Call on U.S. pension fund executives to divest from fossil fuels and protect workers

An one hundred dollar bill on a pile of other bills

A 2023 report by the University of Waterloo report revealed that over the past 10 years, six U.S. public pension funds missed out on a combined $21 billion dollars because they did not commit to fossil fuel divestment.

The report also revealed that due to this, members of these funds missed out on additional money in their personal pensions. The pension funds named were:

California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS)
New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS)
Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund (OPERF)
Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC)
State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB)

Pension fund executives have knowingly invested in coal, oil, and gas companies that endanger our pension funds security and put communities at risk. They would rather intentionally heat up our planet — one fossil fuel investment at a time. Meanwhile, everyday workers who make up the membership of their funds are losing future financial security.

We must demand pension fund executives stop escalating the climate crisis and start backing their members with climate safe investments that are good for our pocketbooks and the planet.

Send your message now and add your voice to a crucial fight for our planet and workers.

Message pension fund execs now

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Mr.

Edwin

Denson

SWIB

Mr.

Thomas

Lee

New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS)

Board

Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund (OPERF)

Miss

Marcie

Frost

CalPERS

CIO

Michael

Cohen

CalPERS

Miss

Cassandra

Lichnock

California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS)

Mr.

Christopher

Ailman

California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS)

Ms.

Margaret

Andriola

New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS)

Mr.

Deven

Mitchell

Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC)

Mr.

Marcus

Frampton

Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC)

Ms.

Anne-Marie

Fink

State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB)

Mr.

Todd

Mattina

SWIB

Dear {contact_data~title} {contact_data~lastName},

New research from the University of Waterloo has revealed that over the past 10 years, six U.S. public pension funds missed out on a combined $21 billion dollars because they did not commit to fossil fuel divestment.

Your fund was one of the six named. The full list is:
California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS)
New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS)
Oregon Public Employee Retirement Fund (OPERF)
Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC)
State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB)

The report also revealed that due to this $21 billion dollar loss, the members of your funds missed out on additional money in their personal pension funds.

Your fund is considered a significant asset for the workers in your state. This means that the decisions that your fund makes have far-reaching effects in their lives. With the release of the Waterloo report, it is clear now that your previous actions have only caused two things: escalating the climate crisis and losing members’ money.

There is no reward for those who insist on investing in the fossil fuel industry. The practice is only burning our planet while yielding no long-term profit.

I urge you to support and enact the divestment of your fossil fuel holdings, and then move that money to renewable projects and companies. These funds should use workers’ assets to support a swift, just transition to green energy projects and infrastructure.

The climate crisis can be stopped and our planet saved, but it will require a commitment to a fossil free future for us all.

Please read the full University of Waterloo report at: [https://uwaterloo.ca/school-environment-enterprise-development/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/the-impact-of-energy-investments-on-the-financial-value-and-the-carbon-footprint-of-pension-funds_pdf_final-version.pdf]

Thank you for your time,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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