"The Church Commissioners and the Church of England Pensions Board said they have divested 12 million pounds ($18.42 million) from their investments in thermal coal and tar sands companies as part of an initiative aimed at promoting transition to a low carbon economy.

The Church Commissioners also said they would adopt the new climate change policy recommended by the Church's Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) that sets out how the three national investing bodies (NIBs) will support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

"The Church has a moral responsibility to speak and act on both environmental stewardship and justice for the world's poor who are most vulnerable to climate change", said Reverend Canon Professor Richard Burridge, deputy chair of the EIAG."

Shivam Srivastava reports for Reuters May 1, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Church of England To Sell Fossil Fuel Investments" (BBC News) [3]

"Church of England Ends Investments in Heavily Polluting Fossil Fuels" (Guardian) [4]

"Methodists' New Climate Policy Signals Move Away From Dirtiest Fossil Fuels" (Guardian) [5]