In Storrs, CT, students demanded that the University of Connecticut administration finalize a comprehensive plan to reach zero carbon by 2040 at the Rally to End Fossil Fuels which occurred at the student union lawn on Nov. 14.
Fossil Fuel Free Uconn and the UConn Undergraduate Student Government held the event, Rally to End Fossil Fuels, to ask the university administration to create a concrete plan to reach zero carbon by 2040. According to the FFFU, a roadmap to reach zero carbon by 2040 was promised to be released over six months ago, but students have learned that there has been no action for this goal.
Zero Carbon means that fossil fuels are not burned and that there are no carbon emissions, as stated by the Rally FAQ from Fossil Fuel Free Uconn and USG.
The FFFU and USG said it was important to rally so students can hold the university accountable for their lack of action regarding the Sustainability Action Plan, a roadmap to reach zero carbon by 2040. According to the FFFU and USG, the Board of Trustees unanimously passed a statement saying that “administrative units within the institution are working together to ensure UConn achieves carbon neutrality on its campuses by 2030, with the ultimate goal of being zero carbon by 2040.”
Lhamo Tsering, a sophomore majoring in sociology said she attended the rally because she heard about it on Instagram and thought it was a great way to show her support and stand against fossil fuels. She said that “UConn is basically investing into these fossil fuel companies,” she’s referencing companies like defense contractor company Raytheon and Aerospace company Lockheed Martin, both of whom cause massive harm to our environment.
In regards to why students should rally, Tsering said, “We all have the ability to speak up, make a change, and share our support. I think it is our duty to come out to these rallies and make our voices heard.”
Adam Opin, a senior majoring in political science said he has been involved with Fossil Fuel Free UConn for two years. He joined this organization because he said that “the climate crisis is an existential crisis” and that “it is the main crisis of our generation.” He helped organize this event and said to anyone skeptical of climate change to “look outside. The smoke coming down from the wildfires was really bad, bad to the point that you couldn’t step outside.”
Opin then said how this is a pretty good reason to “be out here demanding that UConn do better because the science shows that those wildfires are just the tip of the iceberg.”
Some of the speeches that took place at the rally were passionate and informative. Nell Srinath, a contributor for the student-run newspaper at UConn, The Daily Campus, highlighted some ways that UConn is doing a good job in regards to environmental education, by requiring each student to take at least one “E” or environmental course. Srinath also mentioned how the production and use of bombs affect the well-being of people and the environment. The bombs that were dropped by the United States on Cambodia and Laos not only affected the fertility of the land but also caused more children to be born with disabilities, as stated by Srinath.
Rallying is the best method to demand social change when written or verbal requests are not taken into consideration. Students wore shirts provided by FFFU and USG and held up signs saying “End Fossil Fuels” and “Fossil Fuels Kill.”
This rally was especially important considering how on Nov. 11, 2023, President Maric hosted a town hall on climate change and sustainability. Students and faculty that attended the town hall wanted to ask President Maric questions regarding the plan to decarbonize UConn. However, attendees were only allowed to ask questions five minutes before the event was scheduled to end, but the president left before fielding any questions.
During the rally, when presenters brought up the point of President Maric leaving the town hall before answering any questions, students “booed” the president, and one attendee even yelled “coward.” According to the Rally FAQ provided by FFFU and USG they state that “It was evident through the disorganized nature of the event and the lack of clarity in response to direct questions about the Sustainable Action Plan, that there was no sense of urgency or cohesion internally among the administration.” This is particularly why rallying is essential because if the university does not act immediately to begin eliminating fossil fuels, students will. Students at the rally demanded that the university treat the elimination of fossil fuels as a priority as well.
Our health is not the only thing at stake, but the well-being of those who will come after us is in jeopardy as well if the university does not take decarbonization as an immediate concern. We all deserve to live in a clean environment, with fertile lands that will yield an abundance of crops and ensure the health of everyone on this planet.