May 1, 2015

Campaigners respond to Church of England divestment from coal and tar sands

London, UK — In response to the Church of England’s announcement to divest £12 million from thermal coal and tar sands companies, and stating that it will divest from other fossil fuel companies that do not take seriously their responsibility to assist transition to low-carbon economy, UK faith divestment campaigners issued the following statements:

Ellie Roberts, divestment campaigner for Operation Noah, says:

“We are delighted that the Church has begun to align its investments with its moral responsibility to take action on climate change by divesting from some of the most polluting fossil fuel companies. Tar sands and thermal coal exploration is entirely at odds with global efforts to keep temperature rise below 2°C. By divesting, the Church has sent a strong signal to these companies that they cannot continue to act in denial of the climate crisis. This marks the Church’s first major step to impose investment restrictions because of climate change.”

Revd Giles Goddard, Operation Noah board member and member of the Church’s Environment Working Group, says:

“We acknowledge the clear commitment to increased engagement. Faith groups have a great deal to contribute and it’s good to see the Church of England taking an increasing role in this debate. However, the report is not clear about the criteria for success. At what point would it be recognised that engagement has not borne fruit and that divestment is the necessary response to the challenge of climate change? More than 50 churches around the world have moved away from the oil, gas and coal companies. The Church of England is now part of this movement but must not be left behind again.”

Revd Dr Darrell Hannah, originator of a motion from Oxford diocese calling on the Church to divest from all oil, gas and coal companies, says:

“This is a wonderful step forward for the Church of England. However, I hope the Church will go further this summer by backing our call to fully divest from all fossil fuel companies by 2020, including oil and gas companies. Given that global emissions must peak by 2020 if we are to avoid a 2°C rise, this policy of engagement has a very brief window in which to work.”

350.org co-founder Bill McKibben says:

“This is the first great turnaround in the divestment fight, an institution which initially refused to move and then, in good Christian fashion, saw the light. Much credit to the Church of England — they’re studying the signs of the times, as the Good Book says, and starting to show their concern for the poorest and most vulnerable parts of humanity and of creation! Above all, I imagine, Desmond Tutu is pleased at this news, since the planet’s foremost Anglican was one of the foremost authors of this call to divest!“

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