We are calling on Bangor University to develop a Sustainable Careers Policy which prohibits companies involved in the fossil fuel, mining, and arms industries from attending careers fairs, and advertising their jobs on CareerConnect.

 

Bangor University has made commitments to environmental, social, and economic sustainability^1-3, and continually uses these for marketing purposes. However, the University’s Careers Service promotes and endorses companies which are involved in the fossil fuel, arms, and mining industries. We do not believe that this aligns with Bangor University's values or commitments and that it adds legitimacy to the idea that these companies are an acceptable part of our society and our future.

 

Bangor University’s Executive Committee recently agreed to the creation of a Sustainable Careers Policy, but have refused to stop inviting companies involved in the fossil fuels, arms and mining industries to careers fairs and promoting them on CareerConnect. It is unclear what this Sustainable Careers Policy will consist of, but without the removal of these companies it will be perceived as greenwashing, as it will lack the meaningful changes necessary to protect our planet and its people. As such, we call on the university to act in a way which aligns with their sustainability commitments by committing to cease promotion and endorsement of companies which engage in unsustainable activities.

 

The operations of fossil fuel, mining, and arms industries cause massive environmental harm^5-8, accelerating the climate crisis^9,10, destroying ecosystems¹¹, polluting land and sea^7,12,13, destroying entire landscapes^14,15, and increasing natural disasters^16-19. On top of this, these industries also cause social harm, displacing people from their homes and lands²⁰, destroying sacred indigenous sites^14,15, and leaving workers and communities with health problems^21,22. We believe that promoting careers within these industries suggests a lack of commitment to sustainability and shows a lack of solidarity with the people who their operations harm.

 

As we gain a greater understanding of these industries and the harm they cause, more people are turning away from careers in these fields, including graduates^23,24. Many young people see the fossil fuel industry as the most unappealing sector to work in²⁵, and are even taking action to oppose fossil fuel recruitment²⁶. In response to this, these industries have turned to greenwashing, sweeping their harmful practices under the rug and marketing themselves with sustainable practices which in reality, make up a tiny proportion of their activities²⁷.

 

As previously mentioned, the university has a commitment to sustainability¹, and has a strategy to help it achieve this². In addition to this, the university has signed People and Planet’s Fossil Free Declaration³, which declares that they will not invest in fossil fuels. Nowhere in these strategies, however, does the university consider their role in promoting unsustainable industries to students, resulting in them not acting in line with their commitment to sustainability by inviting companies active in these industries to careers fairs (Appendix A), and advertising them on their CareerConnect platform, including RWE, Europe’s #1 polluter and one of the most egregious examples of greenwashing²⁸.

 

Withholding the endorsement of these companies not only allows the university to comply with its commitment to sustainability, but also pressures these unsustainable organisations to become more sustainable. This message to unsustainable organisations becomes louder with every university that makes these commitments. So far, 10 universities have made similar commitments²⁹, including 3 in Wales²⁹ with Aberystwyth being the latest and leaving us as the only university in North Wales without such a commitment. We are at risk of falling behind the other universities in Wales, and having Aberystwyth look better than us.

 

As such, we are asking the university to commit to stopping the endorsement and promotion of fossil fuel, mining, and arms companies as part of their Sustainable Careers Policy, due to their harmful social^{8,12-15,20,21} and environmental^5-12,22 impacts. We are also including companies that contribute to these industries, such as banks which finance fossil fuel extraction and surveying companies which find fossil fuels and minerals for fossil fuel extraction and mining companies. These industries are deeply interconnected, and taking a comprehensive approach such as this is therefore necessary to ensure the university aligns with its commitment to sustainability. This would not prevent students from going into careers in these industries, and careers advisors would still be free to give guidance to students who wish to work in these sectors. These companies have vast resources to invest in independently promoting careers in their fields, so students are likely to be aware of the job prospects in these industries without Bangor providing them a platform to recruit using greenwashed promotional material.

