Sierra Membership Urges CalPERS to Higher Outline What the Pension Considers ‘Local weather Options’ Investments

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Native leaders testify, ship petition at board assembly as pension offers replace on its Local weather Act.

SACRAMENTO, CA — The Sierra Membership’s California Chapter testified on the November board assembly of the California Public Staff’ Retirement System (CalPERS), calling on the pension to higher outline what it considers “local weather options” in its Local weather Motion Plan. The Sierra Membership has urged CalPERS and different pensions throughout the nation to undertake sturdy standards — such because the Rules for Local weather Options Investments — and to commonly report on all the belongings included in its plan. Sierra Membership California additionally delivered a brand new petition signed by 620 members — together with 218 CalPERS beneficiaries — calling on the pension to undertake such rules.

On the assembly, CalPERS, the biggest public pension within the U.S., gave an replace on its Local weather Motion Plan, saying it has reached $60 billion in “local weather options” investments towards a aim of $100 billion by 2030. However main questions stay round what’s included in these investments, after it was revealed earlier this yr that CalPERS included investments on the earth’s largest oil and fuel corporations in that plan.

Throughout the listening to, CalPERS board member Mullissa Willette acknowledged the necessity for stronger rules to information its investments and known as on employees to reveal its local weather options standards, saying: “Our beneficiaries do wish to know and deserve to know how the belongings are decided that go into that portfolio, and what standards is being utilized. … I feel that’s actually simply good governance.”

“Rules that outline local weather options and set up a framework for danger discount are necessary for all stakeholders that can carry this work ahead. A transparent and clear Local weather Motion Plan can function a mannequin for different traders determining methods to mitigate local weather danger.” mentioned Jakob Evans, Coverage Strategist with Sierra Membership California. “The power of CalPERS’ technique — to scale back local weather danger by financing the clear vitality transition — can be amplified if friends undertake related plans. Adopting rules would set CalPERS as an indeniable chief in local weather investments, however that might require CalPERS to exclude fossil fuels from this $100 billion.” Learn the total testimony.

MORE INFORMATION

Earlier this month, forward of the assembly, Sierra Membership known as for CalPERS to undertake stronger standards, such because the Rules for Local weather Options Investments, to information its investing technique and deal with options that speed up real-world decarbonization.

In September 2025, Sierra Membership testified on the CalPERS board assembly and highlighted the rules.

Concerning the Sierra Membership

The Sierra Membership is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental group, with tens of millions of members and supporters. Along with defending each individual’s proper to get outside and entry the therapeutic energy of nature, the Sierra Membership works to advertise clear vitality, safeguard the well being of our communities, defend wildlife, and protect our remaining wild locations by grassroots activism, public schooling, lobbying, and authorized motion. For extra info, go to www.sierraclub.org.