Endowment Value: $424 million GBP (July 2018)
The University of Edinburgh is a public university located in Edinburgh, Scotland and founded in 1582. UE has approximately 33,000 students across its five campuses and has contributed Edinburgh’s nickname ‘Athens of the North’ due to the university’s historical legacy in thought leadership and strong academic research programs including climate change.The University Court oversees the endowment.
Since the publishing of its Social Responsibility and Sustainability Strategy 2010–20, The University of Edinburgh has been at the forefront in sustainable action among European higher education institutions. From this, the University has taken significant steps to align its sustainability goals with its investment strategies. For example, in January of 2013, Edinburgh became the first university in Europe to become a signatory to the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment. Since 2010, it has also invested more than £150 million in low carbon technology, climate-related research and businesses that directly benefit the environment.
In 2015, Edinburgh committed to divesting from the most polluting companies involved in coal and tar sands in addition to already in place negative screenings for armament. In February of 2018, the university announced that it will complete its transition out of all fossil fuel investments by 2021, making Edinburgh the largest university endowment in the UK to be free of fossil fuel investment. This action contributes to the University’s overall made in 2016 by the Court to become carbon neutral by 2040.
The University of Edinburgh is a participant or member of the following Initiatives & Commitments:
- AASHE STARS: No
- ACUPCC: No
- Billion Dollar Green Challenge: No
- CDP: Yes
- Committee for Investor Responsibility: Yes
- Divestment Goal: Yes, Full
- INCR: No
- Montreal Carbon Pledge: No
- Sustainable Investment Fund: Yes
- Sustainable Investment Policy: Yes
- Principles for Responsible Investment: Yes
Other Sustainable Investing Practices: