Letter to the Editor

Climate change is a politically charged matter, despite well-developed theories and overwhelming evidence pointing to its nature as a verifiable phenomenon. In its fourth and final report on climate change, the IPCC summarized decades of research – 30,000 scientific studies, in fact – ultimately concluding that human activity is responsible for climate change. The fossil fuel industry will continue to be, unless otherwise checked, a catalyst for continued warming of the earth, which will have dire consequences, documented and unforeseen. Who has the power to enact change?

Naturally, the United States Congress springs to mind, but after the recent midterm elections, I’d wager my measly PhD stipend that climate change legislation will at best hibernate for two years. With the likes of James Inhofe and Ted Cruz, both vehement climate change deniers, set to take over Senate committees in charge of these matters, the impetus for change must come from elsewhere.

Universities have long been bastions for progressive thought. In regards to climate change, Duke’s environmental research laboratories, environmental economists, etc. have been instrumental in bringing climate science and awareness to its present state. For instance, Lincoln Pratson, Nicholas School professor, has constructed scientifically and politically valid frameworks for carbon, capture, and storage (CCS) implementation. Yet, completely at odds with their employees’ pioneering work, Duke continues to invest in fossil fuel exploration, production, and commercialization. Obviously, this is counterproductive to the work of these academics. More broadly, it is counterproductive for the future of society.

I will not pretend to be an economist for one second, but investing in companies responsible for the degradation of this planet in the name of short-term monetary gains seems not only morally reprehensible but also scientifically shortsighted. Through divestment, Duke can aid in escaping our nation’s reliance on deleterious forms of energy production. I ask President Broadhead to divest from fossil fuel companies, and reinvest in technology that will lead to a brighter future for us all.

Jarrett Link

Pratt ‘14