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Fossil Fuels

The University contributes to efforts to address the threat of climate change in many ways including important research initiatives and an ongoing commitment to sustainable operations. The research and innovation of our faculty and students is likely the most effective means by which the University will promote change. Maintaining funding for these important initiatives is a critical goal of the investment program.

In 2022, Northwestern’s Trustees approved a set of actions proposed by the Investment Committee to further align the University's investment policy with its commitment to promoting more urgent action on climate change while remaining sensitive to society’s need for safe and affordable energy.

Action Steps

Specifically, the Trustees have directed the Investment Office to take the following steps towards ensuring that our investment policies align with our values.

  • Limit future direct investments in energy to companies that produce alternative or responsible transition fuels with lower levels of GHG emissions relative to energy supplied as compared to alternatives.
  • Divest as possible from direct holdings of public or private companies identified as pursuing poor practices with respect to GHG emissions, energy production or climate change information and research.
  • Seek out and support investments in technologies that accelerate the transition to a carbon free energy future, promote energy efficiency and reduce atmospheric carbon while meeting the University’s general standards for investment excellence.
  • Adopt a system of compiling the endowment’s overall carbon footprint, actively engage with company management teams and investment managers to promote the reduction of this aggregate carbon footprint and report annually on progress in achieving a net zero emissions status. As a first step, the Investment Office will measure and report on the carbon footprint of the top public holdings of the endowment and will seek to expand this monitoring as possible over time.

The Investment Office will provide a report on all energy related investments and the carbon footprint of the endowment to the President and the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees annually.