UBCC350
c/o ubcc350@gmail.com
Thank you for your letter of October 4th, 2019.
I appreciate the energy and dedication you have put into this cause. It is inspiring to see so many students and other members of the UBC community use the power of the collective voice to raise awareness of climate change and the need for immediate action.
I recognize the importance of climate justice and the critical need to tackle climate change. I have thought carefully about the four commitments that you have asked of the university.
Regarding the first commitment, I am pleased to note that we are working through a process to refine our approach to responsible investing and will be coming back to the Endowment Responsible Investing Policy Working Group with a tangible action plan at the December 2019 meeting. Included in that assessment will be a closer examination of the recent announcement by the University of California investment management system that recently announced the divestment of fossil fuels from their endowment and pension funds, along with other possible approaches UBC could adopt.
Regarding the other three commitments, I have asked my staff to initiate discussions with other stakeholders at the University, and I will provide a response to you as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor