Fossil Fuel Divestment

Youth v. Oil is working to build union support for CalPERS and CalSTRS divestment from fossil fuels. We are meeting with local union leaders and our teachers to get their endorsements. Join Youth v. Oil to get involved!

What is divestment?

Divestment refers to when a person, organization, or company sells off their investments to avoid supporting something that they consider harmful. We are advocating that the two largest pensions in the nation, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), divest from fossil fuels. These pension funds hold billions of dollars in investments in the fossil fuel industry, fueling Big Oil’s continued destruction. Divesting from Big Oil is crucial in reaching California’s carbon-neutral climate goals, by minimizing the artificial inflation of the fossil fuel industry and putting our resources towards a transition to renewable energy.

Why do we care?

Greenhouse gases emitted by the fossil fuel industry have raised global temperatures – resulting in an unprecedented frequency and severity of natural disasters. Floods caused an estimated $30 billion in damages in CA in the winter of 2022-23, while the January 2025 Los Angeles fires alone caused an estimated $250 billion in damages. As young people especially, we will continue to pay more and more for inaction unless swift and decisive changes are made.

The process of drilling, refining, and burning fossil fuels releases harmful pollutants increasing asthma, heart attacks, and premature death in surrounding communities, often disproportionately low-income and communities of color. Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy is necessary for California to protect public health and protect our communities from climate disasters. Divestment is a huge step in making this planet-warming industry less profitable than green and sustainable alternatives. CalPERS has $28.6 million in corporate bonds as loans to Chevron. Divestment reduces access to bond capital, curtailing the ability of fossil fuel companies to build new air-polluting and climate-warming operations.