactiontolimitpollution(only38%believethatglobalwarmingisamajorthreat

    totheenvironment,while40%believeitisaminorthreat)(Efstathiou).If

    shareholderreturnsfallastheConsumerPriceIndex,ameasureofinflation,rises,

    thenthereturnonMcGillsendowmentwillbelesssecureandwillprovideless

    financialsupportfortheUniversitysfutureoperations.

    Thusdecreasedcorporateprofitsseemlikely,asdodecreasedrealincomes

    forfamilies,someofwhomwillsendtheirchildrentoMcGillUniversity.Individuals

    willpayhighertaxesandhigherpricesforgoods.Allofthedriversoflower

    shareholderreturnsarealsodriversofhigheroutputprices,andmarketscanexpect

    priceincreasesacrosstheboard.Thosepriceincreasescouldresultfrommitigation

    effortsorfromscarcity.Regardless,thegrowthrateinrealfamilyincomeswillbe

    negativelyimpactedbyhigherprices,andthatcouldaffectMcGillintwomainways.

    Lowerrealparentalincomemayforcemanytalentedstudents,especiallyout-of-

    provinceandinternationalstudentspayinghighertuitionrates,tochoosean

    alternativeschoolorgodeeplyintodebt,requiringmorestudentstoworklonger

    hours.Whenstudentsworkmorethan15hoursaweek,theiracademicssuffer,as

    doestheirabilitytoparticipateintheMcGillcommunity(BCTeachersFederation).

    Evenmore,theabilityofalumniandparentstogivebacktoschoolthroughfinancial

    donationsisthreatenedbythefallinrealincomes.Ifgraduateshavelessdisposable

    incomeatallstagesoftheirlife,thefrequencyandsizeofgiftscanbeexpectedto

    fall.Decreasedrealincomesduetoclimatechangewouldseemtoimposerealcosts

    ontheUniversity. Climatechangeclearlyposesarisktothecontinuedfinancialhealthofthe

    University.ResponsiblegovernancerequiresBoardmemberstoputtheUniversity

    inapositiontohelptackletheproblemofclimatechange.Someresearchersat

    McGillUniversityarealreadyworkingtowardssolutions,butMcGillcandomore

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    thanresearch.Ifweareseriousaboutmitigatingglobalwarming,divestmentisthe

    bestoption.

    InvestinginFossilFuels:ABadDealforMcGillUniversity

    McGillUniversitysinvestmentsinfossilfuelsmakeuparelativelysmall

    portionoftheendowmentfund,buttheglobalimpactofthosecompaniesthe

    Universityinvestsinisextraordinary.TheDecember2011reportonthePublicly

    TradedEquityHoldingsoftheUniversityisthemostrecentdataavailable,andall

    discussionofthecompositionofMcGillsinvestmentscomesfromthatlist.Twolists

    wereusedtoidentifyspecificcorporations.Thefirst,fromtheRainforestAction

    Network,listscompaniesinvolvedintheCanadiantarsands;thesecond,fromthe

    CarbonTrackerInitiative,hastwolistsofthetop100companieswiththelargest

    estimatedcarbonreserveseitherincoal,orinoilandgas.

    McGillinvestsin645publiclytradedcorporations.14areinvolvedinthetar

    sands,while35numberamongtheworldslargestfossilfuelcorporations.Intotal,

    thesetwolistsidentify37uniquecompaniesthatMcGillprofitsfrom,5.89%ofthe

    Universitysuniqueholdings(Appendix2hasthecompletelistofthesefirms).The

    numberofsharesineachisnotpubliclyavailableatthetimeofwriting,although

    AccesstoInformationrequestsfiledundertheActrespectingaccesstodocuments

    heldbypublicbodiesANDtheprotectionofpersonalinformationwillhopefully

    providefurtherinsighttomembersoftheMcGillcommunity.

    Itshouldbemadeclearthatthisisanincompletelistofthefossilfuel

    companiesthatMcGillinvestsin.Onlythelargestanddirtiestfossilfuelcompanies

    arerepresentedontheselists,andothersmallercorporationscertainlycomprise

    partoftheschoolsendowmentfund. Ofthe35companiesidentifiedbytheCTI,manyarecross-listedonallthree

    lists,meaningtheyhavesomeofthelargestreservesofcarbonincoal,andinoiland

    gas,andtheyinvestinthedirtiestformofoilproductionontheplanet.TheCTIalso

    expresseditsconcernthatCanadianaccountingpracticesartificiallylowerthesize

    ofunconventionaloilreservesizeestimation,sincetheyareonlyreportedunder

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    Canadianrulesonceproductionisbelievedtobeimminent(Initiative12).Thusit

    islikelythatthesizeoftheactualreservesofcarbonownedbythe12firmsinvolved

    inthetarsandsforwhichanestimationisavailableissignificantlylargerthan

    expressed.

