Eddisbury's Antoinette Sandbach has joined a group of 200 cross-party MPs and former MPs who have signed the Divest Parliament Pledge.

The pledge is to call on the Parliamentary Pension Fund to review and phase out investments in fossil fuel companies, following growing concern among parliamentarians about the environmental, social and financial risks posed by climate change.

Started in 2014, the campaign’s supporters include 15 current and former conservative MPs, among them Justine Greening, Zac Goldsmith, Sir Oliver Letwin and Lord Deben, who is chair of the UK’s Independent Committee on Climate Change.

Ms Sandbach insist the need for urgent action is why she signed the pledge.

“Urgent action must be taken to reduce carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels, and MPs should lead by example," she said.

"This is why I have pledged my support for the Divest Parliament campaign to move investment of the MPs’ Pension Fund away from fossil fuels and towards renewables.

"It doesn’t make sense for long-term pension funds to be investing in companies that aren’t committed to bringing about a clean energy future.”

Lord Deben added: “Preventing disastrous climate change will be the defining challenge of the next decade for world leaders.

"The UK must show leadership by demonstrating that we are prepared to make the necessary choices.

"This includes moving investment out of fossil fuels and towards renewables that are already proving that they can be built at the scale needed to power our homes and businesses.

"Moving quickly towards the Paris goals is the best way to protect our health and our prosperity for many generations to come.”