Posts by Shana DeClercq
Unions Support Divestment to Protect California State Worker Pensions
Public employees deserve a secure pension, safe working conditions, and a livable place to retire. While fossil fuel investments are extremely volatile and risky, fossil fuel pollution drives climate chaos in California — including extreme heat, flooding, toxic air pollution, water contamination, and wildfires. Our pension funds actively investing in fossil fuels is undermining our…
Read moreFossil Free California and the California Fossil Fuel Divestment Coalition: “While we welcome CalPERS scaling up climate-safe investments, there’s no room for fossil fuels in any sustainable finance or net-zero plan”
Ahead of its November 13 board meeting, CalPERS announced its “Sustainable Investments 2030 Strategy” to increase its investing in clean energy and sustainable funds and to double-down on “engagement” strategies with high emitters of fossil fuels. In its strategy, CalPERS acknowledges and affirms climate risk is undeniably financial risk. CalPERS recognizing that some fossil fuel holdings must be responsibly phased out is a noteworthy step toward CalPERS meeting its fiduciary duty. What CalPERS is proposing is a limited form of divestment on an unspecified timeline with no enforceability. But what CalPERS members, state workers, retirees, union members and people from every part of California demand is the comprehensive divestment from the top fossil fuel companies by 2031, as called for in Senate Bill 252.
Read moreFinancial 101 – What Divesting California’s Public Pensions from Fossil Fuels Means
What’s a public pension? What does public pension divestment mean? Why is this good for workers? Has divestment worked before? Get your questions answered with our Financial 101. Read below, or download the PDF. What is a public pension? What are CalPERS and CalSTRS? A public pension is a pension system for public employees –…
Read moreFrequently Asked Questions – Senate Bill 252, The Fossil Fuel Divestment Act
CalPERS has roughly $9.4 billion dollars, and CalSTRS $5.4 billion dollars ($14.8 billion in all) of stock and bond investments in the top 200 coal, oil and gas production companies.
Read moreNewsom Surprises New York Climate Week with Announcements on SB 253, SB 261, Advancing the Climate Accountability Bill Package
In a surprise move Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced his intention to sign Senate Bills 253 and 261, groundbreaking climate legislation, advancing the suite of bills announced jointly in January as the Climate Accountability Bill Package. Senate Bill 252, the third bill in the package, now a two-year bill, is poised to clear the Assembly in 2024.
Read moreGovernor Newsom Will Sign SB 253, SB 261, Advancing the Climate Accountability Bill Package
In a surprise move Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced his intention to sign Senate Bills 253 and 261, groundbreaking climate legislation, advancing the suite of bills announced jointly in January as the Climate Accountability Bill Package. Senate Bill 252, the third bill in the package, now a two-year bill, is poised to clear the Assembly in 2024.
Read moreREPORT: CalPERS & CalSTRS lost over $9.6 billion by not divesting from fossil fuels 10 years ago
On June 28, 2023, the University of Waterloo released a groundbreaking report revealing that by not divesting, CalPERS lost $4.7 billion in missed returns, or $3,163 per beneficiary. CalSTRS lost over $4.8 billion in missed returns, or $5,114 per beneficiary over the last ten years, by not removing fossil fuels from their investment portfolio.
Read moreCalifornia fossil fuel divestment bill – SB 252 – passes Senate with massive momentum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 25, 2023Contact: Shana DeClercq | shana@fossilfreeca.org | (415) 376-3746Photos available here Indigenous lands of the Nisenan and Miwok Peoples (colonially called Sacramento, California) – Today, SB 252 – a widely-supported bill for the two biggest public pensions in the U.S., CalPERS and CalSTRS – to phase out fossil fuel investments – passed…
Read moreCalifornia’s Public Pension Divestment Bill – SB 252 – Confirmed through Senate Appropriations, Now Heads to Senate Floor
It’s the “climate bill that could:” SB 252’s tremendous momentum demonstrates that California, the world’s sixth largest economy, is prepared to lead on climate and fiduciary responsibility, taking the helm of the financial industry’s shift toward fiscally responsible investing. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 18, 2023Contact: Shana DeClercq | shana@fossilfreeca.org | (415) 376-3746Photos available here | Banner…
Read moreCalifornia public pension divestment bill building momentum; passed Senate Labor and Judiciary Committees
SACRAMENTO | Today, SB 252 – a widely-supported bill for CalPERS and CalSTRS to phase out fossil fuel investments – is expected to pass its second Committee hearing in the California State Senate at the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Read more