The advisory committee considering the question of whether Queen’s should divest from fossil fuels will wrap up its consultations with the Queen’s community next week.

The final consultation meeting is scheduled for Sept. 17 and space is still available for individuals or groups who may wish to present their views to the committee. Anyone interested should contact the committee by email as soon as possible.

The committee continues to welcome written submissions by email no later than Sept. 17.

“The committee has received many submissions from faculty, staff, students, alumni and the broader community expressing views on all sides of the question of divestment,” says David Allgood, a Queen’s alumnus and the committee’s chair. “The consultation meetings are an important opportunity for the committee to have a dialogue directly with stakeholders. I would encourage anyone who wishes to participate to contact the committee.”

The advisory committee was struck by Principal Daniel Woolf, as required by the university’s Statement on Responsible Investing (SRI), after an expression of concern and a petition was received from the student group Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Change.

The committee is seeking input from the Queen’s community on whether the university should divest its Pooled Endowment Fund and Pooled Investment Fund from public companies that engage in fossil fuel extraction and distribution, whether it should take no action or whether it should engage companies through other activities.

Divestment is not currently being considered for the Queen’s Pension Plan.

The advisory committee is expected to conclude its work at the end of September, and will make its recommendation to the principal on what action, if any, should be taken. The principal will then bring that recommendation to the investment committee of the Board of Trustees for a final decision.

For more information about the advisory committee, visit its webpage.