vision and leadership
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
1/20
VisionandLeadershipTowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
ByChristopherBangs
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
2/20
VisionandLeadership
2
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
3/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
3
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.
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
4/20
VisionandLeadership
4
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).
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
5/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
5
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
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
6/20
VisionandLeadership
6
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.
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
7/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
7
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
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
8/20
VisionandLeadership
8
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,
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
9/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
9
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
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
10/20
VisionandLeadership
10
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
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
11/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
11
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
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
12/20
VisionandLeadership
12
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?
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
13/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
13
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,
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
14/20
VisionandLeadership
14
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
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
15/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
15
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.
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
16/20
VisionandLeadership
16
Appendix1
1.1Examplesofimpactsassociatedwithglobalaveragetemperaturechange
(IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange)
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
17/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
17
1.2Table7.2fromsection7.4.2.1oftheIPCCsClimateChange,2007Report:
WorkingGroupII:Impacts,AdaptationandVulnerability.
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
18/20
VisionandLeadership
18
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
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
19/20
TowardsResponsibleEnvironmentalCitizenshipatMcGillUniversity
19
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
-
7/29/2019 Vision and Leadership
20/20
VisionandLeadership
20
WorksCited
350.org.Science.201220-10.201220-10.
BCTeachersFederation.BCTFResearchReport.199901-05.BCTeachers
Federation.201222-10.
CommitteeonAmerica'sClimateChoices,NationalResourceCouncil.America's
ClimateChoices.Washington,D.C.:NationalAcademiesPress,2011.DivestforOurFuture.UniversityCampaigns.201220-10.201220-10
.Efstathiou,JimJr.CompanyProfitsUnaffectedbyClimateChangeLaws.2012
07-09.BloombergNews.201222-10
.
Gore,Al."ClimateofDenial:CantheScienceandtheTruthWithstandtheMerchantsofPoison?"RollingStone22062011:7.
Hoyt,JeffE.UnderstandingAlumniGiving:TheoryandPredictorsofDonorStatus.
SaltLake.Initiative,CarbonTracker.UnburnableCarbon:AretheWorlds'FinancialMarkets
CarryingaCarbonBubble?London,201201-08.
IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange.SynthesisReport.NewYork:http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/syr/en/spms3.html,2007.
M.L.Parry,O.F.Canziani,J.P.Palutikof,P.J.vanderLindenandC.E.Hanson(eds).
ContributionofWorkingGroupIItotheFourthAssessmentReportoftheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,2007.Cambridge:Cambridge
UniversityPress,2007.McGillUniversityOfficeoftheProvost.McGillUniversityBudgetBookFY2013.
2012.
Sinoski,Kelly.RisingSeaLevelsThroughoutMetroVancouverPuttinglandmarksatRisk.VancouverSun.Vancouver,201204-08.
UnitedNations.FrameworkConventiononClimateChange.1992.01122012.