As California State workers, we spend our whole lives cultivating the vibrant communities of California. Our hard-earned pension dollars should not be funding the fossil fuel industry's destructive practices.

Aside from the pollution and negative health impacts the fossil fuel industry exposes our families and communities to, investing in the top polluters is risky. The fossil fuel industry is the most volatile industry on the stock market, and it's in decline. Our pensions have a duty to maximize benefits without sacrificing our quality of life on this planet.

The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) have a unique opportunity to lead a rapid transition into socially just and environmentally conscious investing. With investments of about $400 billion and 1.9 million members, (CalPERS) is the largest public pension fund in the United States. (CalSTRS) is the second-largest, with about $250 billion in investments and 900,000 members. Together, these funds hold over $40 billion in fossil fuel investments–funding the pipelines, refineries, and drilling sites that are warming our planet and poisoning California communities.

California pension divestment is a high stakes, high-impact climate campaign with the potential to be a national and international model; it’s also a unique opportunity to create an inclusive climate movement that builds the leadership of students, workers, and elders.