In Pursuit of Climate Justice: How DivestUVic Won Fossil Fuel Divestment at the University of Victoria

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This article was written by Teresa Lawson, and is the product of a collaboration between the HUB Librarian (Anglophone) and students in Professor Jen Gobby's winter 2026 course "TCA425: Organizing for Transformative Change" at the University of Victoria. Many thanks to Teresa and Jen for their collaboration on this project. 

DivestUVic protest as part of the global climate strike in September 2019.

Introduction

This article covers the DivestUVic Movement, a student-led fossil fuel divestment campaign that spanned 8 years of efforts to achieve full divestment at the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Sources used:

  • Public reports, social media posts, recordings, and press releases made by the campaign organizers
  • Public documents, meeting minutes, statements, and press releases by the University of Victoria
  • News and media coverage
  • Many reports by student newspaper The Martlet

What is the Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement?

Fossil fuel divestment refers to the removal of investment money held in stocks, bonds, and funds from oil, gas, and coal companies for moral, financial, and environmental reasons. Fossil fuel divestment is not the first time divestment has been used as a tool to affect change - it has previously been to target the tobacco and gambling industries and played an important role in the fight against apartheid in South Africa. [1]

The arguments for fossil fuel divestment primarily fall into moral, factual, and financial categories:

Moral

Fossil fuel organizations are not concerned by the harms (current, past, or future) caused by their industry and are motivated almost entirely by short-term financial gain; as such they will continue to conduct business to satisfy this motivation even when even doing so is self-destructive. [2]

Factual

Research shows that, to limit warming to a 2°C increase in global temperature, that 66% to 80% of fossil fuels need to remain in the ground. [3]

Financial

If, and when, international climate action targets change are met, fossil fuel investments will be worthless and thus become ‘stranded assets’. [4]

The purpose of fossil fuel divestment campaigns is to:

  1. Reframe the business practice of fossil fuel companies socially unacceptable, undermining their legitimacy.
  2. By undercutting legitimacy, undermine fossil fuel lobbying power therefore making space for politicians to take effective actions.
  3. Highlight that the transition requirement is not an if, it is a when.
  4. Emphasize that fossil fuel investments will not hold value once the transition occurs.

The Fossil Fuel Divestment movement is a global movement with action being taken by a huge range of people from grassroots University student clubs like DivestUVic to robust mutli-national watchgroups like the Climate Policy Initiative. Together, these groups seek to achieve progress towards divestment of fossil fuels and re-investment in renewable, sustainable alternatives.

Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaigns in Higher Education

The movement is traced back to student activism in 2011, was taken up by 350.org in 2012, and eventually found its way to the University of Victoria with the founding of Divest UVic in 2013. [5] [6] According to the Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Commitments Database, there are over 260 educational institutions with divestment commitments, including 17 in Canada. [7] Divestment in Canada began with Laval University's announcement in Feb 2017, followed by a steady series of announcements between 2017 and 2024. The University of Victoria was the 8th to announce divestment commitments, two years after both Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia released their own announcements.

What is the University of Victoria Foundation?

The University of Victoria Foundation is responsible for the management of the university’s Working Capital Investments, Pension Funds, and Student Investment Fund. As of March 2025, it is responsible for managing over $600 million in assets and administering over 1,500 endowment funds that disburse more than $20 million each year for scholarships, bursaries, and other university purposes. [8]

DivestUVic requested that the Foundation's Board divest of all fossil fuels in all of these holdings, however University action has primarily been with regard to the Working Capital Investments.

Campaign breakdown

Summary

On February 4, 2014 the University of Victoria Student’s Society, on behalf of DivestUVic, submitted a letter to the university’s Board of Governors and the Foundation’s Board seeking divestment.

The letter included the problem, the goal, and the targets of their demands: [9]

The Problem

  • The University of Victoria has $20.98 million invested in the fossil fuel industry.
  • The University of Victoria is "committed to… promoting the development of a just and sustainable society through our programs of education and research and the stewardship of our own financial and physical resources.”
  • These two facts contradict each other.
  • “If it’s wrong to wreck the climate and peoples’ livelihoods, then it’s wrong to profit from that wreckage. The University of Victoria Students’ Society deeply regrets your deliberate willingness to invest in an industry quickly consigning our generation, and future generations, to life on an inhospitable planet.”

The Goal

For all current holdings to be divested of fossil fuels.

The Target

  • UVic Foundation investment policy.
  • UVic Foundation investment holdings.
  • UVic Foundation leadership.
  • University leadership.

The Theory of Change

  • Assumptions:
    • The University cares about its commitments to sustainability and social justice.
    • The University cares about safeguarding its reputation.
    • The University cares about responsible long-term financial planning.
    • The University cares about the opinions of its students, faculty, and staff.
    • The University cares about public opinion of the university.
  • Strategies for Change:
    • Pointing out contradictions in commitments versus action alongside threats of reputational harm will lead to (self-interested) policy change.
    • Providing alternative investment pathways will empower the University to make positive change earlier, avoid stranded assets, and benefit from early positioning in changing markets.
    • Leveraging public opinion will provide the social capital with which to make change and make inaction too socially costly to responsibly allow.

Key Actors

Semester action planning, January 2016.

DivestUVic

DivestUVic was founded in 2013 as a group of University of Victoria students, faculty, and staff who advocate that “it is immoral and economically irresponsible to invest in the destruction of our climate, lands, and livelihoods.” [10] In February 2014, the group demanded that the University of Victoria immediately cease any further investment in fossil fuel companies and divest all existing holdings within three years followed by ongoing formal requests for divestment. [11] [12]

The Vice President of Finance and Operations’ response deferred discussion of any action until the next Foundation Board meeting at which point the University explicitly refused to divest. [13] [14]

UVic Foundation Board

The UVic Foundation Board is responsible for protecting the value of the Foundation funds against inflation and providing stability in the earnings distribution to facilitate financial planning of the use of these funds. [15] The Board is guided by the University of Victoria Foundation Act, Endowment Management or Spending Policy, Responsible Investment Policy, and investment objectives and guidelines.

UVic Board of Governors

The University of Victoria Board of Governors is responsible for the management, administration, and control of the property, revenue, business, and affairs of the university. [16] It is a fifteen-member body who sit on committees, including the executive and governance committee, finance committee, operations and facilities committee, audit committee, and compensation and review committee.

Internal Factors

DivestUVic made specific organizational and strategic choices, which can be considered as internal factors that contributed to the campaign's success.

DivestUVic members talking with VP Jamie Cassels after a protest, October 2014.

Movement modelled like a student club

The movement conducted itself like a student club with regular meetings, semester-planning sessions, recruitment drives during Club Days, and maintained a social atmosphere which contributed to its resiliency over years.

Challenged decision-makers

Direct actions such as occupations, protests, and deliberate disruptions were focused primarily on decision-makers.

Embedded art and storytelling

Co-opting taglines, utilizing memes, wielding satire and humour as effective tools to highlight the absurdity of the delay, deflect, and downplay tactics of decision-makers

Commissioning professional opinions

Divest UVic commissioned legal and banking opinions that contradicted the 2014 recommendations, indicating that UVic was both legally and financially able to pursue full divestment. [17]

External Factors

In addition to the internal factors, there were several external factors at play that defined the campaign's terrain of struggle and shaped its progression:

Substantial support within the university

Over the course of two referendums on the subject, there was overwhelming support expressed by both students (with 77% in favour) and faculty (with 77% in favour).