    Alltoldthese35companieshave205.455GigatonnesofC02lockedaway

    beneaththeearth.Ifhumanityburnsthatcarbon,globalwarmingwillbe

    uncontrollable.Understandingtheenormityof205.455GigatonnesC02isnoteasy,

    butthefollowinggraphsshouldhelp.

    Chart1showsthedifferencebetweenyearlyglobalanthropogeniccarbon

    emissionsandtheestimatedcarbonreservesthatMcGillisprofitingfrom.In1751,

    justatthestartoftheIndustrialRevolution,humansemittedjust.003Gigatonnesof

    C02ayear.In2008,weemitted8.749Gigatonnes.Ifthesecorporationsburnallof

    theircarbonreserves,thatistheequivalentofpumpingoutaboutanotherquarter-

    centuryofemissions.

    0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

    GigatonnesC02

    Chart2.TotalEmissionsinComparison

    Emissions,1751-2008 EstimatedCarbonReserves

    0

    50

    100

    150

    200

    250

    GigatonnesC02

    Chart1.YearlyEmissionsinComparison

    1751

    2008

    EstimatedCarbon

    Reserves

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    Toseethisissueinanotherlight,humansemitted356.758GigatonnesofC02

    from1751to2008(dataonthelastthreeyearsarenotreadilyavailable,but

    probablyanother20to35Gigatonneshavebeenemittedsince).Chart2showsthe

    sizeofthoseemissions.Humansraisedtheamountofcarbonintheatmosphere

    from275ppmto392ppm,ora117ppmincrease(350.org).Ifthese35companies

    burntheirentirereserves,thatwouldbeanadditional57.64%ofallanthropogenic

    carbonemissionssincethestartoftheIndustrialRevolutionreleasedintothe

    atmosphereif350ppmisthemaximumsafelevel,another205.455Gigatonnesof

    C02meansrapid,severewarming.Thereisnocomingbackfromthat.

    WiththeadditionalcarbonreservesnotrepresentedontheCTIsestimates,

    itisclearthatMcGillUniversityisdirectlyprofitingfromtheexploitationofmassive

    carbonreserves,andourinvestmentsservetolegitimizethissystemoffossilfuel

    consumption.Ifthecompaniesweinvestincontinuetocarryonbusiness-as-usual,

    globalclimatechangeisunavoidable.

    Thequestiontheniswhattodoaboutthisproblem.Theresponsibleanswer

    isdivestment.

    Divestment:McGillasaWorldLeader

    Divestmentisaneffectivetoolinthearsenalofsociallyresponsible

    universitiestoaffectwide-reaching,deepchange.IfMcGillUniversitytakesbold

    decisiveactionbypubliclydivestingfromfossilfuels,itwillattractglobalattention

    asaworldleaderinsustainabilityandenvironmentalgovernance.Itisalsotheonly

    responsiblecourseofactionforfulfillingtheBoardofGovernorsfiduciary

    obligationtothefinancialwellbeingoftheschool.

    MovementsatcomparableuniversitiesacrossNorthAmericahavetakenholdinthelastthreeyears,startingatHarvardUniversityandspreadingtoAmherst

    College,BostonUniversity,BrownUniversity,TuftsUniversity,andYaleUniversity

    (DivestforOurFuture).Furthermoreagrowingpoliticalconsensus,especiallyin

    Quebec,recognizesthatwewilleventuallyendourrelianceonfossilfuels.Wewill

    putanendtofossilfuels;theonlyquestioniswhen?

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    IfMcGillUniversitygoesfirst,itwillraisethepoliticalcapitalofthe

    University.McGillwillbeaworldleaderinresponsiblegovernance,attracting

    headlinesacrosstheglobeuniversitieslikeHarvardandYalewillbeforcedtoplay

    catch-up,orbeforeverrememberedastheschoolsthatrefusedtoact.Formany

    studentsenteringuniversity,thisglobalenvironmentalcrisisisoftheutmost

    importance,andtalented,drivenyoungpeopleconsideringundergraduateor

    graduateschoolarelookingforauniversitythatcanspringboardtheirfuture

    careers,providefortheirpersonalgrowth,andwheretheycanlivetheirvalues.

    LeadershiponthisissuewouldbothexpandthecachetoftheUniversityandthe

    qualityoftheapplicantpool.