 

To conclude, Bangor’s commitment to sustainability is to be celebrated, but commitment without action is greenwashing. If Bangor University truly wishes to be sustainable, it must take measures to ensure that its activities align with its commitments. The University’s refusal to stop promoting companies involved in the fossil fuel, mining, and arms industries means that they have, and will continue to, endorse companies directly and indirectly responsible for the climate crisis^5,6,9,10, pollution^7,12,13, human rights abuses^14,15,20-22, and more (Appendix A). Withholding our endorsement of companies in these industries would have numerous benefits for the University, it is our request that Bangor University makes a commitment to do this through their Sustainable Careers Policy to prohibit fossil fuel, mining and arms companies from the careers fair and to stop promoting them on CareerConnect.  

 

Rose Pugh (VP Education) and Mya Tibbs (VP Societies and Volunteering)

References:

1. Bangor University, 2024. Strategy 2030: A Sustainable World for Future Generations.
2. Bangor University, 2024. Strategy 2030: Sustainability Strategy.
3. People & Planet, 2024. Fossil Free Declaration [online]. People & Planet. Available from: https://peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free/fossil-free-declaration [Accessed 5 Nov 2024].
4. Riddleston, M., 2023. Sustainable Investment Policy. Bangor University.
5. Taylor, M. and Watts, J., 2019. Revealed: the 20 firms behind a third of all carbon emissions. The Guardian, 9 Oct.
6. Hausfather, Z. and Friedlingstein, P., 2022. Analysis: Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels hit record high in 2022. London: Carbon Brief, Analysis.
7. Neimark, B., Belcher, O., and Bigger, P., 2019. US military is a bigger polluter than as many as 140 countries – shrinking this war machine is a must. The Conversation, 24 Jun.
8. Kemp, D., Lebre, E., Owen, J., and Valenta, R.K., 2021. Clean energy? The world’s demand for copper could be catastrophic for communities and environments. The Conversation, 7 Apr.
9. Curtis, M.K. and M., 2020. Exclusive: UK military and arms companies produce more carbon emissions than 60 individual countries. Daily Maverick, 19 May.
10. Birch, M. and van Bergen, L., 2022. COP27 and the military–industrial complex: no more sidestepping the military emissions gap. Medicine, Conflict and Survival, 38 (4), 261–265.
11. Martínez, J., 2020. Cut and Run: How Britain’s top two mining companies have wrecked ecosystems without being held to account. London: London Mining Network
12. Danwatch, 2021. Impacts of copper mining on people and nature. Danwatch, 20 Mar.
13. Gill, V., 2023. Metal-mining pollution impacts 23 million people worldwide. BBC News, 21 Sep.
14. McGivney, A., 2020. Revealed: Trump officials rush to mine desert haven native tribes consider holy. The Guardian, 24 Nov.
15. 9News, 2020. Rio Tinto blast destroys 46,000-year-old Aboriginal heritage site. 9News, 27 May.
16. Waldholz, R. and Hurt, A., 2024. Are hurricanes getting worse? Here’s what you need to know. NPR, 8 Oct.
17. Poynting, M., Dale, B., Rivault, E., and Rogers, L., 2024. Atlantic hurricane season 2024: How unusual has it been? BBC News, 11 Oct.
18. Masters, J., 2024. Four ways climate change likely made Hurricane Helene worse » Yale Climate Connections. Yale Climate Connections, 27 Sep.
19. NPR, 2024. How Helene and Milton were supercharged by climate change. NPR, 9 Oct.
20. Moor, M. and Van De Sandt, J., 2020. The Dark Side of Coal. The Netherlands: PAX.
21. Martínez, R., 2018. Cerro de Pasco: The city built around a mine. Unearthed, 10 Apr.
22. Macklin, M.G., Thomas, C.J., Mudbhatkal, A., Brewer, P.A., Hudson-Edwards, K.A., Lewin, J., Scussolini, P., Eilander, D., Lechner, A., Owen, J., Bird, G., Kemp, D., and Mangalaa, K.R., 2023. Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment. Science, 381 (6664), 1345–1350.
