Union representatives last week voted in favour of a ban on fossil fuel sponsorships for clubs and societies but all three sabbs present abstained.
The policy, proposed by Student Trustee and Non-Portfolio Societies Rep Seth Harris, argued that allowing fossil fuel companies to fund societies conflicted with the “responsibility of the Students’ Union to serve the students in an environmentally and socially friendly manner.”
However, the voting record shows that none of the sabbatical officers present voted in favour of the motion, with Activities & Engagement Officer Ana Boikova, Equity & Inclusion Officer Eda Yildirimkaya, and Postgraduate Officer Darcy Lan all abstaining from the vote. This is despite the Union’s constitutional commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.
Reps first discussed the policy in November at an Activity Zone meeting, The Cheese Grater reported.
President of the UCL Engineering Society Ashley Tsoi argued a move to block fossil fuel sponsorships would lead to employment difficulties for graduates.
She said the way the Society currently works with companies is premised upon sponsorship agreements, and that any such ban would disrupt the status quo.
Another Engineering Society representative said: “If this were to change, the risk is that… this would disrupt the amount of events we’d be able to put out”, insisting “sponsorships isn’t about the money” but the partnerships they have with oil and gas companies.
However, asked whether they believe the status quo is broken – given the scale and urgency of the climate crisis – they said: “I agree that there does need to be a change, but is stopping UCL students from being sponsored by a Society a solution to the problem?” To which a number of those present responded, “Yes”.
The Union will now take the policy through a consultation process with 11 student groups that could be affected by the ban, The Cheese Grater understands.
Following this, the Union Executive will give its final verdict when it convenes on 3 March. It is ultimately up to the executive body to decide if the proposal becomes official Union policy, despite being voted on prior.
Harris’ policy proposal aimed to bring back the fossil fuel companies sponsorship ban which lapsed in 2016 and became a non-binding guidance.
The current guidance states that receiving funding from fossil fuel companies may not be approved due to the Union’s belief in “inclusive societies”.
But this has not prevented societies such as the UCL Engineering Society from accepting sponsorships from the likes of Shell and BP.
The Engineering Society claims to hold “UCL’s largest ball” across “London’s finest 5* venues” and advertises talks with CEOs and VPs of industry-leading companies as their biggest selling points.
On its website, the Union claims: “We aim to become the most sustainable students’ union in the UK through embedding principles of sustainability into all aspects of the Students’ Union’s activities and services.”
Union byelaws also state it is the collective responsibility of the sabbatical leadership to “ensure the Union is ethical and sustainable”.
The vote follows a recent report by The Cheese Grater that the Union has resumed banking with Barclays -the largest funder of oil and gas in Europe for eight years in a row – just one month after a policy prohibiting the move expired.
