Ellie Ames 10 July 2024

Extinction Rebellion activists scale council office

Extinction Rebellion activists scale council office image
Image: XR

Campaigners climbed onto the roof of East Sussex County Hall yesterday to demand the authority stops investing its pension fund in fossil fuels.

A report last year found that around £28.2m of the East Sussex Pension Fund is in investments linked to fossil fuels.

East Sussex County Council, which declared a climate emergency in 2019, administers the fund.

Yesterday’s protest saw Extinction Rebellion (XR) South East join with campaign group Divest East Sussex to take non-violent direct action against the council for the first time.

XR said the move was a ‘significant escalation in a long series of protests against the council’s inaction in the face of the climate crisis’.

Divest East Sussex joint coordinator Gabriel Carlyle said: ‘We have written to councillors. We’ve asked to meet with them. We’ve peacefully protested again and again.

‘We’ve lobbied, we’ve pleaded, we’ve begged.

‘None of it has worked. So we’ve decided to be less polite.’

XR warned it would continue to take non-violent direction action against the council if it did not divest.

A spokesperson for the East Sussex Pension Fund said: ‘The exposure to oil companies through investment products is 0.4% of Fund value.

‘It has a strong focus on responsible investment in its stewardship of assets and takes climate risk and environmental, social and governance factors into account when investing, having removed fossil fuel companies from its equity allocation and reduced the exposure in other parts of the portfolio.’

A council spokesperson said flares let off by protesters illustrated why the cash-strapped local authority paid for security at some meetings, a decision for which it has been criticised.

To find out what local government stakeholders want from the new government, check out our guide, Transforming Local Government: A Strategic Guide for LabourDownload your complimentary copy now!

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Assistant Director, People

Essex County Council
£96186.0000 - £104843.0000 per annum
Assistant Director, PeoplePermanent, Full TimeUp to £104,843 per annum Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Local Area Coordinator (Chipping Norton)

Oxfordshire County Council
£41771 - £45091
About the Role The Local Area Coordination approach has had a positive impact for communities in other areas of Oxfordshire since we introduced this approach in 2024. We want Chipping Norton’s Local Area Coordinator to act as an accessible point of co Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Part Time Permanence Support Co-ordinator - SGO Team.

Essex County Council
£26927.00 - £31678.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Permanence Support Co-ordinator - Special Guardianship Order (SGO) Team.Fixed Term, Part Time£26,927 to £31,678 per annum, full time equival England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Occupational Therapist - Adult Social Care

Essex County Council
£37185 - £50081 per annum
Register your interest here to be notified of upcoming Occupational Therapist opportunities within Essex County Council's Adult Social Care services. England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Public Health Principal

Oxfordshire County Council
£63576 - £67003
Oxfordshire County Council is seeking a skilled Public Health Principal for a full-time, fixed-term maternity cover. Based in Central Oxford with hybrid working (approximately two days per week in-office), this senior role leads the Live Well Promote and Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner