Photo: Fossil Free Wageningen
ABN AMRO and Rabobank invest large sums in the extraction of fossil fuels, says Climate Studies Master’s student Emiel Spanier of Fossil Free Wageningen. ‘We believe that disinvesting can make a difference. This means that WUR should take its money out of unsound or unethical funds and invest it in more transparent and sustainable investment funds.’
Fossil Free Wageningen points to the Triodos Bank as a suitable new financial partner for WUR. Members of Fossil Free have already visited Triodos and discussed the possibilities. ‘Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) are two other big clients of Triodos. We believe that by making such a switch, WUR would be setting an example to other institutions,’ argues Suzy Rebisz, Master’s student in International Land & Water Management and Rural Development & Innovation.
Over 1000 people had signed the petition last Monday and Fossil Free Wageningen submitted a request to the executive board to be allowed to hand over the list of signatures. The executive board will give its response then, says spokesman Simon Vink.