How Wits should handle the fossil fuel divestment dilemma

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) finds itself at the crossroads of a critical debate regarding the role it should play in addressing the climate emergency while engaging with the fossil fuel industry. The National Research Foundation has awarded A ratings to both Wits professors Sally Archibald and Lucy Allais, highlighting their expertise in the field.

As South Africa grapples with extreme weather events, declining industrial sectors, and an economy heavily reliant on coal, the question of how Wits can lead transformative change in this crisis becomes increasingly pertinent.

In February, Fossil Free South Africa released a report revealing the extent of funding provided to South African universities by the fossil fuel industry. This funding may hinder universities from championing climate action and legitimizing fossil fuel industries. Pro Vice-Chancellor for Climate Change, Sustainability and Inequality at Wits, Professor Imraan Valodia, argues that engaging with the fossil fuel industry is not necessarily endorsing their practices and that universities in the Global South face unique institutional and developmental challenges that cannot be reduced to a strategy of divestment.

Valodia contends that universities like Wits must focus on generating knowledge, educating graduates, developing technologies, and shaping public debates to navigate the transition to a low-carbon economy. He emphasizes that while divestment is important, it is not the sole solution; universities must actively work on implementing transformative pathways in technology, policy, governance, behaviors, and views that drive the change needed.

To address the concerns raised by Fossil Free South Africa, Wits should prioritize transparency regarding the funding it receives and the aims of research projects. Researchers should disclose upfront how their work is funded, ensuring the public can evaluate the transformative impact of such engagements. While the medical sciences have set standards for disclosure in the face of tobacco funding, other disciplines lag behind.

Wits needs to engage actively with the challenges of implementing, monitoring, governing, and communicating these research partnerships to demonstrate their transformative potential.