Conflicts of interest

The Foundation’s Board of Directors and UVic’s Board of Governors were both found to have members with clear conflicts of interests regarding divestment and fossil fuel companies. [18]

Pro-fossil fuel UVic advisors

The Board of Governors sought advice from its investment managers in Sept 2014 on the impact of divestment. This advice was broadly that fossil fuels were “too large of a market segment to exclude,” that over the following 10-15 years “we are not seeing any dramatic or concerted environmental requirements… that might significantly impact the fundamental valuation of Canadian energy companies,” and that “excluding companies from portfolios eliminates the possibility of engagement and of a dialogue with these companies.” [19]

  • The WTI Crude Oil Price was $91.17 ($124.58, adjusted for inflation) in September 2014 with UVic investment managers providing long-term conservative price projections of $80-$85. [20]

Global movement

Other prominent institutions within Canada, the USA, and globally were vocally divesting from fossil fuels, representing growing reputational pressure for UVic, which had positioned itself as a leader in sustainability and social responsibility.

Social upheaval

The COVID-19 Pandemic forced many movements online as of March 11 2020, marking the beginning of a series of global initiatives to shut down and curb the spread and death caused by the novel disease. [21] Simultaneously, social and climate justice movements garnered global attention particularly through social media and became connection points for a variety of social and climate justice movements, such as School Strike for Climate, Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Protests, and Black Lives Matter Protests. [22] [23] [24]

Oil price crash

The WTI Crude Oil Price fell below $80 in December 2014, just 3 months after the opinion letters commissioned by UVic, a graph of the oil prices is provided below with key dates highlighted.

  • Oil prices have trended downward from September 2014 onward, typically staying below the estimated $80 per barrel, lending financial pressure to investment decisions, particularly with oil bottoming out at around $25 per barrel at the start of the pandemic.
Figure 1: Crude Oil Price compared to key contextual events in Divest UVic movement [25]

Organizational activities

Organizational activities utilized varied depending on the target, goal, and semester’s focus. The below table provides a summary of the tactics used throughout the movement, including examples and the approximate proportion of activities that fell within that category. [26]

Category of Activity Description % of Total Activities Examples

Local Awareness Building Within University

 Engage with students and faculty through multiple communication channels such as email blasts, news releases, newspaper coverage, photo events, poster campaigns, and clever or humorous taglines in order to build support for the movement. 45%
  • Regular coverage by student newspaper The Martlet [27] [28] [29] [30] [31]
  • Publishing news releases to document movement gains, challenges, and activities [32]
  • "I support DivestUVic" photo activity during Clubs Days [33]
Building Public Awareness Outside University Engage with local residents and media through news releases, newspaper coverage, and interviews to build public support for the movement. 16%
  • Conduct newspaper interviews and publish newspaper articles [34] [35] [36]
  • Publish opinion and information pieces through newspapers and think tanks [37] [38] [39]
Dedicated Organization & Planning Maintaining a regular structure and internal organization that enables the movement to endure over multiple semesters, pass on knowledge, and benefit from fresh ideas from new recruits. 30%
  • Weekly and semesterly club meetings to plan events around movement members’ capacity and capabilities [40] [41] [42]
  • Dedicated de-centralized communication channels such as a website, social media, and Discord
  • Integrate intersectionality broadly in direct actions, online presence, and event planning, including protection of protestors and protest training
Recruitment Ongoing recruitment to ensure there is capacity to take action. 7%
  • Clubs Days tabling and recruitment at beginning of each semester
  • Creation and distribution of movement primer materials with associated orientation open-house style recruitment meetings
Direct Action on Decision-Makers Directly engage with targeted decision-makers through protest, letter-writing, and creating communication/public image dilemmas that highlight contradictions between action and promises. 31%
  • Submit initial demand to decision makers [43]
  • Commission professional opinions that contradict advice the university is acting on [44]
  • Sit-in protests, blockades, silent protests, and direct presentations at Board of Governor's meetings [45] [46] [47]
  • Hosting public forums and debates with fossil fuel interests [48] [49]
  • Conduct regular reviews of Investment Reports, propose changes [50]
  • Demand involvement and collaboration in the development of changes to Investment Policies
Satire & Humour as Criticism Use satire and humour through communications to highlight contradictions, invite people into conversation, and get complex concepts across in an accessible way. 18%
  • Community engagement event writing satirical Valentine's to decision-makers [51]
  • Co-opting University taglines in satirical and critical meme posts ("DivesttheUVicEdge", “YikesNation”)
  • Satirical bakesale featuring punny food like "bitumen brownies" and "tar bars" [52]
  • Satirical, ironic, and dry-humour social media posts and meme contests highlighting the ridiculousness of power-holders' inaction [53] [54] [55] [56] [57]
Public Shaming Explicitly and clearly articulate when target fails to follow through on a commitment, is delaying, or when public reputation is at stake. 20%
  • Host protest + press conference event to push back against incomplete implementation of demands
  • Identify other high profile public figures and institutions divesting and engaging with them on social media as a form of public shaming
  • Publish informational pieces on University leadership with conflicts of interest related to the issue
  • Purchase billboard in high-profile location to publicly shame university [58]
  • Making correspondence with those in power publicly visible on movement's website
  • "Name and shame" campaign that explicitly calls out the specific fossil fuel companies in the university's investment portfolio, distribute on social media
Demonstrate Support for Movement Highlight collaboration or mutual support from related events to demonstrate positive public opinion on issue topic. 18%
  • Tap newspapers for high-profile events like faculty/staff referendum to drive public spotlight and awareness
  • Seeking public endorsement of movement by university unions, clubs, and societies
  • Coordinate environmental events with related movements (Divest Victoria, 350.org's Fossil Free, etc)
  • Collaborate with related movements for reinvestment demands (Climate Justice UBC, SFU350, etc)
  • "Tag a Friend" social media campaign to spread awareness, highlight support
Solidarity Actions Collaborate and support related initiatives to network, sharing information, ideas, and tactics while demonstrating commitment to the ideals of the movement. 11%
  • Food drive to support related movement and spread awareness [59] [60] [61] [62] [63]
  • Participate in related events (Fossil Free Week, School Strike for Climate, Black Lives Matter marches, Wet'suwet'en solidary protests, NoDAPL marches etc)

Further, the groups specifically engaged by the movement tended to be university students or faculty and staff, though direct actions did target university leadership explicitly. A single activity could be targeting multiple groups.

Group Engaged by Movement % of Activities
University Students 65%
University Faculty/Staff 57%
University Leadership 38%
General Public 14%
University Alumni 1%

Finally, activities were categorized based on which pillars (assumptions) the movement was targeting as part of their work.  A single activity could be targeting multiple pillars, as was often the case with direct action taken towards University Leadership. 

Pillar (Assumption) Targeted % of Activities
Student, Faculty, Staff Opinion 80%
University Reputation 39%
Commitment to Sustainability 38%
Public Opinion 36%
Long-Term Financial Planning 26%

Timeline

The DivestUVic movement has taken place over ten years, with phases of increased and decreased activity.  Below is an overview of the different phases and what characterized that period alongside contextual global events.

