The University of Wisconsin-Madison chapter of the Climate Action 350 and Madison residents joined in a protest Monday presenting the UW Foundation with more than 1,200 petition signatures requesting the foundation end its investment in fossil fuels to help decrease the threat of climate change.
Climate Action 350-UW is a student group that works to reduce climate change resulting from the unsafe amount of carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere, according to UW-Madison junior Emmy Burns.
As this was the group’s first public event, supporters said they hope students will become more involved in an issue, which will affect future generations, according to UW-Madison junior Kevin Mauer, who helped organize the event.
“This is a question of the type of world we will have when we are older and what type of world our children and grandchildren will have,” Mauer said.
Protesters chanted outside the foundation, which raises and invests funds for the university, while waiting for UW Foundation President Michael Knetter. Knetter was made aware of the protest after receiving the group’s email asking him to consider the risks of climate change caused by fossil fuels.
Upon arriving at the UW Foundation building, Knetter did not speak with any of the protestors. Instead, Vice President for Legal Affairs Russell Howes brought the petition signatures to Knetter and reassured the group of a meeting with an administrator sometime before winter break.
Although Mauer said he is skeptical the foundation will follow through with the meeting, Burns said she is optimistic with the progress the group has made.
“If we can get people to understand that these fossil fuel industries are profiting off of completely unsustainable measures of energy, then we can begin to effect change,” Burns said.
Colleges all across the country have started to unite in their campaigns, according to Burns. Group members said they hope it will be a domino effect, with more universities making an effort to divest their endowment from fossil fuels.