    Alumnidonationscanalsoreasonablybeexpectedtorise.Manystudieshave

    shownthatalumniwithapositiveemotionalattachmenttotheiruniversityare

    morelikelytodonate,andtheyhavealsoshownastrongpositiverelationship

    betweenthecapacitytogiveanddonorstatus(Hoyt).Alumnisharethebroad

    societalconcernoverglobalwarming,andseeingMcGillUniversitytakeboldaction

    tomitigateclimatechangewouldraisethefrequencyandintensityofpositive

    emotionalattachmentstotheschoolformost.Byprecipitatingabroadersocial

    moveawayfromfossilfuels,McGillsactionswouldalsoensurethatthereal

    incomesofalumnidonotfallduetocarbonemissions.Thusactiononclimate

    changeraisesboththelikelihoodthatalumniwouldwanttogive,andtheabilityof

    alumnitogive.

    Divestmentcanalsopushentiregovernmentstoaction.Inthelatestnational

    election,concernoverclimatechangespannedalloftheparties,includingtheParti

    Qubcois,whichformedthepresentminoritygovernment;thePQhasbanned

    frackingtowidepublicacclaim.Thereissocialsupportforstrongactiontomitigate

    climatechange,andthehistoricalrecordofdivestmentshowsthatoneuniversitycanspurbroaderaction.

    MichiganStateUniversitywasoneofthefirstschoolsinNorthAmericato

    divestfromSouthAfrica,passingitsresolutionin1977.Itsleadershipencouraged

    thestateofMichigantorequireallpublicuniversitiesinthestatetodivesttheir

    holdingsinSouthAfrica.Whilethatlawwaseventuallystruckdownbyacourt,

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    MichiganStatescourageousstewardshipnotonlypresagedbutbroughtabout

    broadersocialchange.MichiganStatewillalwaysberememberedfortakingastand

    againstapartheid,whileschoolsthatfailedtorespecthumanrightscannever

    obviatethatmarkagainstthem.IfMcGillUniversitymakestherightchoices,itwill

    alwaysberememberedasaworldleaderinsociallyresponsiblegovernance,and

    giventhewillingnessofQuebectoengagewiththeissueofclimatechange,

    divestmentcouldprecipitatenationalaction.

    Further,thisisapositivefinancialdecisionfortherateofreturnofthe

    Universitysendowment.Acrosstheworldgovernmentshavepassedorare

    consideringlegislationtoregulatefossilfuelsandcarbonemissions.Europealready

    hascap-and-tradelegislation,andCaliforniaisconsideringoneaswell,while

    Swedenhasputinplaceacarbontax,andU.S.PresidentObamadelayedthe

    KeystoneXLpipelinecarryingbitumenandotherproductsofthetarsandsfrom

    CanadadowntoTexas.Worldwide,pressureisbuildingtoreplacetheKyoto

    Protocolwithamoreeffectiveversion.Fossilfuelsonlymakeprofitswhenthefull

    costoftheiruseisnotbornbytheproducers.Oncemorestringent,wide-reaching

    measuresareinplacethatforcecompaniestopaythefullsocialcostsoftheir

    products,fossilfuelcompaniesratesofreturnwilldropthereisnowayaround

    that.

    Anymajorannouncementofeffectiveclimatechangemitigationlegislation

    willcausethevaluesofthesestockstodrop;whenBPgarneredinternational

    attentionforthehugespillintheGulfofMexicotwoyearsago,itssharepricefell

    dramatically.Byshiftingoutofthesestockstosafer,morestableassets,McGill

    Universitycanensurethevalueofitsportfolio.Investinginfossilfuelcompaniesisa

    risktoMcGillsfinancialsecurity,andtheUniversitycanfindsimilarreturnsfrom

    saferstocks. Divestmentisthebestcourseofaction.Bydivestingfromfossilfuel

    companiesandthefinancialinstitutionsthatfundthem,McGillUniversitywillbe

    internationallyrecognizedforitsprogressiveenvironmentalcitizenshipandwillbe

    rewardedbyalumni,parents,prospectivestudents,andprospectivefaculty.It

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    reducestheuncertaintyinthevalueoftheendowmentthatcomesfrommajor

    policychanges.

    Andultimately,itistherightthingtodo.Weneedtomovetoacarbon-

    neutralfuture,andMcGillUniversityhasanobligationtoitsstudentsandstaff,to

    thepeopleofQuebecandCanada,andtotheplanet.