Phase / Arc Start and End Date Key Events Contextual Events
Initial Challenge & Rejection Jun 2013 - Sep 2014
  • Jun 2013: DivestUVic founded
  • Feb 2014: DivestUVic submits their letter of demand to the University [64]
  • Apr 2014: Faculty votes in support of divestment [65]
  • May 2014: After a non-committal response and a delay, the University explicitly refuses to divest [66]
    • Board of Governors seeks to distance itself from Foundation’s decision making process [67] [68]
    • Foundation cites fund managers for reasons to not divest [69]
  • Harvard release Fossil Fuel Divestment statement (Oct 2013) [70]
  • WTI Crude Oil price ranges between $125-$150/barrel [71]
Support Building & Second Rejection
 Oct 2014 - Jun 2015
  • Jan 2015: Public forum on divestment includes Suncor representative [72] [73]
  • Mar 2015: Student referendum votes in favour of divestment [74]
  • Mar 2015: University of Victoria Educational Workers’ Union (CUPE, Local 4163) endorses DivestUvic [75]
  • Apr 2015: UVic Vice President of External Relations responds to DivestUVic, again distancing the Board of Governors from the Foundation’s decisions [76]
Student referendum results, March 2015.
  • WTI Crude Oil price falls to $65-$80/barrel
Refined Challenge
 Jul 2015 - Mar 2016
  • Jul 2015: DivestUVic hosts a sit-in at NDP politician Murray Rankin’s office and conducts Times Colonist interview [77] [78]
  • Jul 2015: Public speaking event at Centennial Square [79]
  • Oct 2015: DivestUVic works with UVic Student Society to get divestment on the student society elections debate schedule [80]
  • Jan 2016: Protest at Board of Governors’ meeting; Board again deflects responsibility to Foundation [81] [82]
  • WTI Crude Oil price falls to $45-$68/barrel
First Hibernation
 Apr 2016 - Oct 2016
  • No Instagram activity
  • WTI Crude Oil price hovers around $65
Refined Challenge & Issue Movement Nov 2016 - Mar 2018
  • Dec 2016: Participation in related climate action events such as No DAPL events
  • Feb 2017: DivestUVic meets with the UVic Administration and Board Chair
  • Mar 2017: Movement begins screening movies and hosting events in support of Indigenous sovereignty [83]
  • Nov 2017: Cross-institution mutual support and encouragement with DivestDalhousie on social media [84]
  • Jan 2018: UVic Alumni launch pressure campaign
  • Laval University becomes first Canadian university to divest (Feb 2017) [85]
  • WTI Crude Oil price falls to $45-$70/barrel
Second Hibernation Apr 2018 - Nov 2018
  • No Instagram activity
  • Greta Thurnberg’s first School Strike for Climate [86]
  • Coastal GasLink applies for injunction against Wet’suwet’en land defenders
  • WTI Crude Oil price rises to $80-90/barrel
Resurgence & Renewed Pressure
 Dec 2018 - Jan 2020
  • Satire and irony as criticism become a common used tool
  • Feb 2019 - Dec 2019: Multiple sit-ins and protests at Board of Governors meetings despite efforts to prevent the protesters' activities [87] [88] [89]
  • Mar 2019: Protests and solidarity actions, such as for the International Student Tuition Hike [90]
  • Apr 2019: Student blockade of the Michael William Building [91]
  • Sept 2019: DivestUVic presents Student Perspective on Divestment to Board of Governors; the Board indicates they will vote on changes to short-term investment strategy in November 2019 but pushes the vote back to January 2020, then pushes it back again to March 2020 [92]
  • Nov 2019: Students barred from entering the primary Administration building, flagged as ‘security threat’, spurs further protest [93]
  • Dec 2019: Faculty votes in favour of divestment again [94] [95]
      • Local news picks up story and highlights vote and blockade in mainstream news
  • Jan 2020: Board of Governors votes in favour of an updated Responsible Investment Policy, proposing a 45% divestment from fossil fuels [96] [97] [98]
    • DivestUVic demands that Mary Garden be removed from Foundation Board until her conflicts of interest have been addressed
    • Wet’suwet’en solidarity activities begin
    • DivestUVic rallies students, media, and allies to demand 100% divestment instead of insufficient 45% [99]
  • Global Climate Strikes begin in March 2019
  • RCMP raid Unist’ot’en Camp [100]
  • Université du Quebec à Montreal, Concordia University, and Simon Fraser University divest from fossil fuels
  • WHO declares COVID-19 “Of Concern” [101]
  • WTI Crude Oil price hovers around $70/barrel
Initial Success & Refined Focus
 Feb 2020 - Jan 2021
  • Feb 2020: Wet’suwet’en solidarity protests
  • May 2020: UVic begins considering becoming a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) [102]
  • Jun 2020: Conflicts of interests are identified in Foundation Board; movement calls for the resignation of Mary Garden, Lisa Dempsey, Doug Stadelman, Daphne Corbett, and Beverly Van Ruyven for their connections to fossil fuel lobby and corporations [103]
  • Sept 2020: Movement purchases highly-visible billboard on Patricia Bay Highway leading to the ferry terminal [104]
  • Sept 2020: DivestUVic joins the Divest Canada Coalition
  • Jan 2021: DivestUVic explicitly names the fossil fuel companies UVic is investing in and advocates for negative screening [105]
  • Jan 2021: UVic announcements investment in Raven Indigenous Capital Partners in Jan 2021 [106]
  • Feb 2021: UVic Responsible Investment Policy updated [107]
  • Lakehead University and University of Guelph divest from fossil fuels
  • Wet’suwe’ten solidarity protests spread to include railway disruptions, walk outs, more
  • WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic; global lockdowns begin
  • Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police protests begin [108]
  • Dakota Access Pipeline ordered closed
  • WTI Crude Oil price falls to $25-$65/barrel
Significant Success & Deeper Involvement
 Feb 2021 - Nov 2021
  • Feb 2021: UVic announces it will divest of fossil fuels from its working capital fund
  • Feb 2021: DivestUVic celebrates success and initiates #DivesttheRest campaign [109] [110] [111] [112]
  • Mar 2021: DivestUVic commissions legal opinions from EcoJustice and Vancity in support of 100% divestment [113]
  • Aug 2021: Movement criticizes UVic for continuing to hold $470million in fossil fuel assets [114] [115] [116]
  • Sept 2021: UVic Foundation presents its first Responsible Investment Report
  • Nov 2021: March for Divestment event
  • Nov 2021: UVic announces it has divested its working capital fund 100% from fossil fuels [117]
  • Nov 2021: DivestUVic initiates Reinvestment Campaign alongside Climate Justice UBC and SFU350
  
  • University of Waterloo and University of Toronto divest from fossil fuels
  • Defund Line 3 and Fairy Creek blockades begin
  • WTI Crude Oil price rises to around $80/barrel
Focus on Accountability Dec 2021 - Mar 2022
  • Dec 2021: Letter writing campaign to demand accountability and full divestment across all UVic Foundation’s investments [118]
  • Mar 2022: UVic announcements $25million investment in Brookfield fund [119]
  • Mar 2022: DivestUVic fosters “Raise the Bar” campaign [120] [121]
  • University of British Columbia has set the standard for climate leadership by committing to full divestment by 2025 and have declared a climate emergency
  • University of Ottawa divests from fossil fuel
  • WTI Crude Oil price rises to around $90-115/barrel
Third Hibernation Apr 2022 - Dec 2023
  • No Instagram activity
  • University of Montreal,Victoria University, University of Toronto, University of St. Michael's College, Trinity College University of Toronto, McGill University divests from fossil fuel
  • WHO declares COVID-19 pandemic over in May 2023 [122]
  • WTI Crude Oil price hovers around $80/barrel
Accountability & Collaboration Jan 2024 - Mar 2025
  • Feb 2024: DivestUVic deep-dives into Foundation’s investments to understand full impact and more responsible opportunities [123]
  • Nov 2024: DivestUVic presents Responsible Investment Policy Review to the UVic Financial Planning and Operations Team; it is endorsed by 10 UVic groups [124] [125]
  • Jan 2025: Policy Review is unanimously approved by Board of Governors [126] [127] [128]
  • Saint Paul University divests from fossil fuels
  • WTI Crude Oil price hovers around $70-80/barrel
In Pursuit of Climate Justice Apr 2025 - Feb 2026
  • Apr 2025 - Feb 2026: Solidarity actions to support Indigenous land defenders, Palestinian genocide awareness
  • Feb 2026: DivestUVic announces movement focus shifting to social, political, and environmental justice in UVic’s investments [129]
  • Feb 2026: Collaboration between DivestUVic and Financial Operations team integrates human rights improvements in investment policy
  • Feb 2026: UVic commits to adopting the 10 Principles of UNPRI and inclusion of an active feedback role for accountability to students and faculty [130]
  • Responsible Investment Report 2024/25 released [131]
  • Canada and British Columbia end the Federal Carbon Tax
  • WTI Crude Oil price hovers around $70/barrel

Was the Goal Achieved?

