The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is accelerating toward its $100 billion Climate Action Plan goal, with its climate solutions investments reaching $59.7 billion as of June 30, 2025. The figure reflects substantial growth from the $47 billion recorded at the plan’s launch in late 2023, underscoring how the U.S.’s largest public pension fund is positioning itself for long-term value creation in a low-carbon economy. The Climate Action Plan, unveiled in November 2023, commits CalPERS to directing $100 billion into climate-related opportunities spanning clean energy, resilience, and decarbonization technologies. The initiative reflects a central belief that the global economy’s shift toward net-zero will reshape asset performance and that climate-aligned capital allocation can strengthen both financial returns and portfolio resilience.

Linking Financial Performance with Climate Resilience

CalPERS’ strategy operates on the premise that sustainability and fiduciary responsibility are converging. By targeting sectors that underpin the energy transition, the fund seeks to capture the growth potential of decarbonization while reducing long-term climate exposure. As of mid-2025, the $59.7 billion figure includes both valuation gains from existing holdings and new capital commitments to a broad range of climate-linked sectors. These span renewable energy, energy optimization software, drought-resilient agriculture, wildfire prevention technologies, electric vehicle (EV) charging networks, reusable packaging systems, and battery storage infrastructure.

“Global energy demand is continuing to grow as technology, transportation, and industrial development evolve,” CalPERS leadership noted. “By investing in clean power and adaptation solutions, we aim to meet market demand while delivering long-term returns for our beneficiaries.”

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Expanding Climate-Focused Private Market Partnerships

A key component of the Climate Action Plan is CalPERS’ participation in private market funds driving large-scale transition projects. The pension fund’s current portfolio includes commitments to vehicles such as TPG Rise Climate, West Street Climate Credit, Generation IM Sustainable Private Equity Fund II, B Capital Climate Fund I, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners V, and Brookfield Global Transition Fund II-B. These funds collectively back innovation and infrastructure critical to meeting global decarbonization goals from utility-scale renewable energy and grid modernization to emerging technologies that enhance resource efficiency. In addition to private equity and infrastructure, CalPERS continues to scale its public equity and real estate investments, which together represent the largest share of its climate-related holdings. The fund’s property assets emphasize energy-efficient design and adaptive infrastructure, while its public market holdings include companies advancing the transition to low-carbon systems.

Aligning Pensions with the Global Energy Transition

The Climate Action Plan builds on CalPERS’ broader commitment to integrate climate risk into every aspect of investment decision-making. Rather than treating sustainability as a separate mandate, the fund’s approach links decarbonization to long-term value preservation for its 2 million members and retirees. The initiative aligns with global investor trends recognizing that climate-aligned portfolios can outperform over the long run as the energy system shifts. CalPERS’ growing exposure to clean power, efficiency, and adaptation solutions also helps mitigate systemic risks tied to fossil fuel volatility and stranded assets.

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From Strategy to Global Signal

CalPERS’ progress toward the $100 billion milestone sends a clear signal to global markets: institutional capital can play a decisive role in scaling climate solutions while safeguarding retirement assets. The fund’s ability to grow its climate portfolio by more than $12 billion in under two years demonstrates the accelerating availability — and attractiveness of investment opportunities that link emissions reduction with economic resilience. As climate finance emerges as a defining pillar of long-term investment, CalPERS’ expanding portfolio exemplifies how pension funds can act as catalysts for systemic transition turning sustainability from a compliance goal into a competitive advantage. With more than half its target already achieved, CalPERS is not just investing in climate resilience, it is shaping the financial architecture of the low-carbon future.

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