Marketplace All-in-One So you wanna green your investment portfolio
Jun 20, 2025
Explore the potential of divestment from fossil fuels to combat climate change, drawing parallels to past movements like ending apartheid. Discover how over 1,600 organizations are affecting a collective fund worth over $40 trillion in this effort. Learn about the shift towards DIY problem-solving in businesses post-pandemic, and the alarming cuts to financial literacy initiatives by the CFPB. Finally, unpack the complexities of climate-conscious investing, including how it can inadvertently support polluters while cities like New York pursue cleaner energy solutions.
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Scale of Fossil Fuel Divestment
- More than 1,600 institutions worth over $40 trillion have committed to divest some or all assets from fossil fuels.
- Commitments range from total divestment to avoiding the dirtiest energy sources like thermal coal and tar sands.
Divestment Impact Complexity
- Divestment can raise fossil fuel companies' cost of capital, potentially causing them to pollute more per capital unit.
- Engaging companies as shareholders may better push investment towards cleaner energy solutions.
NYC’s Dual Approach to Climate
- New York City pension fund aims for net zero emissions by 2040 through divestment and clean energy investments.
- It uses shareholder power to pressure major emitters like utilities to decarbonize, engaging actively rather than only divesting.