In April 2022, approximately 300 students marched to the steps of Samuel Phillips Hall, intent on a singular purpose: to urge the Board of Trustees to divest its fossil fuel holdings.

The rally was a watershed moment for Divest Andover, which outlined requests in a November 2021 letter to the board, including divestment from fossil fuel legacy funds upon their expiration; and investment in environmentally sustainable and socially responsible portfolios. At the time, the endowment had about 4% indirect exposure to mostly private as well as some publicly traded energy companies.

responsibilities. Since then, students have met with trustees as well as with members of the Investment Committee and senior administrators (see sidebar).

“I think the students understand that some of our investments are ones that would be difficult to get out of without the Academy potentially experiencing a loss,” Alonso shared.

Student climate efforts have also attracted the attention of the PA/Abbot Climate Working Group, with alumni members primarily from the classes of 1967. Their campus environmental interest began at a 2017 Reunion seminar, and they now meet monthly to discuss how best to support students and the Academy in its climate change endeavors. While divestment is a primary focus, they also discuss campus food service improvements, travel reduction, and more.

“Gen Z has a key role to play, because they’re the ones who have the energy, the buy-in. They’re the ones who will be living this out,” says Frank Zhou ’22, a founding member of the PASC and former ambassador for climate curriculum at PA.

Zhou also says alumni are a valuable resource for students. “Older generations can help by pressing for campus climate change reforms, donating time and money, and engaging with current students. In time, Andover and climate work can become truly synonymous.”

“Climate change activism is a long march, not a single year campaign, though I don’t believe we have the kind of time we think we do to deal with this issue,” adds John Nettleton ’67, a member of the PA/Abbot Climate Working Group. “We operate parallel to the students rather than in active collaboration—but we want them to know there’s a deep well of alumni support available to help them keep doing what they’re doing.”

A CAMPUS-WIDE PLEDGE

The Academy’s commitment to sustainability is substantial and dates to the early 2000s when senior administrators drafted an environmental principles statement that explored ways to better protect and conserve campus resources. In 2018, PA adopted its landmark Climate Action Plan, outlining steps to reduce the school’s energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste in a financially sustainable way by 2030. Progress updates and news on the latest campus projects and events can be viewed at andover.edu/living/a-greener-blue.

The plan also aims to fully integrate climate change across the curriculum, a process that so far has been gradual and not as well-coordinated as some students and faculty had hoped.

“Right now, you really have to stumble into a random classroom where a teacher just happens to care about it,” says Fan. “There are environmental classes and science classes, where you can of course find information and resources, but there are many more classes where this can still be incorporated.”

María Martínez is one example of a teacher taking a unique approach in the classroom. A Spanish instructor, Martínez often has her students practice their language skills by discussing PA’s sustainability goals.

73% of students said in the 2020 Phillipian State of the Academy survey that it was imperative climate change be fully integrated across the curriculum.

“I think it’s an important matter, just paying attention to how the world is changing and how present the climate issue is, particularly as it affects underrepresented communities,” she says. “I sense that students think faculty are not doing much about evolving the curriculum, so I’m inviting them to come talk to me to make change happen,” Martínez says. “Students need to feel that their participation is welcome.”

Statistics teacher Ellen Greenberg P’16, ’19, ’19, regularly weaves climate issues into her classes. She’s taking part in Tang Institute’s The Workshop this spring to examine climate change and inequality.

“In my statistics course I bring in current data around climate change. If I need a data set for a test, I can find one about greenhouse gas emissions or recycling. In Math 530, I assign regression projects—out of 32 students, probably a third of them choose climate justice topics,” Greenberg says. “Students are hungry for this, and I think it’s important to reflect that in my classroom.”

THE FUTURE IS BLUE—AND GREEN

Together, students, alumni, faculty, and administrators have the capacity to create powerful change that extends far beyond Andover Hill. But it’s the youngest, those with perhaps the most at stake, who are leading the charge with grit and determination.

“We have such a phenomenal community and so many resources at Andover, and I’ve learned so much about how I can help with climate change. Whenever I go home to the Caribbean, I’m excited to find the things that can be done there,” says Williams.

Fan agrees. “A lot of people feel intimidated and hopeless. I get that—I’m just a high school student. But honestly, there are so many ways to make a difference, and Andover students are very much at the forefront of this movement,” she says. “We are not going to be youth for long! We’re the next leaders, the next CEOs, businesspeople, traders, and finance people, and we believe in ourselves and our abilities. We absolutely know we’re integral to our planet’s future.” 

Read about Paula Caballero ’80’s work at The Nature Conservancy and her role in developing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. See page 40.

“Andover embraces knowledge and goodness, non sibi and being a private school with a public purpose,” says Frank Zhou ’22, former Divest Andover member. “It’s becoming increasingly untenable to not consider climate advocacy in earnest and still hold true to those ideals.”

According to Kirsten Glantz, PA’s chief investment officer, divesting is a multi-faceted challenge. The Academy currently operates under the guidelines of its 2008 Ethical Considerations in Investments policy, which outlines the school’s ability to divest when a particular investment “constitutes grave social injury or injustice.”

“We all want to avoid further damage to our planet— and have Academy investments align with that long-term goal,” says Glantz, adding that PA has not made any private energy-related investment commitments since 2018.

“What we own today are predominantly legacy private commitment fund investments; we are not in control of the timing of distributions from those investments that were already made years ago. The fund managers determine those exits,” Glantz explains. “If we could sell our ownership of these illiquid funds on the secondary market, it would be at a large discount and we’d certainly realize a material loss from current values—negatively impacting the endowment, which supports nearly half the operating budget of the school each year. Such losses would impact the endowment resources available for financial aid, operating expenses, infrastructure, and more.”

“There aren’t easy solutions to these challenges, but I’m very proud of Andover students for engaging to learn more about them and our investment strategies,” she says.

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