Small but growing number of Canadian universities divesting from fossil fuels by Stephen Leahy
Appeared in University Affairs on December 8, 2021
Gina's Thoughts
Stephen Leahy's piece on university divestment is another example of media not seeing the forest for the trees. In praise of divestment, he says it has a "symbolic impact", and is "all about making a bold, public statement". He neglects to note that divestment has had zero impact on emissions reduction over the last ten years, or that the same decade has seen a growing demand for oil and gas. Leahy states that the "fossil fuel industry has successfully pushed a kind of "petro-nationalism" that equates the national interests of Canada with its own and that "mining companies, electric utilities and heavy manufacturers" depend heavily on the oil and gas industry to support their own industries. He seems to think these are bad things. Does he even reflect on the fact that when the oil and gas industry does well, Canada and Canadians do well? Or that Canadian oil and gas companies outperform their international competitors on virtually every indicator?