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Greens call for Edinburgh to divest in fossil fuels

Pension funds should invest in green energy production, house building and public transport improvements.

Alison Johnstone, the lead candidate for the Scottish Greens in Lothian has called for City of Edinburgh Council to deliver real climate leadership by ending its pension funds investments in fossil fuels.

According to a recent report by Friends of the Earth Scotland and a coalition of environmental groups, Lothian Pension Fund has £165m invested in fossil fuels.

Commenting, Ms Johnstone who is the Scottish Greens’ lead candidate in the Lothian region at the Holyrood election, said:

Public money should be used for the public good. People in Edinburgh don’t want to see these pension funds exacerbating the climate crisis, particularly when this money could be invested into socially responsible areas like green energy production, house building and public transport improvements.

Divestment is only the first step to tackling the climate emergency. The Scottish Greens will invest in a green recovery from the pandemic that creates 100,000 jobs while reducing Scotland’s emissions. That’s why we’re asking people to vote like our future depends on it.