Article by Faradina Kusumastuti, UNA Coventry volunteer and student of Politics and International Relations at Coventry University, first published on UNACov website.

One way to bring about change is through divestment in a particular company or industry that contributes to the injustice happening in the world. The divestment movement has been gaining momentum, particularly in the fossil fuel industry. The fossil fuels industry has been the leading contributor of greenhouse gases, which are responsible for global warming and its associated effects. Despite the gravity of the situation, businesses and governments alike remain deeply entrenched in the industry, as exemplified by the West Midlands Pension Fund (WMPF), which has the third-highest exposure to fossil fuels in the UK. To address the involvement of WMPF, volunteers created Divest West Midlands (DWM), which aims to campaign against WMPF’s investment in fossil fuels. Calling councillors, educating readers about the implications of fossil fuels and WMPF’s involvement in it, and organising actions for the climate are the contributions they have made to our world. As readers, we must do our best to bring this issue to the forefront.

To better understand what the organisation does, the DWM is part of the international fossil fuel divestment movement, coordinated by Fossil Free, a global initiative aimed at cultivating a world free from injustice caused by climate change and the industry that has profited from it. The group aims to encourage WMPF to divest its holdings in the fossil fuel industry and reinvest the money in clean energy and local, socially responsible investments, such as affordable housing. The WMPF is the pension fund for councillors and local government officers covering seven local authorities in the West Midlands. As leaders, they have the responsibility to ensure the social welfare of the people and to address their needs. Investing in the fossil fuel industry is going against the justice and equality of the people.

A report from Fossil Free, written in 2016, outlines the ethical and financial grounds for ceasing investment in the fossil fuel industry. The report demonstrates how the industry not only exacerbates the climate crisis and puts the industry’s leaders at the forefront of our political system, but also how it is financially unreliable as an investment. The three studies mentioned in the report concluded that a ‘fossil-free’ portfolio can yield equivalent, if not higher, returns for investors. These motives should be enough to persuade the councillors to divest from fossil fuels.

During their years of campaigning against the fossil fuel industry, DWM has achieved several notable victories. The first instance was in 2019, when the Dudley City Council voted unanimously to end fossil fuel investment. A motion proposed by Councillor Pete Lowe called for the end of the council’s pension fund investment in fossil fuels. Another successful outcome, following years of advocacy for the cause, was achieved in Birmingham, where the cross-country councillors united in support of divestment. Councillor Roger Harmer, a Lib Dem Councillor for Acocks Green, proposed the motion to revoke WMPF’s holding on the fossil fuel industry as well as to rule out new investments in fossil fuel. To reach their goal, the groups held rallies, encouraged citizens to write to their councillors regarding this issue and signed a petition to fight alongside DWM.

Divestment is hard work. The results are not instant. It takes perseverance, diligence, and conviction. With that being said, this movement helps shed light on the issue we are facing today, which is extreme climate change caused by the exploitation of the fossil fuel industry. The movement brings along attention, and with attention building up, it calls for action to put an end to the industry before it destroys us all. The work of DWM shouldn’t be stopped; it should be continued to help us and our future generation live in prosperity and peace in this little blue planet.