The movement’s stated demand was for the University of Victoria to cease all new investments in fossil fuels and for all current holdings to be divested of fossil fuels. This demand was made in February 2014 with initial success in January 2020 with the updated Responsible Investment Policy and a commitment to 45% divestment followed by major success in response to continued pressure for full divestment in February 2021. Full success was achieved, formally, in November 2021 after 7 years of ongoing efforts.

Success came about as a result of sustained pressure by student activists, an increasing number of peer institutions divesting, falling oil prices, shifting public and student opinion, and increasing reputational cost.

As of February 2026, the movement is now 12 years old and still actively involved in justice and solidarity work at the university. The movement’s goal, however, has expanded to become more intersectional in its climate and social justice demands. It now focuses on holding the university accountable to social, political, and environmental justice in UVic’s investments as of Feb 2026.

In the 2023/2024 UVic Foundation Investments Report (2023/24), there has been significant change in the nature and amounts invested in the reported categories with a clear shift away from fossil fuel investments. [132] [133] However, these investments have been moved into technology, industrial, and consumer discretionary industries such as Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft. It is perhaps with great foresight and wisdom that DivestUvic has decided to shift its attention to include the social, political, and environmental aspects of the University’s investments, particularly given the extremely high profile nature of several of these new investments and their potential intersection with sociopolitical accountability.

Lessons for Future Organizing

In reflecting on the tactics, messaging, and outcomes of this movement, four primary lessons emerge:

Be Informed

  • Determine who is responsible for enacting change for investment policy; who is ultimately responsible for how investments are handled? Direct your policy demands to them and communicate who supporters need to contact to express their support for your cause.
  • Research the contextual background for those who are responsible for how investments are made - identify conflicts of interest, active participation in boards, groups, or businesses with a vested interest counter to the request and highlight those in your awareness building.
  • Determine what other institutions and organizations are leading the way on the issue and learn from them.

Be in Community

  • Connect with similar initiatives in your region for events, newsletters, and recruitment.
  • Connect with fellow students, particularly law, finance, communications, climate science, and humanities students for support building compelling arguments.
  • Centre intersectionality and solidarity, support and network with local social justice and climate justice movements to help spread the word, garner support, and keep perspective/accountability.

Be Inconvenient

  • Be clever, creative, and inconvenient to those you are protesting against; this gets news coverage and stirs up questions.
  • Demanding accountability and maintaining involvement in the follow-through as success is achieved solidifies that success.
  • Satire, irony, and humour are powerful and connective forces; lean into it.

It's a Marathon, not a Sprint

  • Student movements are vulnerable to the ebb and flow of semester cycles, graduation, and obligation - maintain a regular club or organizational schedule to maintain membership and organizing capacity.
  • Refining the movement’s focus in response to changing needs can help avoid loss of momentum.
  • It takes time to achieve change, maintaining pressure doesn’t have to sit with one cohort alone - it is a collective effort over months or years.

Key Quotes

  • “If it’s wrong to wreck the climate and peoples’ livelihoods, then it’s wrong to profit from that wreckage” - Kelsey Mech, DivestUVic. [134]
  • “Between 2024 and 2030, an annual average of at least USD 6.3 trillion in global climate finance is needed to keep global warming within 1.5°C (CPI, 2025). Achieving this—and capturing the economic and environmental benefits that result from it—will require financial institutions (FIs) to play a key role as enablers, alongside other actors including governments and real-economy companies… Action from [Financial Institutions] is vital to the climate transition in the global economy, composed of interlocking sectors and national economies….Near-term backsliding will not change the ultimate need for transition.” - Le et al, Climate Policy Initiative. [135]
  • “UVic lost $4 million on their Canadian fossil fuel investments between March 2018 and March 2019. Even before COVID-19, UVic’s fossil energy investments were delivering a -17% rate of return (RoR). In contrast, the Toronto Stock Exchange’s fossil free index had a +7.9% RoR that same year. The fossil energy sector was the worst performing segment of the stock market in 2018-19.” - Rowe et al. [136]
  • “Both the Board of Governors and the Foundation Board have duties of loyalty and prudence when making investment decisions… Neither Board is prevented from adopting a divestment policy to reduce their exposure to material financial risks from climate change, provided that policy is financially prudent.” - Vancity, Ecojustice. [137]

Further Reading

References

  1. ↑ Howard, Emma. 2015. “A beginner's guide to fossil fuel divestment.” The Guardian, June 23, 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/23/a-beginners-guide-to-fossil-fuel-divestment.
  2. ↑ Rusbridger, Alan. 2015. “The argument for divesting from fossil fuels is becoming overwhelming.” The Guardian, Mar 16, 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/16/argument-divesting-fossil-fuels-overwhelming-climate-change.
  3. ↑ Clark, Duncan. 2015. “How much of the world's fossil fuel can we burn?” The Guardian, Mar 25, 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/keep-it-in-the-ground-blog/2015/mar/25/what-numbers-tell-about-how-much-fossil-fuel-reserves-cant-burn.
  4. ↑ Angen, Eli. 2015. “Climate change and the financial risk of stranded assets.” Pembina Institute, May 05, 2015. https://www.pembina.org/blog/climate-change-financial-risk-stranded-assets.
  5. ↑ Gibson, D., & Duram, L. A. (2020). Shifting Discourse on Climate and Sustainability: Key Characteristics of the Higher Education Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement. Sustainability, 12(23), 10069. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310069
  6. ↑ Fossil Free. (n.d.). What is fossil fuel divestment?. Fossil Free. https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/what-is-fossil-fuel-divestment/
  7. ↑ Stand.Earth. n.d. “The only comprehensive database of fossil fuel divestment commitments made by institutions worldwide.” Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Commitments Database. https://divestmentdatabase.org/.
  8. ↑ University of Victoria. n.d. “University of Victoria investments” UVic Foundation. https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/about/index.php. Accessed February 19, 2026.
  9. ↑ Mech, Kelsey. 2014. “UVSS Request to Divest UVic Foundation Investments in Fossil Fuels.” Letter from University of Victoria Students Society Chairperson to Board of Governors. Doc #BOG-Apr01/14-05; Appendix 1. University of Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120031748/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Finance-committees-report-to-BOG-April-2014.pdf.
  10. ↑ DivestUVic. n.d. “About Divestment.” DivestUVic. https://web.archive.org/web/20230204023421/https://divestuvic.com/about-divestment/.
  11. ↑ Mech, Kelsey. 2014. “UVSS Request to Divest UVic Foundation Investments in Fossil Fuels.” Letter from University of Victoria Students Society Chairperson to Victoria Foundation Board. Doc #BOG-Apr01/14-05; Appendix 2. University of Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120031748/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Finance-committees-report-to-BOG-April-2014.pdf.
  12. ↑ DivestUVic. 2014. “Submission to the Board of Governors and University of Victoria Foundation.” Letter from DivestUVic to UViC Foundation and Board of Governors. https://web.archive.org/web/20200928122631/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/final-draft-Divest-UVic-BOG-and-Foundation-submission.pdf.
  13. ↑ Pollard, Robin. 2021. “Important Divestment Decision at UVic, But More Is Still Needed.” DivestUVic. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927144746/https://divestuvic.com/important-divestment-decision-at-uvic-but-more-is-still-needed/.
  14. ↑ Hill, Lisa. 2014. “RE: DivestUVic.” Letter from Chair of UViC Foundation to DivestUVic. In Office of the University Secretary. University of Victoria Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120030726/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Reply-to-Divest-Uvic-from-Foundation-May-2014.pdf.
  15. ↑ University of Victoria. n.d. “Governance” UVic Foundation. https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/governance/index.php.
  16. ↑ University of Victoria. n.d. “Board of Governors” University Secretary. https://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/governors/index.php.
  17. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "This is a BIG win for our full divestment case - check out the legal and financial opinions we commissioned in our bio! Thanks for all your support @ecojustice_ca @vancitycu 🌟" Instagram, Mar 30, 2021, https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDFxSCjUid.
  18. ↑ Rowe, James, Elora Adamson, Jason Hemmerling, and William Carroll. 2020. “Why has UBC divested from fossil fuels but UVic has not? The high cost of industry influence.” Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Jun 16, 2020. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/divest-industry-influence/.
  19. ↑ Hill, Lisa. 2014. “RE: Divestment of Fossil Fuels,” Letter from Chair of UViC Foundation to Chair of UVic Board of Governors. In Office of the University Secretary. University of Victoria Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120023918/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Foundation-Memo-to-BOG_Divestment-Sept-2014.pdf.
  20. ↑ macrotrends.net. n.d. “Crude Oil Prices (1946-2026) - Adjusted for Inflation" Crude Oil Prices Database. https://www.macrotrends.net/1369/crude-oil-price-history-chart.
  21. ↑ WHO. n.d. “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic” World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19
  22. ↑ Crouch, David. 2018. “The Swedish 15-year-old who's cutting class to fight the climate crisis” The Guardian, Sept 18, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/01/swedish-15-year-old-cutting-class-to-fight-the-climate-crisis.
  23. ↑ Ducklow, Zoë. 2019. “Nine Things You Need to Know about the Unist’ot’en Blockade” The Tyee, Jan 19, 2019. https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2019/01/08/LNG-Pipeline-Unistoten-Blockade/.
  24. ↑ n.d. “In the Wake of George Floyd: Mapping Social Movements Related to Systemic Racism in Rhode Island” In the Wake of George Floyd Project, Brown University. https://mappingsocialmovementsri.digitalscholarship.brown.edu/timeline/.
  25. ↑ macrotrends.net. n.d. “Crude Oil Prices (1946-2026) - Adjusted for Inflation" Crude Oil Prices Database. https://www.macrotrends.net/1369/crude-oil-price-history-chart.
  26. ↑ The movement’s Instagram and website were reviewed to identify individual tactics, then organized into categories, and finally assessed to determine what proportion of tactics were associated with each category. Note that a single action can be attributed to multiple categories so the total percentage will not sum to 100%.
  27. ↑ McDonald, Trina. 2015. “Is UVic edgy enough to divest?” Martlet, Nov 19, 2015. https://martlet.ca/is-uvic-edgy-enough-to-divest/.
  28. ↑ O'Brien, Cormac. 2016. “In spite of protests, university shirks divestment decision.” Martlet, Feb 4, 2016. https://martlet.ca/in-spite-of-protests-university-shirks-divestment-decision/.
  29. ↑ Dodd, Anna, and Mike Graeme. 2019. “Divest UVic: It’s time to break up with fossil fuels.” Martlet, Feb 1, 2019. https://martlet.ca/divest-uvic-its-time-to-break-up-with-fossil-fuels/.
  30. ↑ Martlet Staff. 2021. “UVic’s divestment shouldn’t come as a surprise.” Martlet, Feb 16, 2021. https://martlet.ca/divest-uvic-divestment-shouldnt-come-as-a-surprise/.
  31. ↑ Barkley, Ethan. 2019. “Students barred from entering Michael Williams Building, labelled a “security threat” after Board of Governors meeting and protest.” Martlet, Nov 26, 2019. https://martlet.ca/students-barred-from-entering-michael-williams-building-labeled-a-security-threat-after-board-of-governors-meeting-and-protest/.
  32. ↑ Pollard, Robin. 2021. “Important Divestment Decision at UVic, But More Is Still Needed.” DivestUVic. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927144746/https://divestuvic.com/important-divestment-decision-at-uvic-but-more-is-still-needed/.
  33. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Come check out the table at clubs days!" Instagram, Sept 10, 2014, https://www.instagram.com/p/sxiy3lmQjY
  34. ↑ Rowe, James, Lisa Chalykoff, Jeff Corntassel, and Colin Goldblatt. 2019. “Why UVic Faculty Massively Voted to Divest from Fossil Fuels.” The Tyee, Dec 23, 2019. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2019/12/23/UVic-Faculty-Vote-Divest-Fossil-Fuels/.
  35. ↑ Weston, Scott. 2020. “UVic board to consider partial fossil fuel divestment proposal.” CTV News, Jan 22, 2020. https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/vancouver-island/article/uvic-board-to-consider-partial-fossil-fuel-divestment-proposal/.
  36. ↑ Simpson, Natasha. 2019. “Divest UVic blocks university executives and administrative staff from accessing the Michael Williams Building.” Martlet, Dec 3, 2019. https://martlet.ca/divest-uvic-blocks-university-executives-and-administrative-staff-from-accessing-the-michael-williams-building/.
  37. ↑ Chutter, Hailey, Robin Pollard, and Emma-Jane Burian. 2021. “Are universities shaping or shattering our futures?” National Observer, Aug 20, 2021. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/20/opinion/are-universities-shaping-shattering-our-futures-climate-finance-divestment.
