LOCAL authorities, including Devon County Council and South Hams Council, are investing pensions savings in fossil fuels.

The local authorities invest their pension pots through the Devon Pension Fund, administered by Peninsula Pensions.

Peninsular Pension Fund have a fund total of nearly three and a half billion pounds – £3,357,571,000 – and have invested at least £215,449,000 in the fossil fuel industry.

The numbers have been broken down for the first time and the data has been released by 350.org, Platform, Community Reinvest and Friends of the Earth.

But Devon County Council pointed out: ‘The pension fund is managed by an independent committee on behalf of nearly 200 employers across the South West.

‘They have a legal obligation to achieve the best return for over 100,000 pensioners, members and their families.

‘The Local Government Pension Fund is administered by Devon County Council on behalf of all these employers but its governance is totally independent.’

The fund is managed by the Investment and Pension Fund Committee, which is made up of Devon County, Unitary Council and District Councillors.

Nearly 200 employers are part of the scheme, including Kingsbridge, Ivybridge and Dartmouth Town Councils, Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Ivybridge Community Colleges, among many South West schools, local authorities and employers, and interestingly, one nature conservation charity – the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.

A spokesman for Kingsbridge Community College said: ‘Pensions for school employees are arranged on a national basis and we have no power over how the pension funds are administered and managed.’

‘You are able to opt out of the pension scheme, but it seems the only viable option is a private pension scheme, which may be unrealistic for many people in public service careers.