The 82 billion-pound ($103 billion) Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) faced legal action from two of its members over its continuing investments in coal, natural gas and petroleum. Judge Sarah Asplin said in a written ruling that the parts of the lawsuit relating to USS investments in fossil fuels were an attempt to challenge the scheme's management and investment decisions which was "bound to fail". The attempt to bring the case on behalf of USS against its directors, which has also been attempted by environmental law charity ClientEarth against Shell (SHEL.L), will be keenly watched by other pension funds and environmental groups. The two academics bringing the case, Ewan McGaughey and Neil Davies, argued that fossil fuel investments pose a "significant and increasing" financial risk to USS that its directors were not addressing. However, lawyers representing USS argued the case should be dismissed as the scheme's investments in fossil fuels have not caused any loss to USS or the two academics, which is necessary for a derivative lawsuit to proceed.

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Persons: Sarah Asplin, Ewan McGaughey, Neil Davies, David Grant, –, Davies, Sam Tobin, Sarah Young, Mike Harrison Organizations: London's, Shell, McGaughey, Thomson Locations: London