A new campaign has been launched to encourage the government to "transform" the UK pensions system, with fronting from a number of celebrities, including Jason Isaacs, Stephen Fry and Aisling Bea.

The coalition of more than 30 charities and trade unions called on Pensions Minister, Torsten Bell, to act "urgently" to protect savers’ retirements, boost economic growth, and support the switch to a more sustainable economy.

This includes reforms to help people save more, incentivising pension funds to invest more in the UK economy, and phasing out investment in fossil fuels and other highly polluting sectors.

A petition has been launched in support of this, with growing support from a number of celebrities, including Nabhaan Rizwaan, Carice Van Houten, Alex Lawther, Bessie Carter, Charity Wakefield and Jo Vanderham.

The petition, addressed to Bell, calls on the government to deliver decent pensions for all, fund a just transition to a thriving low-carbon economy, and phase out investment in fossil fuels, deforestation and other harmful industries.

Writer and director Richard Curtis also backed the launch of the campaign after recently announcing that his green pensions campaign Make My Money Matter was to close after five years.

Commenting on the new campaign, Curtis said: “Greener, fairer pensions are our superpower to protect the future for all generations.

"We need our leaders to put British savers and climate safety at the heart of the pensions reforms, to make sure our pension money is safely invested and part of creating a thriving planet to live on. There’s no point inheriting a pension in a world on fire”.

The campaign suggested that the review of the pensions system presents an opportunity to phase out investment in more harmful sectors, with previous research from Make My Money Matter revealing that two-thirds of people want their pension savings invested in clean energy.

Commenting on the launch of the campaign, Finance Innovation Lab head of advoacy, Marloes Nicholls, said “The government are absolutely right to be prioritising reform of the pensions system.

"Without major changes, millions of people will struggle to make ends meet when they reach retirement age. At the same time, climate breakdown means that the decades to come are set to become increasingly difficult and dangerous.

"Our pensions are fuelling this crisis - but they could also turbo charge the solutions. If our pension funds were invested differently, they could play a vital role in supporting a rapid transition to clean energy and in creating jobs and growth in the technologies and industries of the future.”

Adding to this, Independent Age director of policy and influencing, Morgan Vine,said: “Our pensions system should support everyone to save for a financially secure retirement.

"Right now, that's simply not happening. Currently almost two million older people are experiencing poverty in later life, a large contributor for which is that they don't have an adequate income.

"Our research found that if current trends stay the same, the number of older people in poverty could almost double by 2040. The UK government needs to reform the system to guarantee that everyone will have enough to live on in older age.”

The news also builds on previous efforts from celebrities to raise the profile of greener pensions, with the actors’ trade union pension announcing last year that it’s £130m fund would exclude fossil fuel investments

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