What is divestment?
Divestment is the opposite of investment - it means the disposal of stocks, bonds, and other investment funds that are questionable, poorly performing, unethical, or otherwise no longer desirable.
In regards to fossil fuels, divestment is the selling off of financial investments supporting coal, tar sands, oil, and natural gas companies - and reinvesting them elsewhere!
Fossil Fuels and Universities
University Endowment Funds are money or other financial assets that are donated to academic institutions. Charitable donations are the primary source of fossil fuel investments at universities. It is held in bonds, mutual funds, co-mingled funds, etc.
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CSU Endowments funds total billions across all 23 campuses. Every individual campus has their own endowment funds. The CSU has their own too!
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These assets are not always visible to the public - students, faculty, and even donors are often blind to who our funds are supporting!
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