GLASGOW’s seven MPs are leading the way in speaking out about the urgent need for fossil fuel divestment and reinvestment in a low-carbon economy to mitigate the worst effects of climate change.
In the last week, SNP members Patrick Grady, Stewart McDonald, Alison Thewliss, Chris Stephens, David Linden and Carol Monaghan, along with Labour and Co-operative Party MP for Glasgow North East, Paul Sweeney, have signed a pledge calling for the Parliamentary Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuel companies.
To date, 155 current and former MPs have backed Divest Parliament, a campaign group to address the financial risks of pension investments in fossil fuels.
Grady, who represents Glasgow North, said: “Now more than ever we need to take action to reverse global warming and protect our environment. This includes our investment decisions and it is only right that pension funds ... should always seek to invest ethically.”
Glasgow Central MP, Thewliss, said: “A transition to a low-carbon economy is important to ensure that we can properly protect the environment and reverse the effects of global warming, for the benefit of future generations. It’s imperative that pension funds are invested in a responsible and ethical way.
Sweeney, Labour MP for Glasgow North East, said: “I am delighted to sign this important pledge that symbolises leadership by MPs in our efforts as a nation to develop more sustainable forms of fuel and energy that do not have a harmful impact on our environment and that negatively influences climate change.”
Ric Lander, campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES) said: “Climate change is already affecting millions of people as rising seas and extreme weather destroy whole communities.”
Sally Clark, from Glasgow FoES, added: “We need more MPs, MSPs and councillors from across the country to listen to constituent concerns about climate change and back fossil fuel divestment of all pension funds.”
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