23. Spence, E., 2019. Oil Has a Millennial Problem as Talent Pipeline Trickles. Bloomberg.com, 1 Aug.
24. EY, 2020. How do we regenerate this generation’s view of oil and gas? Ernst & Young Global Limited, Survey Report.
25. PWC, 2011. Millennials at work. London: SHRM, Report.
26. McGibbon, A., 2020. Fossil Fuel Recruiters Are Being Chased Off Campuses All Over the UK. VICE.
27. Das, L., 2022. Greenwashing: How to spot fake green claims. Greenpeace UK.
28. The Greenwashing Files - RWE | ClientEarth [online], 2024. Available from: https://www.clientearth.org/projects/the-greenwashing-files/rwe/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
29. People & Planet, 2024. Fossil Free Careers Campaign Victories [online]. People & Planet. Available from: https://peopleandplanet.org/fossil-free-careers/victories#universities [Accessed 24 Oct 2024].
30. Defense Services Solutions [online], 2024. Tetra Tech. Available from: https://www.tetratech.com/solutions/defense-services/solutions/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
31. Oil and Gas [online], 2024. Tetra Tech. Available from: https://www.tetratech.com/solutions/energy/oil-and-gas/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
32. Mining and Manufacturing [online], 2024. Tetra Tech. Available from: https://www.tetratech.com/solutions/mining-and-manufacturing/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
33. Ambrose, S., 2024. Banking on Climate Chaos. Report.
34. Qioptiq Optronics, Avionics, Space Optics, Dismounted Soldier, Micro-Optics | Excelitas Brands [online], 2024. Available from: https://www.excelitas.com/product-category/qioptiq [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
35. Extractive Rock & Minerals [online], 2024. X-Ray Mineral Services. Available from: https://www.xrayminerals.co.uk/en/applications/extractive-rock-minerals/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
36. About SEP Geophysical [online], 2024. SEP Geophysical. Available from: https://www.sepgeophysical.com/about-us/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
37. Welcome to SEP Hydrographic - High Quality Survey Services [online], 2024. SEP Hydrographic. Available from: https://www.sephydrographic.com/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
38. Oil & natural gas [online], 2024. Available from: https://www.fugro.com/industries/energy/oil-and-natural-gas [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
39. Protection Through Technology | Exsel Group [online], 2024. exsel-group. Available from: https://www.exsel-group.com [Accessed 24 Oct 2024].
40. RWE, 2024. Discover conventional energy sources at RWE [online]. Available from: https://www.rwe.com/en/our-energy/discover-conventional-energy-sources/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].
41. Oil Spill Response Board of Directors and Executives | Oil Spill Response [online], 2024. Available from: https://www.oilspillresponse.com/about-osrl/board-and-executive/ [Accessed 23 Oct 2024].

Appendices 

Appendix A: A list of unsustainable companies who attended Bangor University’s Careers and Employability Fair on 23^rd October 2024, with justification for why we have deemed them unsustainable.

Company	Reasoning for being Unsustainable
Tetra Tech	Active in the defence30, fossil fuel31, and mining32 industries
HSBC	Funds fossil fuel extraction projects33
Qioptiq	Arms manufacturer34
X-Ray Mineral Services	Geological surveying for the mining industry35
SEP Geophysical	Geophysical surveying for the mining and fossil fuel industries36
SEP Hydrographic	Hydrographic surveying for the fossil fuel industry37
Fugro	Geological surveying for the fossil fuel industry38
Exsel Group	Arms manufacturer39
RWE	Fossil fuel company28,40
Oil Spill Response	Run by the biggest fossil fuel polluters41 – Greenwashing!