Our Ask to MIT

  1. Transparency: In 2015, MIT rejected divestment in favor of what it called “engagement” with industry. A 2020 information request* from MIT Divest to the MIT administration showed that the administration does not systematically track interactions with industry on climate change. Publicize the specifics of MIT’s engagements with industry on climate change, including partnerships and sponsorships with specific companies; sources, amounts, and recipients of all research funding from the fossil fuel industry; meetings between MIT representatives and fossil fuel executives; and any results of these engagements.

    *Our response is linked here

  2. Divestment: Divest the endowment within 3 years from fossil fuel companies that have continued to:

    1. Develop fossil fuel resources beyond the 2°C carbon emissions limit

    2. Spread climate disinformation, by themselves or through their proxies  

    3. Engage in anti-climate lobbying directly or indirectly*

      *We have shown this includes the whole fossil fuel industry.

  3. Reinvestment: Reinvest all divested funds into socially responsible and environmentally sustainable investments, including carbon-free energy investments. It is encouraging that MIT is studying how to achieve a net-zero portfolio by 2050, but this is not the same thing as a zero-emission or carbon-free portfolio.

  4. Fossil-Free Research: Phase out funding from fossil fuel companies for any research projects within 5 years. Funding sources should be sustainable long-term with the future of the planet.

  5. Fossil-Free Recruitment: Beyond only financial investment, MIT’s relationships with fossil fuel companies include intellectual investment in the form of personnel. MIT’s students are more valuable than its money. MIT must stop providing institutional support to fossil fuel companies that try to recruit MIT students, such as through facilitating their presence at on-campus career fairs and networking events.