International there has been increasing interest in the link between sustainability, in particular the link between investment and environment issues. The growth of discussion has assisted in engaging more people in considering the issues and the potential impacts of such issues. Of particular interest has been the growth in discussion about the links between environmental, economical and community impacts. In 2014, Oxford Diocese called on the Church of England to divest from fossil fuel companies and pledged to examine its own investments. Oxford Diocesan Synod has passed a resolution urging the Church of England’s National Investing Bodies to divest from fossil fuel companies. The resolution was passed with a majority of 52 in favour, with 37 against and seven abstentions. Speaking just after the resolution was passed, Revd Darrell Hannah said:
“I’m overjoyed. We had a good debate with good points on both sides. People recognise the ambiguities of the issue, the importance of the issue, the urgency of the moment, and I’m very pleased the vote went the way it did. Oxford Diocese, true to its history, is challenging the Church of England as a whole to take seriously the threat of climate change and what we as Christians do about it.”
(reference: https://gofossilfree.org/uk/oxford-diocese-goes-fossil-free-and-challenges-church-of-england-to-divest/ )