Tarred by Tradition: UNC’s Enduring Ties to the Fossil Fuel Industry
By Drew Phaneuf, TransparUNCy Press
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7:15 AM, September 14th, 2018: Downpours begin across the North Carolina coast. Over the next seventeen days, the Tar Heel State would be pinned down and pummeled by the second most destructive hurricane in the state’s history. Floods exceeded 1-in-500-year predictions. Wind gusts over 100 mph tore the state apart. A storm surge of over four feet dragged entire beaches–and nearby homes–into the sea. Our interstates turned into rivers. By the time the sky cleared, Hurricane Florence had caused $22 billion in damage. The result: Just in North Carolina, 42 people killed, 74,563 structures flooded, and nearly 140,000 North Carolinians registered for disaster assistance. The state was left in ruins.
I-40 Flooded During Hurricane Florence
It is beyond a doubt that human-driven climate change is the reason our hurricanes are more destructive, our heat waves are deadlier, and our coast is being clawed into the sea. The climate crisis is here. The fossil fuel industry knew this would happen. They tried to hide it, and they tried to stop us from fighting it.
As early as the 1970s, Exxon scientists discovered that the burning of fossil fuels, and by extension, their entire business model, was directly contributing to climate change. After years of climate research, their senior scientist, James Black, delivered a sobering address to Exxon executives, stating that “there is general scientific agreement that the most likely manner in which mankind is influencing the global climate is through carbon dioxide release from the burning of fossil fuels." Black thought they had just five years to craft a plan to stop this crisis.
Instead of leading the charge toward a renewable future and moving away from fossil fuels, Exxon chose to fiercely campaign against climate science, using almost religious zeal to discredit it and protect their profits, convincing both the public and policymakers to turn a blind eye to the facts. Almost half a century since James Black said we must act, we have still not made a transition away from fossil fuels.
UNC insists that it is dedicated to “seeking and creating solutions to address the effects of climate change and seek environmental justice.” Its Sustainability Report emphasizes Carolina’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving human health, and researching for a clean energy transition.
Yet, UNC is infested with financial and social ties to the fossil fuel industry. Since 2012, UNC-affiliated authors have published at least 82 journal articles with funding from the oil and gas industry. The top research sponsors are the Koch family, British Petroleum (BP), ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell. Furthermore, from 2013-2023, UNC received at least $11,952,183.00 from foundations associated with the fossil fuel industry. When including money from organizations known to fund climate denial, this sum jumps to $20,049,359.00. Much more fossil fuel money likely flows to UNC, as this number only reflects contributions from non-profit foundations, which are publicly available through third-party sources. Additionally, it is estimated that UNC-CH owns at least $243,000,000 in fossil fuel commodities–such as barrels of oil and tons of coal—excluding stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments. This direct ownership means the university is directly invested in the fossil fuel supply chain, intensifying its ties to the industry. The university does not make information about these contributions or their investments publicly available.
Furthermore, a quick review of public biographies of those in key positions of power at UNC reveals that nine board members across influential bodies like the UNC Board of Governors, the Chancellor’s Global Leadership Council, and the Kenan Flagler Energy Center Advisory Board have direct ties to the fossil fuel industry. Even more concerning, four of these individuals are still actively employed in these industries while helping shape Carolina’s climate policies. This revolving door between fossil fuel interests and academia further undermines UNC's climate commitments.
Through these financial and social relationships, UNC compromises the integrity of university research and fosters an environment in which the fossil fuel industry can operate unchallenged, all while pledging to be a national leader in sustainability. If the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is truly an institution made to serve the public, it must demonstrate its commitment to the values and objectives it proclaims by dissociating from the fossil fuel industry. This requires terminating all financial and social connections with fossil fuel corporations, their affiliated foundations, and industry groups.
This is not a time for half-measures. We cannot afford to let UNC’s reputation as a research leader be co-opted by those whose profits hinge on denying the devastating reality we face. It is the responsibility of an academic institution to lead with integrity, to stand by its principles, and to be transparent about the money that influences its decisions.
This is a defining moment. Will UNC rise to the occasion and stand with its students and the world in the fight for our future? Or will it continue to allow the fossil fuel industry to dictate the terms of our climate conversation? The time to act is now—and we are watching.
Web of FF industry ties
This article, along with the research behind it, was written by Drew Phaneuf with the support of Campus Climate Network. It is part of a broader initiative by Sunrise UNC, part of a national movement of young people fighting to end the climate crisis and secure a Green New Deal.
Sunrise UNC is committed to holding the university accountable for its environmental and social responsibilities. This includes advocating for UNC to sever its financial ties with the fossil fuel industry, reinvest in students, staff, and North Carolina communities, and close the coal-fired cogeneration plant on Cameron Avenue, which the university owns and operates.
If you’d like to read Drew’s full report for Sunrise UNC, please visit this link.
This is exceptionally well-researched and organized, wow!