Chancellor William H. McRaven,



UT prides itself as a leader in sustainability, yet 9,000 oil and gas wells are drilled on University owned land. In only 6 years these operations contributed 11.7 million tons of climate pollution, including methane which is responsible for 25% of global warming. The University has not taken simple steps to reduce the carbon emissions of these operations even though the funding and technology are readily available. In particular, the University should require oil and gas companies operating on UT land to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by implementing methane recapture technology NOW.



In addition, the scientific community overwhelmingly asserts that societies must rapidly move away from greenhouse gas emitting energy sources because of the demonstrable link to a warming planet. Accordingly, UT should respond to this reality and shift ALL of its energy investments and projects away from fossil fuels, as many institutions are doing around the world. We must transition to supporting sustainable energy.



Finally, climate change threatens the livelihoods of all Texans and presents a threat to the world. If what starts here changes the world, then we must change the ways in which UT chooses to impact our planet by divesting and distancing from an industry that has greatly contributed to the destruction of the human habitat. UT must create a new culture of innovation around finding solutions to the problem of climate change in all of its dimensions, tapping into the vast intellectual potential among the University community and CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER.

Climate Change Action Committee - UT Austin