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2023
2024
Join us as we continue to fight for climate justice at McGill and beyond!
2023
In December 2023, McGill commits to divest direct holdings from the Carbon Underground 200!
2022
Board announces reconsideration of divestment earlier than scheduled (February)
Divest members present to Board Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (September)
Submitted question on divestment to Board of Governors' Community Meeting
2022
2021
Board of Governors' Meeting Disruption (December)
1 Minute Collective Scream Event
Divest's 10th Birthday Party
12 Day Occupation of the Arts Building Lobby (McGill Autonomous Zone) under the call to Democratize, Divest, and Decolonize.
2021
First Democratize McGill Assembly
2020
2020
Sharing online resources/events for Fossil-Fuel Free Friday
Divest from Coastal Gaslink and Teck Rally
Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs flash protest
Professor Greg Mikkelson resignation over fossil fuel investment
TC Energy/Coastal GasLink and Teck Mine Blockade in the Adminstration office
2019
2019
The BoG decides to not divest (for the 3rd time). Divest McGill continues applying pressure and campaigning. For instance, Divest disrupted a BoG meeting as they voted on CAMSR's response.
Paid by McGill video + Website Launch
Spoke at Colloquium on religion and climate change
Pledge to withhold donations until divestment.
Resignation of BOG members over fossil fuel investment.
Walkout for fossil fuel divestment
Fossil Free Fridays Weekly actions
Presentation on the consequences of Climate Change to the BoG.
2018
2018
Strong start of school year with Senate’s endorsement following in CAMSR starting a third assessment of the issue
2017
2017
Maintaining the pressure and building internal support
2016
2016
CAMSR’s shameful response, sit-ins, and the diploma returning ceremony
2015
2015
Back to CAMSR with an even stronger submission and more community support
Divest McGill submits its second petition to CAMSR, targeting the top 200 Fossil Fuel companies, as measured by carbon reserves. The first submission was dismissed on the basis of “insufficient proof of social injury”; for that reason, Divest focused this time on a 150 page research document highlighting the grave social harm caused by the fossil fuel industry based on the harm it causes to the local and global natural environment, as well as the harm it creates for individuals and populations as a result of human rights abuses and environmental degradation. This time, the petition was backed up by 1300 signatures.
February 2nd
February 10th
An open letter is published in anglophone and francophone newspapers by McGill professors Shaun Lovejoy, Darin Barney and Christopher Barrington-Leigh supporting Divest McGill’s demands and calling “on McGill to be a true leader of sustainability and pioneer the necessary transition away from fossil-fuel dependence”.
April 2015
Divest McGill is awarded the Lesson Learn recognition at the Catalyst Award ceremony, organised by McGill Office of Sustainability. In presenting the award, professor Darin Barney explained: “They’ve mobilized and galvanized staff, students and faculty. They want us to put our money where our mouth is.”
December 2015
Faculty of Arts endorses Divest McGill.
2018
2018
Strong start of school year with Senate’s endorsement following in CAMSR starting a third assessment of the issue
2017
2017
Maintaining the pressure and building internal support
2016
2016
CAMSR’s shameful response, sit-ins, and the diploma returning ceremony
2015
2015
Back to CAMSR with an even stronger submission and more community support
Divest McGill submits its second petition to CAMSR, targeting the top 200 Fossil Fuel companies, as measured by carbon reserves. The first submission was dismissed on the basis of “insufficient proof of social injury”; for that reason, Divest focused this time on a 150 page research document highlighting the grave social harm caused by the fossil fuel industry based on the harm it causes to the local and global natural environment, as well as the harm it creates for individuals and populations as a result of human rights abuses and environmental degradation. This time, the petition was backed up by 1300 signatures.
February 2nd
February 10th
An open letter is published in anglophone and francophone newspapers by McGill professors Shaun Lovejoy, Darin Barney and Christopher Barrington-Leigh supporting Divest McGill’s demands and calling “on McGill to be a true leader of sustainability and pioneer the necessary transition away from fossil-fuel dependence”.
April 2015
Divest McGill is awarded the Lesson Learn recognition at the Catalyst Award ceremony, organised by McGill Office of Sustainability. In presenting the award, professor Darin Barney explained: “They’ve mobilized and galvanized staff, students and faculty. They want us to put our money where our mouth is.”
December 2015
Faculty of Arts endorses Divest McGill.
2014
2014
Lobbying yields structural changes: small but critical victories
May 22nd
The McGill Board of Governors adopts revised terms of reference for CAMSR, which broaden the definition of social injury to include damage to the environment, a step in the right direction obtained thanks to significant lobbying by Divest members.
This deadline is finally agreed upon for McGill to respond to Divest’s access to information request regarding the nature of the investments of the endowment fund.
March 31st
Throughout the year,
A letter of support for Divest’s demands gains support fromover 100 faculty members. It argued that “continued investment in the companies that actively work against this transition and profit from continued fossil fuel dependence is not morally tenable for a public institution”, and that the fossil fuel industry “has consistently blocked or weakened climate mitigation policies, and worked to obfuscate both climate science and media portrayal of climate science” and that “remaining invested in fossil fuel companies undermines the university’s mission of “service to society” and its commitment to manage its portfolio in a socially, environmentally, and economically responsible manner”.
2013
2013
Getting organized and spreading the word
The Economics Students’ Association teamed up with Divest McGill to host the annual “Battle of the Profs” under the theme of divestment from fossil fuel divestment.
March 26th
April 10th
Divest McGill made a presentation to the Committee to put forward its arguments.
CAMSR released its decision denying Divest McGill’s request to divest from fossil fuel companies and those involved in the Plan Nord in an open report for the Board of Governors.
May 23rd
November 6th
Another protest held… on bikes this time!
Divest McGill submits its first petition to CAMSR demanding “that the Investment Committee dispose, in an orderly and responsible fashion in no longer than three years, of the University's holdings in corporations which produce, refine, transport, or sell fossil fuels, as determined by the Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility”. The petition, which was signed by 1200 members of the McGill community, also targeted investments in the Quebec Plan Nord.
February 1st
February 14th
“Break-up from fossil fuel” rally held outside of the Shatner building to raise awareness on the campaign and its demands.
February 21st
SSMU Council passed a motion to take action on divestment!
March 12th
CAMSR met to review these submissions on March 12th.
Origins of Divest McGill
2012
2012
Divest McGill was founded in the Fall of 2012 as a working research project of the SSMU VP External.The main organizers were Robin Reid-Fraser, Christopher Bangs, and David Summerhays. The group was initially called “Decorporatize McGill”, but changed to ‘Divest McGill’ to focus on fossil fuel divestment.
Pre-Divest Context
Rising concerns over corporate influence in the university
In February 2011 two existence referendums for CKUT and QPIRG weren’t recognized by the administration. Students, calling themselves the #6party, occupied the Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Medelson’s office demanding that student voices be heard. The students were removed with tear gas and riot cops. The combination of this, and the closure of the Student-Run Architecture Cafe, led to conversations being started about increasing corporate influence in the university.
For our full timeline, view our website on your desktop.
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