Predicting the fossil fuel divestment decisions of Canadian post-secondary educational institutions

Abstract

This report provides an analysis of the fossil fuel divestment campaign and its impacts on Canadian post-secondary institutions. Based on the divestment decisions of 22 Canadian post-secondary educational institutions, we illuminate institutional attributes that are associated with a divestment campaign and decision. We also collected divestment press releases and news reports and characterized the rationales, and alternative actions into distinctive types. The results bear important implications for increasing our understanding of higher education endowment fund management. Key Words: divestment; endowment; environmental, social, governance (ESG) criteria; fossil fuels; responsible investing; stranded assets