  38. ↑ Rowe, James, Elora Adamson, Jason Hemmerling, and William Carroll. 2020. “Why has UBC divested from fossil fuels but UVic has not? The high cost of industry influence.” Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Jun 16, 2020. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/divest-industry-influence/.
  39. ↑ Rowe, James, Claire O'Manique, Emi Belliveau, and Malkolm Boothroyd. 2017. “The University of Victoria seeks to profit from climate change deniers and policy obstructionists: The Exxon connection.” Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Nov 3, 2017. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/the-university-of-victoria-seeks-to-profit-from-climate-change-deniers-and-policy-obstructionists-the-exxon-connection/.
  40. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Our first meeting of the year was the biggest yet! Thanks to everyone who joined us yesterday." Instagram, Jan 8, 2020, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/p/B7EmQZxlj6T/
  41. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Amazing turnout out to our first meeting today! We did a summer update, talked about some exciting news and planned for divest fest! See you all next week!" Instagram, Sept 19, 2019, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/p/B2QKox0FaZ1/
  42. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "This is it! Next week! We are so grateful for the work everyone has put in and we are VERY excited to announce that the UVic Faculty voted to make a donation and support our organizing for Divestfest and the climate strike! SEE Y’ALL SOON!" Instagram, Sept 20, 2019, https://www.instagram.com/p/B2qC3_mlFom.
  43. ↑ DivestUVic. 2014. “Submission to the Board of Governors and University of Victoria Foundation.” Letter from DivestUVic to UViC Foundation and Board of Governors. https://web.archive.org/web/20200928122631/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/final-draft-Divest-UVic-BOG-and-Foundation-submission.pdf.
  44. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "This is a BIG win for our full divestment case - check out the legal and financial opinions we commissioned in our bio! Thanks for all your support @ecojustice_ca @vancitycu 🌟" Instagram, Mar 30, 2021, https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDFxSCjUid
  45. ↑ Barkley, Ethan. 2019. “Students protest UVic fossil fuel investments at September Board of Governors meeting.” Martlet, Oct 2, 2019. https://martlet.ca/students-protest-uvic-fossil-fuel-investments-at-september-board-of-governors-meeting/.
  46. ↑ Simpson, Natasha. 2019. “Divest UVic blocks university executives and administrative staff from accessing the Michael Williams Building.” Martlet, Dec 3, 2019. https://martlet.ca/divest-uvic-blocks-university-executives-and-administrative-staff-from-accessing-the-michael-williams-building/.
  47. ↑ Juliet, and Elora. 2019. “The Student Perspective on Divestment.” DivestUVic. https://www.uvic.ca/vpfo/capitalinvestments/assets/docs/the-student-perspective-on-divestment.pdf.
  48. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "One more day until UVic's divestment forum! We're ready to make this a very interesting evening" Instagram, Jan 25, 2015, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/p/ySyOiHGQiB/
  49. ↑ Charette, Carmen. 2015. “none,” Letter from Vice-President External Affairs to DivestUVic. In Office of the Vice-President External Affairs. University of Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120032552/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/April-2015-Post-Referendum-Letter-from-BOG.pdf.
  50. ↑ Chutter, Hailey, Zoé Lardière, and DivestUVic Volunteers. 2024. “Responsible Investment Policy Review Proposal.” https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xxanaxtAVtVQtov1-Vhw7jBH5QQgnKhgFlE6NHgwmfE/edit?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaE9uXPqqVW3t7JD6pi0rojZF3UV8HoVSMvy3gBm8iv4zuHuoj9wlBdG3M_aem_XzccRcc4qCX3dFQeMkqYvA&tab=t.0.
  51. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Gearing up for Valentines day....... someone has got a surprise coming" Instagram, Jan 30, 2019, https://www.instagram.com/p/BtSKZKdhM92/.
  52. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Come check out our oil rig and buy some bitumen brownies or tar bars at our Fossil Fools Day bake sale near the Petch fountain #YikesNation #DivesttheUvicEdge" Instagram, Apr 3, 2017, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/reel/BSbmxxnDPsQ/
  53. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Happy Monday, here’s a reminder that dragging heels on making a morally and financially ethical choice is part of #TheUVicEdge 👌🙄" Instagram, Oct 30, 2019, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/p/Ba4feaBj9bn/.
  54. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Something's a'brewin...maybe @uvic should #Divest before time runs out? ⛰🌊" Instagram, Mar 17, 2017, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/p/BSKan8wD0G-/.
  55. ↑ Verbowski, Kiley. 2020. ““President Hall, Time to Divest” reads temporary mural on campus.” Martlet, Nov 26, 2020. https://martlet.ca/news-divest-uvic-mural-2020/.
  56. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Behind the scenes of our windfarm action #divest #uvic #fossilfree" Instagram, Mar 31, 2016, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/reel/BDpcZ2WGQpk/
  57. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Come say hey, and help us clean up the oil spill @UVic caused by investing in oil spills! (Grab a snack and help support
  58. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Check out our billboard on the Pat Bay towards Sidney! UVic Foundation’s investments are worse than we thought— in 2018-19 alone, UVic invested over 70 million in fossil fuels. 🤢Join @divestuvic and take real action on climate change. Our next meeting is this Thursday, Sept 17 at 6:30 pm! Dm for details🧡🤠" Instagram, Sept 14, 2020, https://www.instagram.com/p/CFJNO_OjERT/.
  59. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Divest UVic stands firmly in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en Nation. Read our statement on the @universityofvictoria ‘s complicity and our demands." Instagram, January 15, 2020, https://www.instagram.com/p/B7XDHN6l3j-/.
  60. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "@indigenousyouthforwetsuweten from 10:30am-5pm (+forever)! This event will be taking place on the Lekwungen, Songhees and WSANEC speaking peoples land. On Sunday we need especially large numbers of people to come support Youth for Yintah! " Instagram, March 01, 2020, https://www.instagram.com/p/B9LxC2GlEWy/.
  61. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "@indigenousrising Breaking: A federal judge has just ordered for the Dakota Access Pipeline to be completely shut down! This is a part of the ongoing lawsuit filed by The Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Nations." Instagram, July 7, 2020, https://www.instagram.com/p/CCWOJPZDTTv/
  62. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Open to everyone!!!! Not just UVic students!!!! A group of students at UVic hosting a fitness fundraiser, in partnership with Raven Trust, to raise awareness and support for the Beaver Lake Cree Nation as they prepare for The Tar Sands trial. " Instagram, March 8, 2021, https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKshTFj0qc/
  63. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Dear UVic Students, The members of Divest UVic stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movements and Black communities in Canada, the United States, and around the world." Instagram, June 01, 2020, https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17844533048208972/
  64. ↑ Mech, Kelsey. 2014. “UVSS Request to Divest UVic Foundation Investments in Fossil Fuels.” Letter from University of Victoria Students Society Chairperson to Board of Governors. Doc #BOG-Apr01/14-05; Appendix 1. University of Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120031748/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Finance-committees-report-to-BOG-April-2014.pdf.
  65. ↑ Linnit, Carol. 2014. “160 Faculty Members Join Call for Fossil Fuel Divestment at B.C.’s University of Victoria.” The Narwhal, Apr 30, 2014. https://thenarwhal.ca/faculty-members-join-call-fossil-fuel-divestment-b-c-s-university-victoria-0/.
  66. ↑ Hill, Lisa. 2014. “RE: DivestUVic.” Letter from Chair of UViC Foundation to DivestUVic. In Office of the University Secretary. University of Victoria Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120030726/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Reply-to-Divest-Uvic-from-Foundation-May-2014.pdf
  67. ↑ Ibid.
  68. ↑ Mohr, Erich. 2014. “Re: Divestment of Fossil Fuels.” Letter Chair of UVic Board of Governors to DivestUVic. In Board of Governors. University of Victoria Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120033302/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Reply-to-Divest-Uvic-from-BOG-May-2014.pdf.
