Mass protests call for divestment from fossil fuels

By Sally Clark, Divestment Campaigner

Over 30 groups around the UK protested on 24 March as part of the Divest from Crisis day of action, which we organised along with Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Platform

Activists urged councils, pension funds and financial institutions to take action to simultaneously address the crises of fuel poverty, climate breakdown and energy security with creative protests calling attention to the interconnected issues.

Over the last year, many of us have been unable to afford to heat our homes and watched in horror as the climate crisis intensified

Investors like local council pension funds are gambling billions on fossil fuels, propping up a broken energy system when they could be investing in warmer homes, renewable energy, and helping drive the transition to a liveable and just future.

Over 50 local councils have now formally backed divestment from fossil fuels, with the most recent support coming from Rother District Council last month In Scotland, Edinburgh, East Lothian, Glasgow and South Lanarkshire councils have all backed divestment, but the pension funds have not yet made the necessary changes.

The scores of protests that took place across the UK shows how much support there is for action for a fossil free future. In Edinburgh a theatrical protest took place outside the City Chambers whilst in Glasgow there was a musical-themed rally. Vigils, stalls and online actions happened elsewhere in Scotland, and some people got together to send postcards to their local councillors

In 2021, the UK pensions industry was estimated to invest £128bn into the fossil fuel companies that are driving the crisis Meanwhile, the UK’s biggest banks have invested tens of billions into fossil fuel expansion projects set to tip global heating well beyond safe limits

With millions of households across the country struggling to pay soaring energy bills driven by the nation’s fossil fuel dependency, campaign groups are calling on investors to divest from expensive and unstable fossil fuels and boost investment in affordable and future-proof renewables.

There have also been calls from unions for councils to divest Stephen Smellie is the deputy convenor of UNISON Scotland, representing local government workers. He said:

“UNISON members care about how their pension pots are invested Firstly, we want to ensure that our pensions are safe for the future Fossil fuels are not a safe investment for the future.

“Secondly, we care about the future of the environment and fossil fuels are responsible for destroying it.”

Whether or not you made it out to one of the protests, you can make your voice heard by writing to your local councillors.