The Royal Academy of Music has become the latest university to ban fossil fuel, mining, arms and tobacco companies from its careers and recruitment activities.
The Academy published an ethical careers statement excluding these industries as part of a new resource on its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies. In doing so, it becomes the 9th UK university and the first specialist music institute to commit to Fossil Free Careers, a nationwide campaign coordinated by student-led charity People & Planet.
Catherine Jury, Registrar and Director of Student Operations at the Royal Academy of Music, said:
“The Royal Academy of Music has adopted an ethical careers statement to ensure our students have the knowledge and skills to pursue careers that align with our values of social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and integrity. We believe that the arts play a crucial role in shaping a better future, and by guiding our community towards ethical employment, we aim to foster positive change both within the industry and in the wider world.”
Students at the university are celebrating this win for climate justice, and are now working to encourage the university to go further by divesting the £1.3 million that it currently invests in the fossil fuel industry. The university notes that its current investment policy, which doesn’t exclude any industries on ethical grounds, is due to be reviewed “in the latter part of 2024.”
Josie Mizen, Fossil Free Careers Campaign Manager at People & Planet, said:
“We’re delighted that the Royal Academy of Music has committed to an ethical careers policy that excludes fossil fuel, mining and arms companies from recruiting on campus. Arts and music play a pivotal role in shaping a fairer and more just world, so it’s only natural that arts and music universities should be at the forefront of taking action for climate justice. We encourage other music institutions to follow the Royal Academy’s lead and take similar steps to cut their ties with these destructive industries.”