Church of Scotland votes against disinvestment from fossil fuel companies.

At the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland today commissioners voted overwhelmingly against disinvesting from fossil fuel companies while continuing to engage with them to get their activities aligned with the requirements of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The original deliverance from the Church and Society Council, which proposed a two year period of engagement followed by disinvestment if no progress has been made, received 128 votes.

A counter motion in the name of Rev Jenny Adams calling for immediate disinvestment received 135 votes.

A second counter motion in the name of former moderator Rev Albert Bogle received 300 votes and was carried. It reads:

Instruct the [Church and Society] Council to engage with the oil and gas companies to continue to seek alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement rather than divest from the oil and gas industry.

 

You can view a video of the debate (in two parts) here, during which a number of Eco-Congregation Scotland activists spoke:

Part One – 43 minutes

Part Two – 43 Minutes

 

 

2 comments on “Church of Scotland votes against disinvestment from fossil fuel companies.”

  1. David Coleman

    Disappointing, but the “instruction to engage” can be pursued energetically and conscientiously on the basis of this result. Not the one many were looking for in this movement, but take it at face value as an invitation to activism.

  2. Pingback: Encouraging signs for Church divestment - Bright Now

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