California Public Pensions: Stop Funding Wildfires

THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS REAL, WE MUST ACT NOW! The fossil fuel industry has perpetuated the climate crisis and polluted frontline communities for decades. Today, three wildfires are raging in Los Angeles–and the Marathon refinery in Wilmington was seen flaring this morning, further impacting the air quality of frontline residents. 

California’s public pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, are some of the TOP investors in this harm. CalPERS and CalSTRS collectively have over $15 billion invested in this industry that drives the climate crisis, pollutes frontline communities, and fuels wildfires throughout the state. 

Letter Text:

Dear CalPERS and CalSTRS board members,

I am writing to you today because as a CalPERS/CalSTRS member, I am deeply concerned about the devastating wildfires taking place in Los Angeles city and county today that have been made possible by the climate crisis and the fossil fuel industry that has facilitated this crisis. The fossil fuel industry is a financially volatile and unprofitable sector that unjustly and disproportionately pollutes low-income communities of color throughout California while being one of the biggest contributors to climate change. My pension fund should not be risking my hard earned retirement dollars by investing in an industry that has made this wildfire disaster in Los Angeles and other climate impacts throughout the state possible. 

Workers and public educators throughout the state stand in solidarity with the demand that you must divest from fossil fuels in order for us to have a sustainable pension and a livable future. We urge you to take this demand seriously and urgently, our communities need action and justice for the harm that this crisis is causing. DIVEST FROM FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES NOW! 

 

Sincerely,

[YOUR SIGNATURE]