Why It Matters
Fossil fuel companies around the world continue to degrade land, pollute water, and contribute significantly to climate change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 89% of global CO₂ emissions in 2018 came from fossil fuels and industry.
Despite flashy marketing campaigns promoting “cleaner” energy, companies like BP still invest 96% of their annual expenditure in oil and gas. In the face of a climate emergency, the only just and sustainable path forward is a rapid transition to clean energy. Unfortunately, the current pace is not fast enough to stay below the critical 1.5°C threshold.
At Keele University, we are committed to being a campus that champions sustainability. Our Low Carbon Energy Generation Park already produces up to 50% of the campus’s electricity, and we continue to push for more.
What Is Fossil Free Careers?
Fossil Free Careers is a national campaign led by People & Planet, calling on UK universities to cut ties with oil, gas, and mining industries. The campaign urges university careers services to:
- Refuse all new relationships with fossil fuel and mining companies.
- Decline to renew existing partnerships once contracts expire.
- Adopt a public Ethical Careers Policy that excludes these industries from recruitment opportunities.
So far, one university and eight students’ unions have made the pledge. Keele SU proudly joined them following a vote at an All-Student Meeting.
What We’re Doing at Keele
Keele SU has pledged to work towards a Fossil Free Careers Department, while continuing to support a just transition. Our actions include:
- Collaborating with the Institute for Sustainable Futures and encouraging fossil fuel companies to transition to clean energy.
- Promoting ethical and sustainable employers through careers events and partnerships.
- Banning fossil fuel companies from SU spaces and refusing future partnerships with any of the 250 companies identified by Fossil Free Careers and the Carbon Underground 200 list.
In January 2023, students voted to amend our Fossil Free Careers Policy to allow positive partnerships with companies actively transitioning to green energy—recognising the diverse career paths of our student body.
Who to Boycott
The Fossil Free Careers campaign has identified:
- 50 mining companies to boycott
- The Carbon Underground 200 list of top fossil fuel companies
Together, these form a list of 250 companies whose practices contribute to the climate crisis. Our goal is to support their transition or hold them accountable through ethical action.
Join the Movement
We believe in a future where careers are aligned with climate justice. Join us in building a Fossil Free Careers service that reflects our values and empowers students to drive change.