Bright Now

The world is starting to wake up to the need to take our money out of fossil fuels. The global divestment movement is gathering pace with recent announcements from the World Council of Churches, the British Medical Association, New Zealand and Australian Anglican Churches and with support from the Church of Sweden.

Last week the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee passed a divestment motion when reviewing their ethical investment policies, stating that the list of sectors in which WCC does not invest should be extended to include fossil fuels. WCC is a fellowship of over 300 churches in 150 countries and the central committee is made up of influential religious leaders. They are encouraging their members to do the same, meaning that this decision to disinvest could resonate far and wide. Read more

The vote by members of the British Medical Association to divest from fossil fuel companies leaves UK Churches with stakes in oil, coal and gas, and those who say ‘never’ to disinvestment, looking exposed.

The decision at the BMA’s annual meeting in Harrogate on 25th June, follows an editorial in the British Medical Journal earlier this year which called for divestment. It is backed by the Climate and Health Council, as well as health charities Medact and Healthy Planet UK. Read more