Students occupy Uni lecture theatres in fossil fuel protests
The protest was in support of End Fossil UK
Last updated 9th Nov 2022
Students supporting an international anti-fossil fuel campaign group has been taking part in a protest at Falmouth University's Penryn campus.
The protests began on Tuesday as part of End Fossil UK's campaign to persuade the Government to nationalise fossil fuels - as a first step towards getting rid of them.
Students from Falmouth and Exeter Unis have been taking part.
Falmouth University gave us this statement:
“Yesterday at the COP27, the Secretary General of the UN warned the world that we are rapidly heading towards irreversible climate chaos. At Falmouth University, we are taking steps to address the climate crisis and we understand the depth of feeling on this issue in our student community.
“Our Sustainability Policy sets out our route to net zero and we are investing in our campuses and infrastructure to reduce our carbon impact. In addition, we believe that we can have the greatest impact when we equip our students with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the businesses and industries that they will shape in the future. We are therefore in the process of embedding learning about sustainability into every one of our undergraduate courses – a process that will be completed by the end of next year.
“We’re in discussions with the small number of students involved about the important issues they are highlighting and how we can work with them to minimise disruption their protest might cause.”
A University of Exeter spokesperson said:
“The University of Exeter works with a wide range of governments, businesses and organisations to achieve our strategic objectives on the environment and climate, health and wellbeing and social justice. Agreeing research partnerships do not equate to us supporting every aspect of a partner’s activities or policies either now or in the past but we do aim to influence the future.
“The science behind net zero is clear about the need to accelerate the phase out of fossil fuel supply and demand, transition to renewable energy at scale, and invest in carbon dioxide removal and this work is at the heart of the University of Exeter’s 2030 Strategy.
“We acknowledge that some colleagues and students will disagree with the University working with specific partners. We support freedom of speech and the right of colleagues and students to speak freely on the issues that matter to them. We are talking to the protestors about their actions and coming to a resolution that minimises disruption for others.”