A CAMPAIGN calling on Oxfordshire County Council to stop investing in fossil fuels was given a boost by a renowned author.

Campaign group Fossil Free Oxfordshire said a recent talk from environmentalist Bill McKibben galvanised 20 new members to join up.

More than 100 people attended the talk at Oxford's Wesley Memorial Hall on New In Hall Street on Saturday, September 24.

Mr McKibben, founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org, talked about the need to "transition to a zero carbon economy" through divestment from fossil fuels.

Julia Spragg of Fossil Free Oxfordshire said: "We had the huge honour of welcoming Bill to speak on the third anniversary of starting the Fossil Free Oxfordshire campaign.

"We've been asking Oxfordshire County Council to follow Oxford City Council's lead and adopt a fossil free investment policy and, in particular, to divest the £55 million it currently invests through workers' pension funds in fossil fuel companies like BG Group and Shell.

"Bill McKibben's visit has given a great boost to our campaign in Oxfordshire and has inspired over 20 new supporters to get actively involved with it."

Mr McKibben, author of The End of Nature and Oil and Honey, told his audience the divestment movement is tackling the "systemic political and economic issues behind climate change" and said a current burst of global activism is aimed at addressing humanity's reliance on fossil fuels.

Find out more at fossilfreeoxon.wordpress.com