The close links between universities and fossil fuel companies undermine the independence of universities and risk greenwashing the activities of companies profiting from climate change.
Key points:
- Fossil fuel companies fund 24 research centres at 19 different universities, including:
- The University of Queensland's Centre for Natural Gas, funded by various gas companies.
- The Monash Energy Institute, funded by Woodside, AGL and others.
- University of South Australia's Future Industries Institute, funded by Santos
- Scholarships funded by fossil fuel companies total at least $423,000 per year.
- Tens of millions in grant funding is provided via Australian Research Council Linkage grants and industry organisations like the Australian Coal Association Research Program.
"Coal and gas companies should not be funding science in the 2020s," said Rod Campbell, Research Director at The Australia Institute.
The science of climate change is clear. Universities teach this science.
"Fossil fuel companies causing climate change in the 21st century are buying influence with Australia's leading research organisations, just like tobacco companies bought off medical researchers last century.
"Students know this and want universities to stop cosying up to big gas and coal companies.
"Gas companies made $170 billion over the last four years, selling gas that the Australian government gave them for free.
"The simple policy fix is to tax the gas industry and properly fund universities.
"Australia's universities are under fire for various governance failures. Links with coal and gas companies are just the latest demonstration that universities are selling their integrity and selling it cheap."
