Exeter University respond to claims made by Falmouth Student Extinction Rebellion group

A surprise student XR protest unfolded at the Penryn Campus Open Day on Wednesday afternoon.

The Falmouth Student XR group made claims that Exeter University has investments of up to two million pounds in oil and gas - despite declaring a climate emergency.

Student activists staged a 'die-in' to protest against the claimed investments.

A spokesperson of Exeter University told Falmouth Nub News:

"We recently appointed Rathbone to manage our investment portfolio and a major factor in our decision was to improve our ethical investments.

"We worked closely with our students to appoint Rathbone and want to ensure that our investments have a positive impact on our community and society as well as provide good returns to invest in education.

"The Presidents of the Students' Guild in Exeter and Union in Cornwall will be involved in monitoring the new ethical investment policy, and students will also be on a new management group so they can have their say on the policy as it evolves over time.

"Earlier this year we declared an Environment and Climate Emergency, and our Working Group which includes our outstanding environment and climate experts, are looking at the issue of investments and will make their recommendations shortly."

A petition has also been made by the student organisation, it reads:

"As a leader in climate science research, Exeter must end their hypocrisy and join other universities in committing to fully and unconditionally divest from all fossil fuels."