  69. ↑ Hill, Lisa. 2014. “RE: Divestment of Fossil Fuels,” Letter from Chair of UViC Foundation to Chair of UVic Board of Governors. In Office of the University Secretary. University of Victoria Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120023918/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Foundation-Memo-to-BOG_Divestment-Sept-2014.pdf
  70. ↑ Stand.Earth. n.d. “The only comprehensive database of fossil fuel divestment commitments made by institutions worldwide.” Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Commitments Database. https://divestmentdatabase.org/.
  71. ↑ macrotrends.net. n.d. “Crude Oil Prices (1946-2026) - Adjusted for Inflation" Crude Oil Prices Database. https://www.macrotrends.net/1369/crude-oil-price-history-chart.
  72. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "One more day until UVic's divestment forum! We're ready to make this a very interesting evening" Instagram, Jan 25, 2015, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/p/ySyOiHGQiB/
  73. ↑ Dempsey, Jessica, and James Rowe. 2015. “Is Petro-Divestment Too Divisive?” The Tyee, Feb 2, 2015. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/02/02/Divisive-Petro-Divestment/.
  74. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "INCREDIBLE! We did it!! Thank you to everyone who voted at UVIC! ✴️ one step closer to #fossilfree !!! #uvic #divest #divestuvic #uvss #uvsselections" Instagram, Mar 5, 2015, https://www.instagram.com/p/z23hZ7GQu0
  75. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "More good news from the #UVIC #divest movement! Thanks again CUPE 4163! 👍#350 #divestuvic #uvss #uvicpix" Instagram, Mar 26, 2015, https://www.instagram.com/p/z23hZ7GQu0
  76. ↑ Charette, Carmen. 2015. “none,” Letter from Vice-President External Affairs to DivestUVic. In Office of the Vice-President External Affairs. University of Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120032552/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/April-2015-Post-Referendum-Letter-from-BOG.pdf.
  77. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Sitting in Murray Rankin's office for #jobsjusticeclimate like others across Canada! #yyj #uvic" Instagram, Jul 15, 2015, https://www.instagram.com/p/4rsOptGQie
  78. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Being interviewed by the @timescolonist for #jobsjusticeclimate #climatesitin in #yyj" Instagram, Jul 3, 2015, https://www.instagram.com/p/4r3aqymQo6
  79. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "One of our organizers, @try.n speaking on effects of climate change at a #divestvictoria rally in #yyj. #divest #bcpoli” Instagram, Jul 23, 2015, https://www.instagram.com/p/5gPc6lGQrb
  80. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "This year we're voting! And we're voting for climate justice! #elxn42 #uvss #uvic #divestuvic" Instagram, Oct 6, 2015, https://www.instagram.com/p/8gRSylGQrr
  81. ↑ O'Brien, Cormac. 2016. “In spite of protests, university shirks divestment decision.” Martlet, Feb 4, 2016. https://martlet.ca/in-spite-of-protests-university-shirks-divestment-decision/.
  82. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "So many people came out to our action that people were left outside of the room to wait! Apparently the Board of Governors chambers only hosts about 35 people...despite this campus hosting 17,000 undergrad students? 😐 #UVic #uvicpix #uvss #divestuvic #fossilfree #350org" Instagram, Jan 26, 2016, https://www.instagram.com/p/BBA3dwCGQgA/.
  83. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "You! (And all your friends) are invited to join Divest and the UVSP next Tuesday evening for free pizza, snacks, and a screening of #SacredWater - the Viceland episode on #StandingRock. For more details check out the event on our Facebook page! #NoDAPL #WaterIsLife #DivestFromDAPL" Instagram, Mar 22, 2017, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/p/BR8mzjNjEHN/
  84. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "From us to @divestdal: we send out support, love, hope, anger and warmth! If you aren’t following their #DivestDal camp-out action, we’d recommend subscribing to their Instagram! ✊❤️" Instagram, Nov 29, 2017, https://www.instagram.com/divestuvic/p/BcGb4_ug76v/
  85. ↑ O'Brien, Cormac. 2017. “Growing momentum across Canada fuels the fire for divestment at UVic.” Martlet, Apr 1, 2017. https://martlet.ca/growing-momentum-across-canada-fuels-the-fire-for-divestment-at-uvic/.
  86. ↑ Crouch, David. 2018. “The Swedish 15-year-old who's cutting class to fight the climate crisis” The Guardian, Sept 18, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/01/swedish-15-year-old-cutting-class-to-fight-the-climate-crisis.
  87. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "This is going to be powerful. Make sure you are there. We cannot confirm or deny whether the Jonas Brothers are attending." Instagram, Mar 21, 2019, https://www.instagram.com/p/BvRp7APB6Ft/
  88. ↑ Simpson, Natasha. 2019. “Divest UVic blocks university executives and administrative staff from accessing the Michael Williams Building.” Martlet, Dec 3, 2019. https://martlet.ca/divest-uvic-blocks-university-executives-and-administrative-staff-from-accessing-the-michael-williams-building/.
  89. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "The Board if Governors will be discussing a report we have submitted and we're ready to listen. See you tomorrow! 😊" Instagram, May 27, 2019, https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx_s7VDFuL0
  90. ↑ Dodd, Anna. 2019. “Students to rally against UVic’s proposed 15 per cent international student tuition hike.” Martlet, Mar 25, 2019. https://martlet.ca/students-to-rally-against-uvic-s-proposed-15-per-cent-international-student-tuition-hike/.
  91. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "URGENT: Student blockade of Michael Williams (Admin) Building Happening Now!!! WE ARE CALLING ON ALL STUDENTS TO JOIN US" Instagram, Apr 5, 2019, https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4KQI2hjin/
  92. ↑ Barkley, Ethan. 2019. “Students protest UVic fossil fuel investments at September Board of Governors meeting.” Martlet, Oct 2, 2019. https://martlet.ca/students-protest-uvic-fossil-fuel-investments-at-september-board-of-governors-meeting/.
  93. ↑ Barkley, Ethan. 2019. “Students barred from entering Michael Williams Building, labelled a “security threat” after Board of Governors meeting and protest.” Martlet, Nov 26, 2019. https://martlet.ca/students-barred-from-entering-michael-williams-building-labeled-a-security-threat-after-board-of-governors-meeting-and-protest/.
  94. ↑ Rowe, James, Lisa Chalykoff, Jeff Corntassel, and Colin Goldblatt. 2019. “Why UVic Faculty Massively Voted to Divest from Fossil Fuels.” The Tyee, Dec 23, 2019. https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2019/12/23/UVic-Faculty-Vote-Divest-Fossil-Fuels/.
  95. ↑ Gaetz, William. 2019. “Majority of UVic faculty vote to divest from fossil fuels.” CTV News, Dec 17, 2019. https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/vancouver-island/article/majority-of-uvic-faculty-vote-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels/.
  96. ↑ University of Victoria. 2021. “UVic’s working capital fund goes fossil fuel free.” UVic News Archive. https://www.uvic.ca/news/archive/topics/2021+capital-fund-fossilfree+media-release.
  97. ↑ Brougham, Laura. 2024. “UVic president clarifies investments in light of demands and ongoing encampment.” CHEK News, May 10, 2024. https://cheknews.ca/uvic-president-clarifies-investments-in-light-of-demands-and-ongoing-encampment-1200890/.
  98. ↑ Korte, Kate. 2020. “UVic passes new investment strategy amid Divest UVic protest” Martlet, Jan 28, 2020. https://martlet.ca/uvic-passes-new-investment-strategy-amid-divest-uvic-protest/
  99. ↑ Greater Victoria News Staff. 2020. “Students protest UVic’s new divestment policy.” Peninsula News Review, Jan 29, 2020. https://peninsulanewsreview.com/2020/01/29/students-protest-uvics-new-divestment-policy/.
  100. ↑ Ducklow, Zoë. 2019. “Nine Things You Need to Know about the Unist’ot’en Blockade” The Tyee, Jan 19, 2019. https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2019/01/08/LNG-Pipeline-Unistoten-Blockade/.
  101. ↑ WHO. n.d. “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic” World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/covid-19
  102. ↑ Ord, Adrian. 2014. “Student group finds human rights violations in university holdings.” Martlet, Nov 21, 2024. https://martlet.ca/student-group-finds-human-rights-violations-in-university-holdings/.
  103. ↑ Rowe, James, Elora Adamson, Jason Hemmerling, and William Carroll. 2020. “Why has UBC divested from fossil fuels but UVic has not? The high cost of industry influence.” Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Jun 16, 2020. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/divest-industry-influence/.
  104. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Check out our billboard on the Pat Bay towards Sidney! UVic Foundation’s investments are worse than we thought— in 2018-19 alone, UVic invested over 70 million in fossil fuels. 🤢Join @divestuvic and take real action on climate change. Our next meeting is this Thursday, Sept 17 at 6:30 pm! Dm for details🧡🤠" Instagram, Sept 14, 2020, https://www.instagram.com/p/CFJNO_OjERT/
