A CROSS-party group of 200 MPs have called for their pension fund to stop investing in fossil fuel companies, such as oil giants Shell and BP, as concerns grow about their part in fuelling climate change.
In a rare show of unity, SNP, Labour, Tory, Liberal Democrat members and former members have signed a “pledge” urging the MP’s Pension Fund to review and phase out fossil fuel investments.
Among those signing the pledge are 29 of the SNP’s 35 members, including Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, Mhairi Black, Angus MacNeil, John McNally, Dr Philippa Whitford and all of the Glasgow and Edinburgh SNP MPs.
Their support comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon prepares to attend the 2018 UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland.
The UN’s own report on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees has demanded additional effort from world leaders to enact rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society within the next few years.
Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP, Mhairi Black, said: “Today’s young generation, and their children and grandchildren, will face devastating weather impacts, if we don’t take action now. This means a rapid phasing out of fossil fuels and investing in a progressive and just transition to a zero-carbon economy. Scotland is already leading the way in this: we have set ourselves ambitious climate protection goals, and are rapidly scaling up renewable energy technologies.”
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