The University of Cambridge has taken a decisive step towards distancing itself from the fossil fuel industry, announcing in late March 2024 a moratorium on all newly funded partnerships with Big Oil.

This significant move follows a vigorous two-year campaign by students, academics, and community members advocating for “Fossil Free Research,” alongside broader efforts spanning over a decade aimed at reducing the industry’s influence on campus.

Research funded by industries like tobacco, pharmaceuticals, sugar, and Big Oil has long been criticized for biasing outcomes in favor of corporate interests, thereby compromising academic integrity.

Cambridge’s partnerships with fossil fuel companies not only risk tarnishing its reputation but also contribute to greenwashing efforts – where these companies use affiliations with respected institutions to portray themselves as proactive in solving environmental challenges, despite their role in exacerbating them.

Despite annually receiving around £3.3 million from fossil fuel sources, a relatively small fraction of its total research and philanthropic income, these partnerships afford significant benefits to oil and gas companies, including lobbying power and enhanced public relations opportunities.

The moratorium represents a major victory for climate action and the tireless efforts of campaigners. It marks the introduction of a comprehensive fossil-free research policy across the university – a pioneering move in the UK and among the first globally.

Achieving this milestone involved numerous demonstrations, speeches, academic votes, and committee debates spanning two years, underscoring the community’s dedication to sustainable practices.

Looking forward, the moratorium will remain in place while Cambridge’s Committee on External Donations (CBELA) evaluates the recommendations put forth in the Topping study. Commissioned by the university and authored by UN High Level Climate Champion Nigel Topping in July 2023, the study concluded that Cambridge could no longer ethically justify its fossil fuel partnerships.

Topping’s report proposed four actionable steps to phase out these affiliations, emphasizing the need for CBELA to adopt permanent principles that align with Cambridge’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

In essence, Cambridge’s moratorium on new fossil fuel partnerships signifies a crucial step towards aligning academic practices with climate action imperatives, setting a precedent for universities worldwide to prioritize ethical research funding and sustainable partnerships.