New York State Common Retirement Fund Invests in Sustainable Future

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is taking steps to invest in a sustainable future. It has committed to divesting from fossil fuels by 2040.

This commitment is part of a broader effort to reduce the fund's carbon footprint. The fund's assets are valued at over $226 billion.

The fund's investment strategy is focused on long-term returns, not just short-term gains. This approach is expected to benefit both the fund and the environment.

By investing in sustainable companies, the fund is supporting businesses that prioritize environmental responsibility.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund's investment strategy is worth exploring. The fund spent $663.7 million on investment expenses and fees for the financial year ending March 31, 2018.

About 77% of the fund's assets are invested in public equity and fixed-income investments, with a significant portion of those funds going towards hedge funds and private equity managers. This approach has raised some eyebrows, with critics arguing that the fund could achieve better returns by investing in passively managed ETFs.

Investments in hedge funds provide critically needed diversity, according to the fund's administrator, which is a key consideration in the fund's overall investment strategy.

Investing in New York can be a great way to support local businesses and generate solid returns. The New York State pension fund puts pension dollars to work in every corner of the state through innovative programs that directly invest in New York-based companies and real estate.

The fund invests in a variety of assets, with about 77% of its assets invested in public equity and fixed-income investments. It also has $17.5 billion invested in private equities.

Investing in hedge funds can provide critically needed diversity to a portfolio, according to the fund's administrator. This can be beneficial for investors who want to spread their risk and potentially earn higher returns.

However, critics of the pension fund argue that it would be more cost-effective to invest in passively managed ETFs. They claim that this would allow the fund to achieve a better return on its investments.

The New York State Comptroller's office has made a name for itself in socially responsible investing by publicly warning companies for their private behavior. In 2018, a letter was sent to McDonald's expressing concern for the welfare of the chicken used in their food products.

The office has also reviewed and considered divesting from certain Russian assets due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. This demonstrates their commitment to responsible investing and considering the broader social implications of their investments.

In 2019, a letter was sent to McDonald's Corp. expressing concerns about the company's chicken welfare practices. The letter noted that McDonald's has not adopted the animal-liberationist-backed standards of competitors such as Subway and Burger King.

The New York State Comptroller's office has also teamed up with the Church of England to sponsor a large-scale shareholder resolution to force ExxonMobil to disclose the risks climate change poses to the fossil fuels business. The resolution won majority support in 2017.

This kind of investing not only benefits the companies being invested in, but also the state's economy as a whole. The fund's innovative programs directly invest in New York-based companies and real estate, generating solid returns.