West Dunbartonshire’s MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has become the latest Scottish MP to join a growing body of UK political leaders adding their support to the global movement for fossil fuel divestment.
SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has joined over 170 cross-party politicians to sign the Divest Parliament pledge, calling for the MPs’ Pension Fund to move its £733 million of assets away from fossil fuels owing to concerns about climate change.
The last Annual Report for MPs’ Pension Fund revealed 5 out of the top 20 investments were in fossil fuel companies such as BP, Shell and Total. The investments are a stark contrast to the UK government’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to keep global warming well below 2°C.
Supported by the ‘Divest Parliament’ campaign, residents in Scotland and across the UK have been writing to their MPs in support of efforts to tackle climate change.
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“After years of devastating impacts from global climate change including record heatwaves, wildfires and hurricanes in the last 12 months, it’s critical that we take action to reverse global warming and protect our environment. I am therefore proud to support both the call for the Westminster MPs’ Pension Fund to divest from fossil fuels and the SNP’s vision for a socially just energy system powered by renewables.”
Kirsty Wilson, local resident from Dumbarton, said:
“I am very pleased that my MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has called on his pension to be moved away from fossil fuel investments. We have witnessed record breaking temperatures in Scotland causing much disruption and this weather will only become more extreme and dangerous if we do not move more investment into renewables.”