Exploring Green Pension Investments as the Most Powerful Thing You Can Do to Protect The Planet

Following two motions raised at the MU’s Delegate Conference earlier in the Summer – we’ve continued to investigate ways in which we can reduce our impact on the climate crisis and contribute to sustainability.

The motions raised, which were both passed unanimously by the conference, called on the MU’s Executive Committee (EC) to develop strategies for the music sector to tackle the climate crisis and promote sustainability, as well as developing an organisation-wide environmental policy.

Members who wish to learn more about our current actions should read the MU’s Environmental Policy, where we discuss in more detail how we will reduce our impact and improve our performance. Within the policy we summarise our aims for paper and plastic usage amongst other things, as well as highlighting our commitment to culture change and support for a Green New Deal.

Divesting from fossil fuels

Exploring divestment from fossil fuels was also added to the passing motion – something which the MU has been continuing to get involved in discussions around. We’re currently looking at the Pension Scheme we offer to our members to see how it can be made more environmentally friendly, so watch this space for further updates.

We encourage those interested in learning more about divestment to explore Make Your Money Matter’s website, to learn how investing your pension could be the most powerful thing you can do to protect the planet. They even describe how making your pension green can have 21 times the impact on your carbon contribution than going veggie, giving up flying and switching energy provider.

"It will take individual and collective effort, and it will be a massive challenge"

Rachel Parvin speaks for the Executive Committee and highlights the work of @musicdeclares.

Both motions on the climate emergency have passed unanimously! #MUConference

— Musicians' Union (@WeAreTheMU) July 21, 2021

Want to know more about our 39th Biennial Delegate Conference?

You can find out more about the motions raised, and debates had, at the MU’s Delegate Conference 2021 in our detailed Twitter threads for day one and day two. We also published news stories on day one and day two giving a more succinct summary of events.