Ireland votes to become first nation to divest from fossil fuels 
The Republic of Ireland has voted in favour of "historic legislation" which will see it fully divest public funds from coal, oil and gas. Deputy Thomas Pringle, who introduced the bill, said "millions of poor people in underdeveloped nations bear the brunt of climate change", while global corporations manipulated climate science and denied the existence of climate change. When enacted, the law will force the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to sell its investments in fossil fuels over the next five years.

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Ireland has voted to be the world’s first country to fully divest public money from fossil fuels.

The Irish Parliament passed the historic legislation in a 90 to 53 vote in favour of dropping coal, oil and gas investments from the €8bn (£6.8bn) Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, part of the Republic’s National Treasury Management Agency.

The bill, introduced by Deputy Thomas Pringle, is likely to pass into law in the next few months after it is reviewed by the financial committee.

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“This principle of ethical financing is a symbol to these global corporations that their continual manipulation of climate science, denial of the existence of climate change and their controversial lobbying practices of politicians around the world is no longer tolerated,” Mr Pringle said.

“We cannot accept their actions while millions of poor people in underdeveloped nations bear the brunt of climate change forces as they experience famine, mass emigration and civil unrest as a result.”

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Once enacted, the bill would force the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to sell its investment in fossil fuel industries over the next five years.

In 2015, Norway’s sovereign pension fund divested from some fossil fuel companies, but not all.