Councillors in West Dunbartonshire are being called on to back the Extinction Rebellion movement whose non-violent protests have made headlines worldwide.

Councillor Jim Bollan wants the authority to tell the Scottish and UK governments it agrees with the view held by Extinction Rebellion that there is a “climate emergency” which needs urgent political action on a global scale.

A motion lodged by Cllr Bollan, which will be debated at a meeting on May 29, calls on the council to write to both governments urging them to "take immediate action to tackle this grave issue and do all within their power to reverse the situation".

The councillor, who sits as a member of the West Dunbartonshire Community Party, also wants the council to request that the Strathclyde Pension Fund (SPF) divests from any investments in fossil fuels.

His motion adds: "Council pension funds in Scotland invest £1.8b per year in companies like BP and Shell who are planning on using fossil fuels which will warm the planet up to 3.5°c.

"Fossil fuel divestment is a practical, legal and responsible way for pension funds to respond to climate change and avoid financial risk.

"Over 30 Scottish MP’s have supported divestment of their own pension fund and I would ask that WDC put the same request to the trustees of the SPF."

The councillor's action has been backed by Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES) who said WDC must call on the Strathclyde Pension Fund, and Glasgow City Council who run it, to get out of polluting fossil fuels and invest in jobs that will provide a safe, healthy and clean future for people everywhere.

Ric Lander, FoES divestment campaigner, said: "Local authorities have a role to play in cutting our demand for fossil fuels by helping people make better transport choices, ensure people are living in warm, energy efficient homes and powering our lives with renewables.

"Local authorities must also put their investments in order. WDC is a member of the Strathclyde Pension Fund, which in turn invests over £800 million in fossil fuel firms. This investment is critically undermining our wider efforts to tackle climate change."

A spokesman for Strathclyde Pension Fund said: “If we receive a request from the council, we will assess it and respond in due course.”

Extinction Rebellion, which describes itself as an international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience, hit the headlines in April with co-ordinated protests which brought disruption to cities across the world, including London.

Also last month, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared a "climate emergency" in her speech to the SNP conference.

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