As a Marine Biology student with a passion for conservation and community, the student protests held last year and more recently, are a stark reminder of the role the university must play in actively fighting the climate crisis.

There are complications and complexities to overcome when lobbying the University to make a decision on this urgent matter. We can do this by working together with our students and our universities.

The University of Exeter made a step positive step when it stopped investing money into the Fossil Fuel industry, but in light of the new strategy this is not enough when compared to other UK and Global institutions.

On 15th June 2022, at the last student council session of the year, your student council voted to endorse the Fossil Free Careers campaign, after a Make a Change submission reached the threshold of 25 upvotes.

This approval extends to fossil fuel companies but not specifically mining companies.

We believe that all students must have employability opportunities and perhaps opportunities to get into the industry and create change. However, this should align with the university's desire to be a leader in fighting the climate emergency.

As President Exeter, the endorsement of Fossil Free Careers has allowed me to raise the University's engagement with the fossil fuel industry in my papers to both Senate and Council, which were read by the University of Exeter's leaders.

This is the second time this year that I have discussed the climate crisis with the University.

The President team chose sustainability as a manifesto priority this year so we welcome your feedback and ideas (please send to presidents@thesu.org.uk). We all work closely with Student Council, Green Committee, Liberation Committee and course reps to hear and share your ideas and feedback.