Fossil Fuel and Border Industry Companies Banned from Edge Hill University Investments
Edge Hill University has taken a significant step towards ethical investing by banning fossil fuel extractor and border industry companies from its investment portfolio, following successful protests by People & Planet.
This decision makes Edge Hill the third UK university to commit to both the Divest Borders and Fossil Free campaigns simultaneously, joining Staffordshire University and the University of South Wales in 2024.
The victory was uncovered through research by People & Planet University League, which revealed that Edge Hill University had implemented an ethical investment policy that excludes companies involved in the border and fossil fuel sectors, as well as arms manufacturers and those in violation of international law.
Sustainability
AndrĂ© Dallas, co-director for migrant justice at People & Planet, commended the university’s decision, stating that by divesting from both the border industry and fossil fuel extraction, Edge Hill is taking a bold step towards a more just and sustainable future.
Dallas emphasized the interconnectedness of the exploitation of people and the planet, and praised students for urging universities to confront these injustices and lead with integrity.
He called on other institutions to follow Edge Hill’s example and take meaningful action towards justice, solidarity, and responsibility.
Extraction
The People & Planet University League, the only comprehensive and independent ranking of UK universities based on environmental and ethical performance, is set to release its 2025-26 dataset next month.
Students have been at the forefront of campaigns for divestment for justice, securing numerous wins on Fossil Free and Divest Borders with their activism.
At Edge Hill, students have been campaigning since March 2024, employing various tactics such as petitioning, campus flyering, and collaboration with the student union and People & Planet network.
A spokesperson for People & Planet highlighted the role of student organizers in connecting migrant justice and climate justice through investment strategies, emphasizing the need to address exploitative systems that benefit from the fossil fuel and border industries.
Solidarity
The Divest Borders and Fossil Free campaigns, led by People & Planet, aim to challenge the social license of target industries by publicly announcing divestment decisions.
The Divest Borders campaign calls for universities to exclude companies involved in the UK’s border industry to show solidarity with those affected by its harmful practices, such as detention and deportation.
Similarly, the Fossil Free campaign advocates for excluding fossil fuel companies to address their role in the climate crisis and stand in solidarity with communities impacted by fossil fuel operations.
People & Planet, founded in 1969, has been supporting student-led initiatives for social and environmental justice, including the Fossil Free campaign launched in 2013 and the Divest Borders campaign in 2021.
By challenging universities to divest from harmful industries, these campaigns aim to bring attention to the injustices perpetuated by fossil fuel extraction and the border industry.
About the Author
Brendan Montague is an editor at The Ecologist.
