AUAS urges ABP to halt investments in fossil fuels

Amsterdam-based organisations write open letter to pension fund

22 Sep 2021 11:08 | Communication

ABP must phase out all investments in fossil fuels by the end of 2024 at the latest. That is the request made by a large number of Amsterdam-based institutions - including the AUAS - in an open letter to pension fund ABP.

In a letter sent to the ABP Board on 22 September by AUAS Chair Jopie Nooren, the institutions make two concrete appeals to the pension fund in addition to cutting back on the investments:

  1. Investigate whether the ABP portfolio is compatible with the 1.5°C Paris target;
  2. Use the freed up investment room in such a way that the investments of ABP accelerate both the increase of sustainability of the energy supply, and investment projects that combat climate change.

"The clear message from science is, in short, that we must stop using fossil energy as soon as possible to prevent further irreversible warming of the atmosphere. The climate leaves no margin for new investments in fossil energy," the organisations wrote.

The letter was signed by eleven other organisations in Amsterdam besides the AUAS: Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Calandlyceum, Esprit Scholen, City of Amsterdam, Hogeschool iPabo, Montessori Scholengemeenschap Amsterdam, Open Scholengemeenschap Bijlmer, Open Onderwijs Innoord, Rietveld Academy and Zaam.

The VU and the UvA universities had previously written a letter on behalf of all parties. Inholland University of Applied Sciences intends to send its own letter to ABP. The AUAS calls on other institutions in Amsterdam to join this initiative. Are you interested? Please send an email to j.kluck@hva.nl.