DORSET County Council has come under pressure to commit to green energy after an investigation revealed the authority has invested more than £150m of public money in fossil fuel companies.

The money is from the DCC pension fund and £153m has been invested into companies such as mining firm Rio Tinto and oil giant BP, according to data released by environmental campaign groups.

The organisations, including 350.org, Platform and Friends of the Earth, said investments in fossil fuels are a long-term financial risk to savers and taxpayers.

Danni Paffard, campaigner for 350.org, said: “This is the first time that the council’s full share portfolio has been made public. This should be a real wake up call for DCC to divest taxpayers’ money from fossil fuels.

“Not only are they contributing to the devastating effects of climate change but they are putting people’s pensions at risk at a time when the financial community is becoming increasingly sceptical about channelling money into fossil fuel companies.”

Sam Wilberforce, chairman of Bridport-based Transition Towns claimed the investment ‘shows complete blindness about what we need to do about our future’.

He added: “Renewable energy is a huge industry where we could be world leaders.”

Mr Wilberforce said he would welcome a statement from the county council reiterating their commitment to green energy.

“As soon as anyone suggests putting a wind turbine anywhere, there’s a huge outcry. But the alternative is fracking, which would entirely industrialise the countryside.”

Danni Paffard added: "Oxford and Bristol City Councils have already taken a lead in making fossil free commitments. Dorset County Council should now follow by reinvesting their funds in building new homes and investing in clean renewable energy and public transport.

“In the run up to climate talks in Paris this winter, it’s more important than ever that we take use our local power to call for meaningful action on the climate crisis.”

Nick Buckland, Head of the Dorset Fund said: “As a long-term investor charged with looking to the interests of beneficiaries over many decades into the future, we recognise climate change as a risk factor for our pension fund investments.

“However, the Local Government Association has recently obtained counsel’s opinion on Local Government Pension Scheme investments, and that confirmed our long held belief that LGPS Fund’s can only invest/divest in any assets for investment reasons, and no other.”

Addressing the issue of risk in the investments referred to by the campaigners, a county council spokesman added: “There is risk inherent in all of the fund’s investments, and the Pension Fund Committee regularly assesses the balance that the fund has to have between risk and return. The fund need to meet the long term target return of around six per cent per annum, and to do so acknowledges that some risks have to be taken."

The Fund employs a number of specialist Fund managers to assess the risk/return characteristics of each investment, and the Fund does not attempt to influence individual stock selection.

Details of pension fund activity can be found on the website www.yourpension.org.uk/Dorset/Home.aspx