Make My Money Matter (MMMM), the campaign group co-founded by filmmaker Richard Curtis, has launched a short film that aims to highlight the links between pensions and deforestation.

Recent research by the campaign group found that for every £10 that is put into pensions, £2 is invested in companies with a ‘high risk’ of deforestation.

Furthermore, the analysis estimated that £300bn of UK pension money was linked to deforestation, which MMMM said outlined the “critical role” that pensions must play in stopping the practice worldwide.

To demonstrate the ‘hidden truth’ of pensions and deforestation, the short film follows the transportation of a supersized parcel containing a ‘Deforester 5000’ across London and its delivery to an unsuspecting pension holder to show them what their pension may be funding.

MMMM said that it aimed for the stunt to highlight the “worrying lack of awareness” amongst pension savers around where their money is being invested.

According to the campaign group, 14 million pension holders would switch to a different provider if they found that their money was being invested in deforestation.

Furthermore, its research found that 70 per cent of savers would increase their contributions if they knew their money was having a positive impact.

MMMM added that the film highlights the “lack of transparency and member engagement” across the pensions industry, with its polling showing that more than 90 per cent of pension holders were unable to confidently list the top companies their scheme is invested in.

“Deforestation is a human problem with real, human impacts,” commented Curtis.

“That's why we wanted to capture the human reaction when the painful truth of our pensions is delivered. Most important though, there’s also a human solution – for the industry to take urgent steps to cut deforestation from our pensions.

“Most UK savers are unaware that £300bn of our pension money is linked to deforestation - we hope this film helps show the public exactly what our money could be funding.

“We want to mobilise a generation of savers to realise the power of their pensions, and make sure our money is helping to protect nature, not destroy it.”

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