A group of University of B.C. students will begin a hunger strike on Monday to protest the university’s remaining investment in fossil fuels.
The environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion had asked the school to divest itself of all fossil fuel investments by the end of 2019, or else students would hold a demonstration.
The university said it would divest about $380 million from fossil fuels in December, but the group is asking for a “full and immediate divestment.”
UBC declares a climate emergency and moves forward on two key divestment initiatives. https://t.co/WsQ5BH6LFH pic.twitter.com/WSs7S0s7cS
— University of British Columbia (@UBC) December 5, 2019
In a statement, spokesperson Matthew Ramsey said UBC shares the students’ concerns about climate change.
“That’s why the university declared a climate emergency and is moving towards divestment as quickly as possible given our fiduciary responsibility,” Ramsey said.
However, he said a hunger strike “will not expedite the critical due diligence we must undertake” before fully divesting.
He said UBC’s health and wellness staff will standing by if the hunger strike proceeds.
Last year, Extinction Rebellion shut down bridges in major Canadian cities, including the Burrard Bridge in Vancouver, and hosted a “Funeral for Extinction” march in Vancouver to call for action on climate change.
READ MORE: Environmental group to host ‘Funeral for Extinction’ march in Vancouver on Black Friday
VIDEO: Climate demonstrators shut down Canadian bridges as part of global action
