About Us
We are a student-led group campaigning for the University of Cambridge to cut all ties with environmentally destructive industries.
We recognise that climate change is not merely an issue of scientific fact, but a crisis that reflects the inequalities of an unfair and exploitative capitalist system, disproportionately affecting already marginalised communities. We seek a decolonial, just transition which has at its heart the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities and justice for the Global South.
Formerly “Cambridge Zero Carbon”, our campaign group led the charge on divestment, producing a comprehensive report on the university’s investments in the fossil fuel industry and generating publicity for the cause through demonstrations and occupations. And we won!
But we know the fight doesn’t end there – as Cambridge Climate Justice (CCJ), we now focus on Fossil Free Research and Careers. Continue reading to learn more about our campaigns and what we do.
What do we do?
Lobbying
At CCJ, we put a huge focus on trying to work through the formal streams for changing the university. For example, we’ve coordinated open letters from academics, lobbied members of voting bodies, and collected signatures from governing bodies for divestment. A motion (“Grace”) for Fossil Free Research has also been put forward to the Regent House in summer 2022.
Direct actions
To raise awareness of the urgency of action on climate change and put pressure on the university management, we conduct actions like demonstrations and occupations. Notably, we took part in an occupation of the BP institute in May 2022 that was swiftly followed by the renaming of the building.
Media
We’ve had stories published in student newspapers and the Guardian, placing pressure on the university to take action.
Outreach
We speak out at events about climate change on why climate change is gendered, racist and a result of an oppressive system built on top of capitalism and colonialism. We also collaborate with other like-minded groups and societies to deliver informative events that can help more people understand and engage in the climate justice conversation.
Fossil Free Research
Campaign in progress
CCJ is part of the Fossil Free Research coalition. We believe that Big Oil should not be allowed to fund climate and environmental research, as it has been shown to weaken academic integrity and it restricts academic freedom of our researchers.
It is even more unacceptable that fossil fuel giants who continue to make record profit amidst the climate crisis are using the funding they provide to energy research as a greenwashing strategy, giving them the social license to continue operating despite their contributions being miniscule compared to what is being spent on new oil projects.
The University of Cambridge, as one of the most influential players in British academia, must take a stand, to ensure the right, unbiased information goes into shaping climate policies in the UK and across the world.
Fossil Free Careers
Campaign in progress
Just as we shouldn’t be investing in fossil fuel companies, or taking research funding from them, we also shouldn’t be advertising their recruitment.
The University Careers Service must rapidly end its platforming of dead-end jobs in the fossil fuel industry. Cambridge must urgently follow universities like UAL in developing an Ethical Careers Policy that ensures the University does not enable fossil fuel or arms industry recruitment.
Divestment
Campaign WON
Formerly known as Cambridge Zero Carbon Society, we led the fight for the university’s full divestment from the fossil fuel industry. In March 2019, our members coordinated a democratic motion backed by 324 Cambridge academics calling on the University to produce fully-costed strategies for divestment.
After a five-year battle that involved tireless work from students, academics, and community members alike, the University of Cambridge has committed to remove all direct and indirect investments in the fossil fuel industry from its £3.5bn endowment fund by 2030. The Cambridge University Endowment Fund (CUEF) is the largest of any higher education institution in Europe.
The decision marks a major break with the energy sector; Cambridge has held close financial and research ties with BP, Royal Dutch Shell, and other fossil fuel companies for at least 20 years…