Princeton University to allow research grants from fossil fuel companies

The American university U-turns on funding from fossil fuel companies for environmentally beneficial research.

In 2022, Princeton University declared it was disassociating from parts of the fossil fuel industry after a two-year consultation with campus stakeholders. This has now been changed to permit research funds from companies that meet the criteria if used for research projects with environmental benefits.

The University says, 'We have found that our initial approach not only had broad implications for current and future research projects, it also had a disparate and unfair impact across our faculty.'

Scholars who were researching pressing environmental problems were found to be 'adversely and inequitably affected'. They are reported to have lost outside funding to combat climate change impacts, but also partnership access.

The university will now accept funds from fossil fuel companies that meets its criteria, if the research is aimed at ameliorating the environmental harms of carbon emissions and there is academic freedom to publish results.

This will be for grants for research projects, not funding agreements or gifts, and has no specific recruiting restrictions.