ANTI-fossil fuel campaigners took over the Oxford University admissions building in Broad Street this afternoon.

The campaigners were protesting the university’s stance on investing in fossil fuels.

The University Council was supposed to make a decision on whether it would divest its £2b stake in fossil fuels today, but deferred the decision until May.

It was thought that 15 campaigners and alumni were occupying the building, although the univeristy could not confirm numbers.

University spokesman Stephen Rouse said that the occupiers agreed to leave the building at about 8.30pm.

Police were allegedly called to the protest, which lasted more than three hours, but Mr Rouse said they did not play a role in the occupiers leaving.

Manager of green campaigners People and Planet Andrew Taylor was occupying the building.

He said: "It is unacceptable that Oxford University is refusing to take urgent action and call out the rogue fossil fuel industry that is driving climate change.

"This is a needless delay by powerful decision-makers at the Oxford University, while the citizens of vulnerable nations like Vanuatu face the consequences of inaction.”

"Campaigners had expected the Oxford University to make a decision today after proposals for divestment were discussed this morning by the University Council, the university's highest decision-making body, and could have seen the university divesting from companies involved in the extraction of coal and tar-sands.

"Students have been campaigning on the issue for over a year, lobbying the University to pull its investments fossil fuel companies."

 

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