1,000 signatures reached
To: NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and NYS Legislature
Divest New York State & Local Retirement Funds from Fossil Fuels
Citizens of NYS call upon our Comptroller and NYS Legislature to:
1. Immediately freeze any new investments in fossil fuels.
2. Divest from direct ownership and any commingled funds that include fossil fuel public equities and corporate bonds within 5 years.
3. Make a concerted effort to fully invest in clean technology and green energy production, retrofitting and infrastructure, which helps the environment, people and the economy.
Why is this important?
As of July 2014, over 12,500 people from New York State have signed petitions calling upon Comptroller DiNapoli to divest the NYS Common Retirement Fund from all fossil fuel holdings.
Over the past 5 years, diverse NYS citizens and stakeholders have expressed strong, informed opposition to hydro-fracking. Hydro-fracking is a form of extreme energy production which causes significant, irreversible harm. Simultaneously, citizens and stakeholders have called for rapid, full investment in and transition to truly green, renewable energy sources. We are extremely concerned about climate disruption (which is already negatively impacting NYS) and the future of all species on this fragile planet.
The NYS Comptroller is responsible for administering the New York State and Local Retirement System (the Common Retirement Fund) for public employees. This System has more than one million members, retirees and beneficiaries and more than 3,000 employers; The NYS Comptroller acts as the sole trustee of the $164 billion Common Retirement Fund. NYS is one of the largest institutional investors in the world.
"The State Comptroller is responsible for ensuring that the taxpayers’ money is being used effectively and efficiently to promote the common good."
We formally request that no tax dollars held within the Comptroller's Office promote climate disruption, environmental degradation and suffering.
We request that our tax dollars directly "promote the common good."
We applaud the Comptroller for the Green Strategic Investment Program which invested $500 million over 3 years in clean technology and green energy.
We ask for complete, rapid divestment from all fossil fuels.
Divesting now, will immediately bring positive change.