    MovingForward

    Timeisoftheessence.Weneedimmediateactiontokeepthisplanetlivable,

    andMcGillUniversityisinapositiontoact.ClimatechangethreatenstheCanadian

    peopleanditjeopardizesthefutureofMcGillsfinancialstability.Giventheurgency

    ofclimatechangeandtheclearandcompellingrationalefordivestment,the

    students,faculty,staff,andalumniofMcGillUniversitydemandthat:

    1. ThattheInvestmentCommitteebeinstructedtoimmediatelydispose,inanorderlyandresponsiblefashion,oftheUniversitysholdingsincorporations

    whichdeveloptheCanadiantarsands,transportorrefinehydrocarbonfrom

    theCanadiantarsands,sellproductsoftheCanadiantarsands,orare

    otherwiseinvolvedintheproduction,distributionorsaleofgoodsfromthe

    Canadiantarsands,asdeterminedbytheCommitteetoAdviseonMattersof

    SocialResponsibility.

    2. ThattheInvestmentCommitteebeinstructedtodispose,inanorderlyandresponsiblefashioninnolongerthanthreeyears,oftheUniversitysholdings

    incorporationswhichproduce,refine,transport,orsellfossilfuels,as

    determinedbytheCommitteetoAdviseonMattersofSocialResponsibility.

    3.ThattheInvestmentCommitteebeinstructedtodispose,inanorderlyandresponsiblefashioninnolongerthanthreeyears,oftheUniversitysholdings

    infinancialinstitutionswhichhavenotadopted,asdeterminedbythe

    CommitteetoAdviseonMattersofSocialResponsibility,apolicyofmaking

    nofurtherloanstocorporationsthatproduce,refine,transport,orsellfossil

    fuels.

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    Appendix1

    1.1Examplesofimpactsassociatedwithglobalaveragetemperaturechange

    (IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange)

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    1.2Table7.2fromsection7.4.2.1oftheIPCCsClimateChange,2007Report:

    WorkingGroupII:Impacts,AdaptationandVulnerability.

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    Appendix2

    McGillUniversitysinvestmentsinfossilfuelcompanies,

    andthesizeoftheirestimatedcarbonreservesTheestimatedcarbonreservesof35ofthefossilfuelcompaniesMcGill

    investsin.Companies Coal

    (GtC02)

    Oil

    (Gtc02)

    Gas

    (GtC02)

    Total

    (GtC02)

    AGLEnergy 0.89 0.89AngloAmerican 16.75 16.75

    ArcelorMittal 0.62 0.62

    BaytexEnergyCorp* 0.3 0.3BGGroup 2.29 0.48 2.77BHPBilliton 16.07 1.82 0.2 18.09

    BonavistaEnergyCorp 0.18 0.03 0.21

    BP* 32.68 1.92 34.6CairnEnergy 0.35 0.35

    CanadianNaturalResources*

    4.23 0.14

    4.37

    CenovusEnergyInc* 1.4 0.006 1.406

    Chevron* 20.11 1.11 21.22

    CrescentPointEnergyCorp. 0.47 0 0.47EnCanaCorp.* 0.24 0.47 0.71EOGResources 0.97 0.38 1.35

    ExxonMobil* 38.14 2.89 41.03

    GDFSuezS.A. 0.17 0.05 0.22InpexCorp 2.44 0.1 2.54

    ItochuCorp 0.34 0.34MitsubishiCorp 4.31 4.31

    Mitsui 1.03 1.03

    Nexen* 1.4 0.002 1.402

    OilSearchLTD 0.91 0.91OMV 1.02 0.06 1.08

    RepsolYPFS.A. 2.75 0.29 3.04

    RioTinto 5.23 5.23RoyalDutchShell* 14.11 2.09 16.2

    RWEAG 1.94 1.94

    SantosLimited 0.19 0.17 0.36

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    StatoilASA* 2.23 0.25 2.48

    SuncorEnergy* 3.74 0.007 3.747TalismanEnergyInc. 1.47 0.19 1.66

    TullowOil 0.36 0.01 0.37Wesfarmers 1.86 1.86

    Xstrata 11.6 11.6 Coal Oil Gas Total

    Total 60.64 133.97 10.845 205.455

    *Alsoinvestsinthetarsands;duetoCanadianaccountingpractices,theestimated

    carbonreservesforcompaniesthatexploitthetarsandslikelyholdhighercarbonreservesthanispubliclyavailable.

    CompaniesInvolvedintheTarSands Companiesinboldappearonbothlists

    BaytexBP

    CanadianNaturalResources

    CenovusEnergy

    Chevron

    Enbridge

    Encana

    Exxon

    ImperialOil

    Nexen

    RoyalDutchShellCompany

    StatoilASASuncorEnergy

    TranscanadaCorps

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