Epworth Investment Management is continuing its work alongside churches and faith-based organisations calling for greater accountability in the financial sector over the environmental and human rights consequences associated with the Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia.

A new feature from the World Council of Churches explores the experiences of the Wayúu Indigenous people living in La Guajira, home to Cerrejón, one of the world’s largest open-cast coal mines. The article documents longstanding concerns surrounding displacement, access to water, pollution, health and the effects of mining on Indigenous communities.

Epworth’s involvement

In June 2026, Epworth joined the Methodist Church of Great Britain, Methodist Church in Ireland, Iglesia Metodista de Colombia and the Ecumenical Centre for Communication in Latin America (CEPALC) in submitting a complaint to the UK National Contact Point under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct.

The complaint concerns HSBC Holdings plc and its financial relationship with Glencore, which owns the Cerrejón mine. It asks the UK National Contact Point to examine whether HSBC’s financing relationship with Glencore is consistent with expectations under the OECD Guidelines relating to responsible business conduct and due diligence.

For Epworth, involvement in the initiative reflects our wider approach to responsible stewardship. We believe investors and financial institutions have an important role to play in encouraging companies to respect human rights, protect the environment and meet their stated climate commitments.

The World Council of Churches feature provides important context for the complaint by bringing the experiences of communities affected by the Cerrejón mine to the forefront. It highlights the connection between decisions made within the global financial system and their potential consequences for communities, particularly those already facing social and environmental vulnerability.

Epworth will continue to work collaboratively with churches, ecumenical organisations and other partners to encourage responsible financial practices and to ensure that environmental and human rights considerations remain part of the conversation around investment and finance.

Read the full World Council of Churches feature:
Indigenous people in Colombia pay—with their lives—for coal