On October 26th, 2021, we officially filed our divestment complaint to New Mexico's Attorney General Hector Balderas. 
The complaint, written with the assistance of the Climate Defense Project, calls on Attorney General Hector Balderas to investigate whether the UNM Foundation, as a non-profit public charity, has violated the New Mexico Uniform Prudential Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) by investing contrary to its charitable mission. At issue is an estimated $32 million of the Foundation’s $579 million Consolidated Investment Fund (or Endowment) that is invested in fossil fuels. The complaint has gathered over 220 signatures from community members, UNM faculty, staff, and students, climate scientists, and organizations.  

READ THE COMPLAINT

On December 17th, 2021, we were able to meet with representatives of the AG's office! Our latest follow-up meeting was April 15, 2022, and another is scheduled for May 20.
This is an encouraging development in our case, but we want to keep support going! 
We are asking our community to sign their names or organizations on to our growing list, or write a letter of support to the Attorney General's office. 

 

How to help:

  • ​Sign yourself or your organization on to the complaint. Click HERE to fill out the form.

  • Write a letter of support for our complaint! Mail to them at

Office of The Attorney General
Charitable Organizations
P.O. Drawer 1508
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508

A sample script:

"Hello, my name is _____. I am a (student/staff member/professor/etc.) at UNM and I am concerned about UNM’s fossil fuel investments.

 

I am writing to ask you to please consider UNM LEAF's complaint about the UNM Foundation's investments in fossil fuels being in violation of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act. The Foundation should not be investing in companies that are contrary to UNM missions and values and that threaten the future of UNM students and community members.

 

Closing thoughts/stuff you want to add: 

  • Any unique perspective you might have on the climate crisis

  • Information you want the AG's office to hear

 

Thank you!"

Climate change is a threat to us all, especially here in New Mexico. We are grateful to be part of the resistance against the destructive fossil fuel industry in our state, and for the continuous solidarity from our community.
We also wanted to give a shout out to the attorneys at the Climate Defense Project, as well as student organizers with Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard, who helped us write the complaint and allowed us to include our unique perspectives as citizens of New Mexico. 

Thank you for your support!

What is divestment?  Why does it matter? How does it work?