RCC Fellow Sahil Inaganti in Divestment News: Tulane and Hurricane Ida

RCC Fellow — Sahil Inaganti — Tulane University

Sahil is a junior at Tulane University pursuing majors in Environmental Studies, Public Health, and Political Economy with minors in Urban Studies and Management.

Hurricane Ida caused catastrophic destruction as it ripped through Louisiana in August. Communities across Louisiana, particularly low-income communities and communities of color, were devastated by powerful winds and flooding. Millions of people lost power, thousands of homes were seriously damaged and at least 28 people died. The storm caused Tulane University to cancel in-person classes for four weeks and forced students to evacuateon short notice.

Unfortunately, students’ lives being disrupted by hurricanes is becoming all too familiar to Tulanians. Last year, Tulane faced an unprecedented seven storm threats, part of the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season. Like Hurricane Ida, these storms interrupted students’ education and caused immense stress to faculty and staff who were expected to come into work despite power outages and damage to their homes.

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s most recent report confirms the Tulane community’s experience with worsening weather patterns. The use of fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases is increasing the intensity and severity of extreme weather. Despite this fact, the fossil fuel industry continues to actively resist a transition to a fossil fuel free future.

No university has as much to gain from phasing out fossil fuels as Tulane. Its location in the Gulf South, a region characterized by extreme weather, puts the community in unparalleled danger from the effects of climate change. Yet, rather than support a transition to a more sustainable future, Tulane invests millions of dollars into the fossil fuel companies that are responsible for climate change. 12-08-21

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