What does it mean when leading universities accept millions of dollars from fossil fuel companies?

How do we think about large fossil fuel companies donating funds to universities? How might our attitudes change as the climate crisis worsens?

These questions came to mind as I read a new report from Data for Progress. DfP found that the leading carbon energy firms gave nearly $700 million to a small group of American universities from 2010–2020.

Here I’d like to summarize the report, then explore implications.