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Climate emergency and the fossil fuel industry

Following extensive consultations across all areas of the university, the UvA has decided that it will no longer collaborate with companies from the fossil fuel sector unless a number of strict conditions are met.

How was this decision taken? 

In 2023, through multiple dialogue sessions, we gathered together as many insights as possible from all areas of the UvA in order to ensure that any decision we make is broadly supported by the UvA community. During these sessions, a wide range of views were expressed: everything from ‘collaboration is needed in order to help companies change’ to ‘break all ties immediately’. Finally, there appears to be a consensus on key points: we are facing a climate crisis, this can be regarded as an emergency that requires urgent action, the energy transition must be accelerated and achieving the Paris climate targets is key. 

This consensus served as a guiding principle in the preparation of a decision. Based on the UvA-wide dialogue sessions for all students and staff, a proposal was submitted to the University Committee on Education, the University Committee on Research, the Advisory Committee on Collaboration with Third Parties, the University Valorisation Committee, the University of Amsterdam Ethics Committee, the Senate, the Central Works Council (COR), the Central Student Council (CSR) and the faculty deans. Following these consultations, the proposal was amended and the decision was approved.

What does the decision involve? 

The UvA will no longer collaborate in projects in which the fossil fuel industry is involved, unless three strict criteria are met:

  • The project has the explicit objective of contributing to the achievement of the targets under the Paris Agreement.  
  • The project – and, as a result, the positive contributions to the Paris targets – cannot be implemented in another way or with other, non-fossil fuel partners; because data or measurement tools would not otherwise be available, for example.  
  • A broad-based, multidisciplinary advisory committee will advise as to whether the intended contribution to the Paris climate objectives justifies the collaboration.

These stricter rules governing collaboration with third parties will be laid down in a new policy framework Collaboration with Third Parties – you can find the current framework here (UvA login required).

Any collaboration with the fossil fuel industry will be submitted by the dean of the faculty concerned for assessment against this framework by the Advisory Committee on Collaboration with Third Parties.

Furthermore

We are facing a global emergency.

We will avoid greenwashing, whenever we can.

We will intensify sustainability in research, education and operations. 

We will be transparent about our collaborations with the fossil fuel industry.

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