A just-released analysis by Corporate Knights, working with 350.org and South Pole Group, has found that UofT lost over $550 million Canadian dollars by not divesting from the largest fossil fuel firms three years ago.
UofT’s ad-hoc committee on fossil fuel divestment is expected to make a recommendation about whether UofT should divest its endowment from the 200 largest fossil fuel firms in December.
Embargoed until 6:00am Monday, November 16, 2015
November 16, 2015
Contact:
Toby Heaps, CEO Corporate Knights, 416-274-1432, [email protected]
UofT loses $550 million by not divesting from fossil fuels
A just-released analysis by Corporate Knights, working with 350.org and South Pole Group, has found that UofT lost over $550 million Canadian dollars by not divesting from the largest fossil fuel firms three years ago.
UofT’s ad-hoc committee on fossil fuel divestment is expected to make a recommendation about whether UofT should divest its endowment from the 200 largest fossil fuel firms in December.
The analysis covered recent disclosed holdings to estimate the potential financial impact had they shifted their investments from the most carbon heavy coal and oil companies and coal-intensive utilities to companies that derive at least 20% of their revenues from environmental markets or new energy. From there, the total returns over a three year period starting on October 1, 2012 were calculated.
The methodology can be examined using the clean decarbonizer tool corporate knights has launched on their website.
210+ U of T faculty recently signed an open letter urging the administration to divest. The letter and its signatories are available at http://www.uoftfacultydivest.com/
Facts:
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UofT Asset Management (UTAM) oversees $5,884,800,000 USD of assets, and has earned returns that are $419,418,629 USD less than they would have by divesting three years ago. That is $559,991,231 CAD at today’s exchange rate.
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The amount of money UofT lost could pay for every 14,382 full time student’s tuition at UofT’s basic tuition rate.
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The amount of money lost could have been used to meet the demands of UofT’s Teaching Assistant and Sessional Instructor unions and avoided the strike that happened in early 2015.
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Over 200 UofT Faculty have signed a public letter calling for UofT to divest from fossil fuels.
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UofT President Gertler appointed a committee to make a recommendation about fossil fuel divestment in fall 2014. They are expected to make a recommendation in the first week of December.
Quotes:
“As a professor, I support fossil fuel divestment because I do not want my university to endanger the future of the students I teach. It is clearer than ever before that continuing to invest in fossil fuels is hurting our university's portfolio, my pension plan, and our University's reputation. I urge the University to lead by example and divest as quickly as possible.” Andrea Muehlebach, Associate Professor, Anthropology
“As an alumnus, I don’t have confidence in how UofT is managing the money I have donated to them. They are losing money by investing in fossil fuel companies who have no plans of ensuring my children have a safe climate in the future”. John Woodger. Alumni and High School Teacher.
Fossil Free U of T is a student led campaign to divest the University of Toronto from the largest fossil fuel companies and advocates for strong action on climate change.
Additional Resources:
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"Climate change is an investment risk, says BlackRock" http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/blackrock-climate-change-1.3317640
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"Climate risk could undermine investments, report warns" http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34797272