The council has defended its record on tackling climate change after facing calls to stop investing in fossil fuel companies.

Enfield Council claimed it is reviewing its investment strategy and is on course to achieve a major reduction in its carbon emissions – which can contribute to global warming – by 2025.

It comes after green campaign group Divest Enfield urged the local authority to pull its pension funds out of “dirty, risky fossil fuel investments”.

The group was responding to a motion tabled by Cllr Vicki Pite for the last full council meeting that called on the local authority to declare a “climate emergency”.

Cllr Pite’s motion – which was not discussed – called for a report into how the council could help to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels

Divest Enfield spokesperson Adam McGibbon said the council currently invests millions in fossil fuels via its pension funds and should take urgent action.

But the council said the amount of pension money indirectly invested in fossil fuels is around £18 million – just 1.8 per cent of the total and much lower than the £60 million figure quoted by Divest Enfield.

Enfield Council follows guidance from the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF), which represents 75 funds spread across the country.

In November, the LAPFF issued a policy framework to help member funds approach the investment implications of climate change.

The council has set up a local energy company, Energetik, and is working to improve the energy efficiency of all 85 council buildings, including the grade I listed Forty Hall, the Civic Centre and the Dugdale Centre.

Enfield Council is not unusual in having investments in fossil fuel firms.

While some organisations have pulled money out of these firms in recent years, large numbers of UK pension funds remain invested in companies such as BP and Shell.

Such firms are known for fossil fuel extraction yet also claim to be investing in greener alternatives.

A council spokesperson said: “Enfield Council has recently looked at how environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues impact upon the council’s pension fund.

“We are already reviewing the council’s investment strategy statement to see how we determine and monitor our investment decisions and will consider all of the ESG matters.

“This will enable us to take an approach that marshals best advice, financial consequences of choices and any legal implications.

“Since 2011 Enfield Council has reduced its carbon footprint by 45 per cent, exceeding its carbon reduction target three years early.

“The borough itself is on track for a 40 per cent reduction in its carbon footprint by 2020, despite a rapidly growing population. We are now aiming to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint by 60 per cent by 2025.”

Cllr Pite intends to re-table her climate emergency motion at a future full council meeting.