Students at UNSW calling for the university council to divest from fossil fuels. Picture Jackson Turner.

SYDNEY Friday, September 7, 2018: Students from ten universities around the country today are holding a series of coordinated protests, calling on their governing councils to show leadership on climate action, by divesting from fossil fuels.

Students from the University of Sydney, University of NSW, University of Wollongong, University of Queensland, RMIT, Flinders University, Monash University, UTS, University of Adelaide and University of Tasmania are holding rallies and actions today ahead of the global day of action #RiseForClimate on Saturday September 8, when events will be held at more than 40 sites across Australia, and in 78 countries worldwide.

Mia Pap, a member of Fossil Free RMIT, said: “Australian universities are investing millions of dollars in coal, oil and gas companies. They should be standing with us but right now they are siding with the fossil fuels industry.”

“Our universities lead the way when it comes to research into climate change and renewable energy. It’s appalling that there is such a gap between what uni councils are doing with their money and what their own science and engineering faculty staff are telling us – that we need to act on climate change now and we have the technology we need already.”

Toby Walmsley, Fossil Free NSW State Organiser said: “We congratulate universities that are going 100% renewable, but they can’t have it both ways. It’s not enough to promise to power our campuses with 100% renewable energy if our universities are investing in fossil fuels at the same time.”

“You can’t be a leader tackling climate change if you support the industries causing it.”

The campus protests precede more than 40 events around Australia and in 78 countries globally this weekend, with ordinary people taking to the streets to call for action to address climate change, a just transition to 100% renewable economy and no new fossil fuel projects. The #Rise For Climate events include rallies, cultural actions, family picnics, bike rides, bush walks and more. Details at www.riseforclimate.org

For media assistance contact: Louise Fraser lou@350.org.au 0438 993 068

Images  availalbe at http://bit.ly/RiseForClimateAustralia
See the map of global events at www.riseforclimate.org