The climate crisis is not just about the environment. It's about your job, your retirement, and your future.
Workers should have a say in how their pension funds are invested—and they can! Pension funds are built from your hard-earned money, and you have the right to make sure they’re invested in ways that protect your future and support your community and the planet.
Public pension funds hold nearly $6.5 trillion. That's a tremendous amount of money—enough to influence corporate decisions and push for smarter, more responsible investments.
You can ensure that the funds supporting your retirement are invested in ways that protect your long-term security and help build a better world. It starts with understanding how your pension works and demanding that it reflects your values.
What We Do
The climate crisis isn't just about the environment. It's about your job, your retirement, and your future. Extreme weather events like floods and hurricanes, rising costs, and economic instability all impact workers, and the money in public pension funds needs to be invested in ways that protect long-term security, not put it at risk.
Public pension funds exist to secure workers' retirements. Those who oversee these funds—many representing workers like you—must ensure your savings aren’t tied up in companies that ignore climate risks or prioritize short-term gains over long-term stability.
But some groups don't want these risks discussed at all. They claim that considering the climate crisis in investing is "political"—even though ignoring these risks cost workers, retirees, and their families billions.
The truth is, climate change is already disrupting the economy, and failing to plan for it is a financial mistake.
At Climate Finance Action, we help workers, unions, and pension trustees understand and take action on these issues. We recognize that each community’s needs and goals are unique, so our work is always co-developed and co-designed with locals to enhance their influence and engagement with their funds.
Your pension is your money. It should be invested in ways that protect you, your family, and your future. We’re here to help you make that happen.
How We Can Support
Whether you're just starting in pension policy work or are already deeply engaged, we offer tailored support. Our workshops and resources can help you build the knowledge and confidence to leverage your influence. These are the most common ways we help, always co-developed to strengthen influence and engagement efforts—showing how CFA can be a resource.
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We help organize and facilitate discussions among public unions to assess fund status, identify shared interests, and build collective power for stronger engagement. This includes assisting with meeting and event planning for to assess collaboration opportunities.
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We provide concrete examples of policy solutions, criteria for what makes a given policy effective, and state-level examples for learning (e.g., corporate engagement strength, climate solutions supporting labor rights, and fund manager accountability).
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We help stakeholders navigate complex policy proposals by identifying key concerns, impacts, and engagement opportunities with fund boards and public officials. We also provide a confidential space for discussions before key policy decisions to address concerns and shape public comments or conversations.
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We offer tailored training, workshops, and resources to:
Demystify pension systems by mapping key players, decision timelines, and engagement pathways.
Translate complex policies and jargon to build confidence in advocating for pension fund strategies that mitigate risk and support an ethical transition to a more sustainable economy.
Navigate pension fund tools to protect retirement and climate futures, emphasizing individual influence and power.
Create educational and story-sharing spaces that connect finance decisions, retirement security, labor conditions, and the climate crisis—amplifying lived experiences for impactful organizing and engagement.
Your pension is more than a savings account. It's your future.
How We Put Our Support into Action
These examples highlight the tangible ways we equip workers and trustees with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to advocate for durable, more responsible pension fund decisions. Every step—whether understanding key levers, analyzing reports, or strategizing for action—helps build collective power for long-term financial and climate resilience.
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We’ve worked with trustees to emphasize their fiduciary duty in managing public pension funds and ensuring they are working toward mitigating climate risks. We also help them understand the intersection of climate change and financial stewardship, empowering them to advocate for responsible investments.
Sample Worksheets:
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We’ve partnered with locals to demystify pension systems and explore key levers for protecting retirement funds from climate risk while pursuing solutions. This includes workshops where we break down complex pension system structures, explain how workers can engage with them, and provide state-level examples.
Sample Worksheet:
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We bridge critical conversations on climate justice, finance, and worker rights, guiding leaders and members to align their pension fund strategies with broader social and environmental goals.
Sample Worksheet:
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We’ve helped locals unpack pension fund reports and explore key strategies for addressing climate risks within their pension systems. Our workshops prepared them to raise important questions and key points during labor stakeholder meetings.
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Resources
Explore resources to better understand how pension funds are used to fuel the climate crisis and the solutions to manage risk.
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Investing in Our Future
Explore this guide to gain the tools to understand, navigate, and leverage the financial system for meaningful change.
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State Developments
Explore capacity developments pension funds have made to expand their ability to manage systemic risks and opportunities.