  105. ↑ Korte, Kate. 2021. “Inside UVic’s decarbonization plans and their latest investment in Raven Indigenous Capital Partners.” Martlet, Jan 6, 2021. https://martlet.ca/uvic-decarbonization-investments-divest-uvic/.
  106. ↑ University of Victoria. 2020. “UVic investment honours Indigenous economic reconciliation.” UVic News Archive. https://www.uvic.ca/news/archive/topics/2020+raven-fund-investment+media-release?ticket=ST-418373-hYNJWzU-TzmEXtzBh9Y6Msma6dY-nighthawk
  107. ↑ UVic Foundation. 2021. “University of Victoria Foundation Responsible Investment Policy.” Version 1. UVic Foundation. https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/assets/docs/responsible_investment_policy.pdf.
  108. ↑ n.d. “In the Wake of George Floyd: Mapping Social Movements Related to Systemic Racism in Rhode Island” In the Wake of George Floyd Project,Brown University. https://mappingsocialmovementsri.digitalscholarship.brown.edu/timeline/.
  109. ↑ University of Victoria. 2021. “UVic’s working capital fund goes fossil fuel free.” UVic News Archive. https://www.uvic.ca/news/archive/topics/2021+capital-fund-fossilfree+media-release.
  110. ↑ Rowe, James, Jeff Corntassel, Emily Lowan, and Juliet Watts. 2021. “UVic takes a big step towards fossil fuel divestment.” National Observer, Feb 8, 2021. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/02/08/opinion/uvic-takes-big-step-towards-fossil-fuel-divestment.
  111. ↑ CBC News. 2021. “UVic moves $80m to fossil-fuel free investment fund.” CBC, Feb 3, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/uvic-fossil-fuel-investments-1.5899220.
  112. ↑ Bell, Jeff. 2021. “After years of pressure, UVic drops fossil-fuel investments.” Time Colonist, Feb 2, 2021. https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/after-years-of-pressure-uvic-drops-fossil-fuel-investments-4687207.
  113. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "This is a BIG win for our full divestment case - check out the legal and financial opinions we commissioned in our bio! Thanks for all your support @ecojustice_ca @vancitycu 🌟" Instagram, Mar 30, 2021, https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDFxSCjUid
  114. ↑ Chutter, Hailey, Robin Pollard, and Emma-Jane Burian. 2021. “Are universities shaping or shattering our futures?” National Observer, Aug 20, 2021. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/20/opinion/are-universities-shaping-shattering-our-futures-climate-finance-divestment.
  115. ↑ University of Victoria. 2021. “UVic and the UVic Foundation have teamed up.” UVic Foundation. https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/about/news/current/university-of-victoria-and-university-of-victoria-foundation-joint-statement.php.
  116. ↑ University of Victoria. 2021. “Responsible Investment Report 2020-2021” University of Victoria Foundation, Mar 31, 2021. https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/assets/docs/2020_2021_responsible_investment_report.pdf.
  117. ↑ University of Victoria. 2021. “Fossil fuel stocks reduced--new decarbonization target for portfolio.” UVic News Archive. https://www.uvic.ca/news/archive/topics/2021+fossil-stocks-reduced+media-release.
  118. ↑ DivestUVic. 2021. “Letter to UVic Campaign.” DivestUVic. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927150024/https://divestuvic.com/letter-to-uvic/.
  119. ↑ UVic Foundation. 2022. “UVic Foundation expands impact investment with $25M in Brookfield fund.” UVic Foundation. https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/about/news/current/brookfield-fund-investment.php.
  120. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "We acknowledge that this event is on the territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ people Stay tuned for more event details! Spread the word!! Due to capacity of our organizers and the venue size, we ask that only those part of the UVic community attend! 🤍" Instagram, Mar 9, 2022, https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca6C5YLt8T9
  121. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "We acknowledge that this event is on the territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ people Stay tuned for more event details! Spread the word!! Due to capacity of our organizers and the venue size, we ask that only those part of the UVic community attend! 🤍" Instagram, Mar 9, 2022, https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca6C5YLt8T9
  122. ↑ United Nations. 2023. “WHO chief declares end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency” UN News, May 05, 2023. https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136367
  123. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "dig up some dirt with us next Thursday March 7th! Our research will be submitted to the University and considered for their Responsible Investment Policy Review. Your help could make a big difference! Dinner will be provided by @community_cabbage :)" Instagram, Feb 29, 2024, https://www.instagram.com/p/C38NMCRvfVM/
  124. ↑ Chutter, Hailey, Zoé Lardière, and DivestUVic Volunteers. 2024. “Responsible Investment Policy Review Proposal.” https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xxanaxtAVtVQtov1-Vhw7jBH5QQgnKhgFlE6NHgwmfE/edit?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaE9uXPqqVW3t7JD6pi0rojZF3UV8HoVSMvy3gBm8iv4zuHuoj9wlBdG3M_aem_XzccRcc4qCX3dFQeMkqYvA&tab=t.0.
  125. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Today was a big day" Instagram, Nov 4, 2024, https://www.instagram.com/p/DB-aD_dxyoh
  126. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "check out the infographic on our page for more details 🧡" Instagram, Feb 11, 2026, https://www.instagram.com/p/DB-aD_dxyoh
  127. ↑ Solorza, Fernanda. 2025. “UVic moves forward with environmental group’s proposal for investment policy review.” Martlet, March 6, 2025. https://martlet.ca/uvic-moves-forward-with-environmental-groups-proposal-for-investment-policy-review/.
  128. ↑ University of Victoria and Board of Governors. 2025. “Responsible Investment Policy,” The purpose of this policy is to set out Responsible Investment goals with respect to the investment of the university’s working capital investments. Policy No. FM5215. University of Victoria. https://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/assets/docs/policies/FM5215_1790_.pdf
  129. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "Hot off the press - Divest is back!! We are expanding our focus to include social, political and environmental aspects of UVic's investments. Stay tuned for updates and ways to be involved!" Instagram, Jan 23, 2024, https://www.instagram.com/p/C2d4L5EOJn9
  130. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "thank you to everyone that collaborated on this policy change." Instagram, Feb 11, 2026, https://www.instagram.com/p/DUpBCXXEZuQ
  131. ↑ University of Victoria Foundation. 2025. “Responsible Investment Report 2024-2025.” University of Victoria. https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/assets/docs/20250811-foundation-responsible-investment-report.pdf.
  132. ↑ University of Victoria Foundation. 2020. “Schedule of Investments - March 31 2020.” https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/assets/docs/20192020portfolioholdings1.pdf.
  133. ↑ University of Victoria Foundation. 2024. “Schedule of Investments - March 31 2024.” https://www.uvic.ca/uvic-foundation/assets/docs/obfoundations/Portfolio%20Holdings/2023-24-portfolio-holdings.pdf.
  134. ↑ Mech, Kelsey. 2014. “UVSS Request to Divest UVic Foundation Investments in Fossil Fuels.” Letter from University of Victoria Students Society Chairperson to Victoria Foundation Board. Doc #BOG-Apr01/14-05; Appendix 2. University of Victoria. https://web.archive.org/web/20230120031748/https://divestuvic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Finance-committees-report-to-BOG-April-2014.pdf.
  135. ↑ Li, Shengzi, Micale, Valerio, and Taylor, Maddie. 2025. “Tracking the Transition: Global private financial institutions’ progress toward net zero”. Climate Policy Initiative. Nov 6, 2025. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/tracking-the-transition-global-private-financial-institutions-progress-toward-net-zero/
  136. ↑ Rowe, James, Elora Adamson, Jason Hemmerling, and William Carroll. 2020. “Why has UBC divested from fossil fuels but UVic has not? The high cost of industry influence.” Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Jun 16, 2020. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/divest-industry-influence/.
  137. ↑ DivestUVic (@divestuvic), "This is a BIG win for our full divestment case - check out the legal and financial opinions we commissioned in our bio! Thanks for all your support @ecojustice_ca @vancitycu 🌟" Instagram, Mar 30, 2021, https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDFxSCjUid
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