OUR DEMANDS

1. We demand that the University of Virginia fully divest from the fossil fuel industry by December 31, 2022.

   a. We demand that both the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia Investment Management Company, UVIMCO, fully divest from any company whose primary profit is from the extraction or distribution of coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, or heavy oils. 

2. We demand that the University remove the influence of fossil fuel companies from its administration and educational services. 

   a. We demand that any company whose majority of revenue comes from fossil fuels extraction and transportation not be allowed to sponsor classrooms, professorships, research, and programs. 

   b. We demand that all administrators and decision-makers with ties to the fossil fuel industry, in particular Dominion Energy, have their decision-making powers revoked.

3. We demand that UVA take concrete action toward achieving its goal of being fossil fuel-free by 2050 by releasing a detailed plan to eliminate the use of coal, oil, and natural gas in its operations wherever possible, with strong accountability measures in place.

   a. We demand that The University stop burning coal and oil in its heat plant at the earliest possible date.

   b. We demand that UVA revise its sustainability goals to include Scope 3, or indirect emissions from a company’s value chain, in addition to Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

4. We demand that UVA and the city of Charlottesville commission an environmental justice report to study the effects of its waste, energy production, and built environments on BIPOC communities. They must then take action to remediate the damage done to these communities based on the results of this study.

5. We demand that the University increase its commitments to sustainable food purchasing and decrease its reliance on industrial agriculture.

   a. Due to the immense amount of fossil fuels used in agricultural production, we ask that the University make greater commitments to sustainable food purchasing, especially from local BIPOC farmers. We also ask that UVA dedicate more resources to community gardening efforts on Grounds. 

6. We demand that UVA strengthen its commitments to energy-efficient buildings and ensure that all current infrastructure is brought up to the highest practical energy-efficient standard and future infrastructure represent the most efficient and sustainable technologies available. 

7. We demand that UVA and the city of Charlottesville support sustainable transportation options by increasing the reliability and frequency of the bus system to reduce dependence on cars.

8. We demand that UVA call for the Charlottesville City Council to adopt a meaningful Climate Action Plan and enact a zoning code that will decrease the carbon footprint of both existing and future city residents, adhering to the future land use map, increasing the tree canopy throughout the city, and creating energy-efficient multi-family homes.

9. We demand that UVA properly acknowledge and address the demands of other justice groups at UVA and in Charlottesville.