---
title: First Belgian divestment win Congratulations to the students in Liège
date: 2017-01-18T12:39:00Z
modified: 2023-10-12T11:55:34Z
permalink: "https://350.org/first-belgian-divestment-win-congratulations-to-the-students-in-liege/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 49013
categories:
  - Featured
  - Finance
tags:
  - divestment
  - Europe
featured_image: /wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ULG-Divest_16002742_755244084626614_7294203950212331512_n-430x323.jpg
author: The 350.org Team
---

![ULG-Divest_16002742_755244084626614_7294203950212331512_n](https://gofossilfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ULG-Divest_16002742_755244084626614_7294203950212331512_n-430x323.jpg)

We are very excited that the students in Liège have achieved the first Belgian university divestment win!

On 17 January, the [University of Liège announced it would divest](https://www.ulg.ac.be/cms/c_8375186/fr/l-ulg-se-desengage-des-investissements-dans-les-energies-fossiles) all direct holdings from fossil fuels within 5 years and immediately freeze any new investment in fossil fuels.

> [Fossil Free ULg – Aide l’ULg à avoir les mains propres](https://www.facebook.com/fossilfreeulg/videos/1199405870146327/)\#FossilFreeULg demande à l’Université plus de transparence sur ses investissements financiers dans le secteur des énergies fossiles. Et si le recteur passait à la cafet pour répondre à vos questions? Signez la pétition sur www.fossilfreeulg.be
> 
> Posted by [Fossil Free ULg](https://www.facebook.com/fossilfreeulg/) on Tuesday, December 13, 2016



The [Fossil Free ULg campaign](https://www.facebook.com/fossilfreeulg/) started less than a year ago and has used different organising tools including banner drops, short videos and a [petition](https://campaigns.gofossilfree.org/petitions/fossil-free-ulg-pour-que-l-universite-de-liege-retire-ses-investissements-des-energies-fossiles-1) to raise awareness, increase their numbers and ultimately pressure the university into a positive first decision.

![ULGfossilfree15095700_1175363075883940_8499582992272570068_n](https://gofossilfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ULGfossilfree15095700_1175363075883940_8499582992272570068_n-300x300.png)

Celebrating this first win, [Fossil Free ULg](https://www.facebook.com/fossilfreeulg/) are already planning their next steps: making sure that the University of Liège keeps its promise and divests the funds within a quicker timeframe that 5 years, and pressuring them to go all the way and divest from their indirect holdings in fossil fuel companies. The university still invests through mixed funds that contain fossil fuels and have so far refused to change those investments.

Congratulations to the Fossil Free ULg campaigners and supporters for their amazing win and to the University of Liège for making the right decision!