News & Actions

To Help Ukraine, Will Pensions Divest From Unethical Fossil Fuels?

By David Page and John Avalos | March 10, 2022

San Francisco & California pension funds: divest from both fossil-fuels and dictators! Many of us have been watching the images of terrible destruction and heartbreak from Ukraine. Have you wondered how President Putin finances his military machine? As much as 50% of Russian government revenue comes from fossil-fuel related businesses. Unfortunately, California and San Francisco pension funds…

Read more

Climate Justice Coalition Cheers as Senator Gonzalez Introduces Pension Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill

By CJ Koepp | February 17, 2022

Today, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) introduced SB 1173 — the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act — in the California state legislature. The bill would mandate that California’s public pension funds stop investing in fossil fuel companies. For over eight years, teachers, students, and state workers have called for their pensions to divest from fossil…

Read more

From COP26 to The Ministry for the Future: Review of an Evening with Kim Stanley Robinson

By Lynne Nittler | January 26, 2022

Sci-fi legend Kim Stanley Robinson is on a mission to do everything he can to save the planet we call home, firstly by writing climate fiction novels and then by talking about them around the world.  The Ministry for the Future is perhaps his best effort yet to give us both the vision and the…

Read more

Striding into 2022, Stronger than Ever

By Fossil Free California | December 22, 2021

Fossil Free California is stronger than ever as we begin another year of action on pension fund divestment. FFCA’s evolution included officially hiring two staff: Miriam Eide (right) as Coordinating Director and CJ Koepp (left) as Communications Coordinator. Our staff takes direction from the campaign teams, reinforcing a collaborative leadership style that is sparking great creativity and growth.

Read more

Gratitude for the Power of Collective Actions

By Fossil Free California | December 12, 2021

“A failure.”  “The most exclusionary climate summit ever.”  “A Greenwash Festival.”  “A source of great shame because COP26 will be the whitest and most privileged ever, with thousands who intended to travel from poorer countries excluded.”  These are just a few of the many critiques of COP26.  Amidst the heaviness and disappointment following COP 26,…

Read more

Shareholder Engagement With Fossil Fuel Companies Is a Failure for Climate Change

By Carlos Davidson | December 1, 2021

Shareholder engagement promotes the image of fossil fuel companies as good corporate citizens, and strengthens their political power to fight climate legislation. What should pension funds, university endowments and other institutional investors do to help address climate change? The fossil fuel divestment movement calls on funds to divest from fossil fuel companies. Fund owners and managers…

Read more

We’re Calling Out CalPERS on Coal – Again

By Sandy Emerson | November 9, 2021

We’re showing up at CalPERS’ November 15 Investment Committee meeting to call them out on coal – again. Thank you, CalPERS, for having the wisdom to divest the remaining three (out of 17 identified) thermal coal companies that were targeted by the legislative mandate of SB 185. It’s great that you finally recognized that Exxaro,…

Read more
Managing Investment Director Anne Simpson

Opinion: CalPERS’ Ambition is Too Low; Climate Action Too Slow

By Sandy Emerson | November 8, 2021

In a recent interview with the Washington Post, CalPERS Managing Investment Director Anne Simpson traced the origins of the term “fiduciary” back to the Christian Crusades.  Indeed, that history might explain why CalPERS remains invested in fossil fuels with an almost religious zeal.

Read more
Youth activists call for divestment

$39.2 Trillion for Divestment

By Fossil Free California | October 30, 2021

New divestment announcements brought the global total to $39.2 trillion for divestment, up from $14.6 trillion earlier this year.

Read more

California State University Divests

By Lisa Swartz and Carlos Davidson | October 7, 2021

The California State University System, the largest in the U.S.,  decided today to divest from fossil fuels. The decision comes after a nine month campaign by the student group Divest the CSU.

Read more

Archive