Climate Finance Action Blog

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Engagement Opportunities for Pension Fund Beneficiaries

Explore six examples of engagement that beneficiary groups can request from their fund. This is not an exhaustive list but rather intended to prompt groups to consider what form and function would be most effective and accessible for their fund.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Building an Effective Climate Risk Transition Plan for Pension Funds

Addressing physical and climate transition risks is essential to protecting long-term retirement, and that's why more resilient pension funds use science-based climate measurement tools and a 'transition readiness' approach to manage their risk. They equip the fund to better understand its portfolio's vulnerabilities and inform strategic investment decisions.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Total Portfolio Approach vs. Strategic Asset Allocation

What do sailing and pension investing have in common? A lot more than you’d think. This blog breaks down two major public fund strategies—Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) and the Total Portfolio Approach (TPA)—and explains why TPA offers the flexibility needed to respond to climate risk in real time.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

The Oregonian: Protecting workers and building resilience

CFA Organizer and Policy Specialist Danielle Fox, along with SEIU 503 leaders Mike Powers and Steve Demarest, commend Oregon state leaders for moving public retirement fund investments away from fossil fuels in a letter to the editor of The Oregonian.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Why Climate Resilience Matters Just as Much as Numbers

When climate finance is reduced to pledges and performance metrics, we lose sight of its deeper purpose: protecting people and advancing justice. This blog challenges conventional approaches by arguing that climate finance must center the lived experiences of frontline communities, those who bear the brunt of climate impacts despite contributing the least to the crisis.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Three Boring Words and Why They Matter to Your Retirement

Indexes, benchmarks, and tracking error may sound dull, but they play a powerful role in shaping your pension’s performance and its climate impact. This blog breaks down what each term means, how they influence investment decisions, and why outdated metrics can quietly derail climate goals. Understanding these tools helps pension stakeholders ask smarter questions, demand transparency, and advocate for climate-responsible investing.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Welcome Back, Beverly Ortiz — CFA's Newest Advisor

Climate Finance Action is excited to welcome back Beverly Ortiz as an Advisor. A longtime organizer and former CFA Organizing Director, Beverly brings over 20 years of experience in labor and climate organizing.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Power Tools for Pension Transparency and Accountability on Climate 

Discover how pension funds can manage climate risk with actionable tools for transparency, accountability, and engagement that protect retiree security. This post breaks down practical levers that help turn climate commitments into measurable impact. Learn how these tools not only safeguard long-term pension health, but also support a more equitable and sustainable economy.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

The Mirror and Window: Pension Funds Need the Full Picture on Climate Risk

Traditional finance focuses on how the world impacts a company, but that’s only half the picture. This blog introduces the concept of double materiality, which also considers how companies impact the world around them. For public pension funds managing trillions in worker retirement savings, embracing this broader perspective is essential for safeguarding long-term value and confronting the climate crisis head-on.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

CFA Joins Maryland Leaders to Spotlight Climate and Economic Resilience

This Earth Day (2025), CFA Executive Director Mary Cerulli joined Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, State Senator Katie Fry Hester, and Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo for a press conference where Comptroller Lierman announced the release of the latest report in her State Spending series titled Climate Change Costs.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Navigating Climate Risk: How Private and Public Equity Impact Pension Funds

Private and public equity are vastly different regarding access, strategy, and regulation. But how do private and public equity relate to the role of public pension funds, and why is it important to think about both in the context of climate change? Let's explore this by using an analogy that clarifies the distinction: the exclusive club versus the community pool.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Six Ways Public Pension Funds Can Secure Long-Term Value for Workers 

Public pension funds play a critical role in protecting the financial stability of millions of workers and their families, safeguarding their investments against emerging risks, and preserving long-term value. One of the most pressing and undeniable risks is climate change. Explore six changes that CFA recommends public pension funds pursue to  secure long-term value for workers and beneficiaries while protecting them from the effects of climate change.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Climate Narrative Strategy: Three Ways to Get Clear on Your Approach

Narrative strategies help shape how issues are understood and acted upon and can empower unions to take bold action. For union leaders and members, crafting a compelling narrative is key to mobilizing support for climate-resilient policies, including worker safety and holding corporations and governments accountable.

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Natalia Daies Natalia Daies

Asset Managers vs. Asset Owners and Their Impact on Climate Action

Asset owners and managers are key players in the public pension system. Although these roles are often confused, understanding their differences is essential for effectively integrating climate action into investment strategies. Let's use an analogy to break down the definitions and explore why this is important for the public pension system and responsible investing.

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Part 2: What Pension Funds Can Do to Protect Themselves and Advance Responsible Investing

With increasing federal and state-level challenges to responsible investing, pension funds must proactively defend their fiduciary duty and investment strategies. As regulatory oversight weakens and political attacks escalate, funds that fail to solidify their policies and engagement strategies risk losing control over their ability to manage long-term financial risks, particularly those tied to climate change. Keep reading to discover actionable strategies to ensure funds remain resilient and advance responsible investment practices despite shifting policies.

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