THE University of Newcastle has received more than $15 million in coal-linked research funds since 2013, according to data released as part of a national campaign for universities to move away from fossil fuel investments.
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The Hunter university has received half the $33 million of coal-linked funds to the University of Queensland since 2013, but the two coal-region institutions have received significantly more than other Australian universities, data released in a report on Tuesday by 350.org and the Fossil Free Universities network showed.
The “Exposing the Ties” report used Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) and Australian Research Council data to show the close ties between some universities and coal, with the University of Wollongong receiving $7 million, the University of NSW $5 million, while Victoria’s Monash University has received $1.5 million since 2013.
ACARP uses a five cents per tonne levy on saleable coal to fund research proposals put forward by universities, where funded projects are directly connected to a fossil fuel company by an “industry monitor”.
Data shows the University of Newcastle had $13.6 million in ACARP grants and $2 million in Australian Research Council grants either allocated in 2013, in the first year of the Fossil Free Universities campaign, or already allocated.
The University of Newcastle disputed the $15 million figure, but said it would provide a detailed response to Newcastle Herald questions on Tuesday.
Students at Newcastle, Queensland, NSW and Monash universities will hold protests on Tuesday highlighting university links with the coal industry, and calling on institutions to move investments from fossil fuels.
Australian universities have been resistant to divesting their assets from fossil fuel and related companies. This has led us to question the kinds of ties that exist between our universities and the fossil fuels industry.
- 350.org spokesperson Jackson Turner
The protests coincide with release of the “Exposing the Ties” report showing how key decision-makers in Australian universities are former employees of fossil fuel industries, or hold non-executive director positions on mining and related companies.
These include University of Newcastle Chancellor Paul Jeans, who held chief executive roles at BHP over a 40-year career with the company, was Newcastle Port Corporation chair from 2008 to 2013 and a former Australian Minerals Council councillor.
University of Newcastle Council member Michelle McPherson held senior finance roles with Caltex Australia and was a Newcastle Port Corporation director for six years.
The university’s Hunter Research Foundation Centre has many fossil fuel-related companies in its sponsors list, including the Port of Newcastle, Port Waratah Coal Services, coal consultant GHD, Centennial Coal and Bengalla Mining.
The centre’s advisory board includes members with a history of work in the fossil fuel industry. One member, Professor Eileen Doyle, is a non-executive member of Oil Search Ltd.
Companies connected to research funding at the University of Newcastle include Glencore, Rio Tinto, New Hope, Stanford Coal, Peabody, BHP, Whitehaven Coal and Xstrata.
Jackson Turner of 350.org said the strong links between universities and the fossil fuels industry could create a serious conflict of interest when it comes to decisions about whether a university moves its investments out of coal, oil and gas.
“Australian universities have been resistant to divesting their assets from fossil fuel and related companies. This has led us to question the kinds of ties that exist between our universities and the fossil fuels industry,” Mr Turner said.
“What we have found is that many council members of leading universities either have ties to, or are non-executive directors of companies whose significant business is in fossil fuels.
“Additionally, many universities have material ties to the industry, receiving funding for university projects from fossil fuel or related companies.
“These ties could create a serious conflict of interest or bias when it comes to decisions around fossil fuel divestment, potentially jeopardising universities’ own endowment investments by failing to accurately consider climate change and stranded asset risks.”
Over the past four years students at 18 Australian universities, including Newcastle, have petitioned the institutions to divest from fossil fuels, in line with major companies and other institutions, including churches, that have divested.
The Hunter university was asked to disclose the full carbon exposure of its investments, stop any new investments in fossil fuel activities and set a five-year deadline on divesting.
“If it’s wrong to wreck the climate then it is wrong to profit from that wreckage,” Mr Jackson said.
Investing in fossil fuels was “not only ethically ambiguous but financially risky” because of the risk of stranded assets, he said.