The Northampton Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustee have announced plans to divest from investments relating to fossil fuel, continuing their commitment to ethical investments. The policy will commence by 31st March 2023.
The statement from the trustee said,
“The Diocese of Northampton prohibits direct investment in any company, regardless of the sector, which generates more than 10% of its revenues from fossil fuel production”
Our diocese has followed a number of religious organisations in this important step for our ecology with the Coordinator of the Ecology Sector in the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development, Fr. Joshtrom Kureethadam,saying,
“I applaud these prophetic institutions divesting today and encourage every institution in the world to reduce our dependence on such harmful energy sources by divesting from fossil fuels.”
The Laudaton Si movement describes disinvestment of fossil fuel as:
“Making sure your finances do not fund the extraction of fossil fuels around the globe. That means either selling assets related to the fossil fuel industry or committing publicly never to invest in those dangerous and dirty industries. It means investing in a better future, and shifting power away from companies that are not aligned with climate science”.
It is hoped this policy will represent the diocese ongoing commitment to protect the earth God has given to us. This powerful act will increase the pressure on governments to stop financing the fossil fuel industry.