Across the globe institutions are calling time on fossil fuels and are divesting, (the opposite to investing) from Fossil Fuel companies, to the tune of around $40 Trillion dollars.

In the UK 2/3 of all universities, including Lincoln, many faith groups, including the C of E, and a number of Local government pension funds have committed to divest from fossil fuels.

In Lincolnshire, the County, Districts and City Councils are all part of the Lincolnshire Pension Fund, (LPF), which also includes schools, UNISON, and other organisations. The total fund value is £3.1 Billion, with £94.7 million pounds invested in fossil fuels.

Investments are decided by the Pension Fund committee which is administered by the County Council. The LPF is part of a bigger pension pool called the Borders to Coast Pension Partnership, (BCPP), which provides the portfolios for the majority of the Lincolnshire investments. Both the LPF and the BCPP favour engagement with, rather than divestment from, fossil fuels companies, but plainly this is not working as all major fossil fuel companies are increasing production. For more information check out the UK Divest website, https://www.divest.org.uk/

So what can we do about it? Across the country there are local council pension divest campaign groups working to encourage their pension funds to divest. The intention is to set up a group in Lincolnshire, which would work with the BCPP campaign group.

If you would like to know more, or help with the campaign, please get in touch with Tim, (tim.grigg1@gmail.com) and we can work on a campaign strategy.