Protestors are set to stage a ‘die in’ protest ahead of a meeting of the public pension fund committee
For months, protestors have demanded the county council divest from fossil-fuel related investments, arguing they are now financially risky and exacerbate climate change.
The pension fund is led by Conservative-controlled Nottinghamshire County Council, and manages the pensions of teachers, council workers and other public sector staff throughout the city and county.
In July, a political attempt was made by opposition councillors to force the council to divest.
But the Conservatives opposed this move, saying work was already underway to look at the risk involved, and that it should not be bound by restrictions.
Tomorrow, ahead of a meeting of the committee, Extinction Rebellion protestors plan to gather at County Hall, in West Bridgford, demanding shares in fossil fuel companies are sold immediately.
The protestors say they will be dressed in black, and will lay down on the main entrance steps to ‘enact a symbolic death scene.’
They will hold signs showing causes of death resulting from the climate crisis, such as drowning, starvation, heat shock, and crop failure.
Protestor Rachel Adams, from Sherwood, a retired Nottingham County Council public health manager, said, “I’m a pensioner dependent on this fund. I feel for employees who will receive much-reduced pensions.
“The value of these shares is already falling. Everyone recognizes that to prevent the horror of climate catastrophe all reserves of oil, gas and coal must stay in the ground.”
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