credit: Erin Zipman

Letter writing made easy

 

Daily the news is filled with reports of climate disasters and reporters are finally telling us that it's caused by global warming. But the reports don’t tell us what the cause of our current climate crisis is and what needs to be done. Letters to the editor are a great way to get the word out about the importance of taking climate action.

 

Letter writing tips:

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• Each letter must be unique – Do not submit the same letter to two different papers.

• Letters that refer to a recent article or letter that was printed in the paper have a greater chance of getting published. 

• Keep the letter short – under 200 words is best.

• Personal or local references will make it more likely to be published. For example, I’m a teacher and I’m angry that my pension invests in climate destroying fossil fuels. 

• Read the submission guidelines for the paper and follow them carefully. 

• Choose a couple of the talking points below and add your personal touch.

• Send your letter to your local paper. Look for instructions on their website.

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Talking Points: 

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Climate:

• We are in the midst of a climate crisis. – wildfires, super storms, record temperatures.

• We must stop releasing greenhouse gases into the air.

• The burning of fossil fuels is the main cause of the climate crisis. 

• Divesting from fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) will reduce funding for the industry to invest in new projects.

• Investing in renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal and energy efficiency) will help the transition to our new energy future.

 

NYSTRS:

• The NY State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) has billions invested in fossil fuels. Before the pandemic estimated at $4.5 billion.

• Is the 10th largest public pension fund in the US.

• Provides pensions for 264,000 active members and 169,000 retirees and beneficiaries. All NY teachers except in NYC and other school personnel are members of the pension fund.

 

Why teachers care:

• Teachers depend on their pensions for their future.

• Teachers prepare students for the future – Lets make sure there is a future.

• Students have taken to the streets to demand climate action. We should support them and stop funding climate destruction.

• Institutions around the world have agreed to fully or partially divest including Cornell, Columbia and Syracuse university,  World Council of Churches, the Republic of Ireland, the California Teachers Retirement System and NYC’s pensions including NYC teachers. 

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Save our Pension:

• Fossil fuels have been the worst performing financial sector over the past decade. It is irresponsible to invest in fossil fuels.

• A recent study found that the New York State Common Retirement Fund (CRF) lost $22 billion over the past ten years by not divesting from fossil fuels. The CRF is about twice the size of the teachers fund. 

• The world is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning away from fossil fuels. It makes no sense to invest in a dying industry.

• New York’s new climate law requires NY to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in just ten years requiring a quick transition away from fossil fuels.

• NYSTRS pension funds’ fossil fuel investments are estimated to have lost half of their value since the pandemic. That’s a loss of over 2 billion dollars in just a few months.

• Black Rock – the largest investor in fossil fuels is telling its clients that fossil fuels are a risky investment and they should divest. 

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Sample Resolution: 

 

Whereas, scientists agree that the burning of fossil fuels is the main cause of climate change and climate change presents an existential threat unlike any humankind has faced before, as well as enormous financial risks.

 

Whereas, a failure to acknowledge these risks will expose pension funds to severe losses and pension fund trustees to liability.

 

Whereas, at a U.N. summit on climate, nations around the world agreed to reduce their use of fossil fuels and are shifting to renewable energy.

 

Whereas a recent U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that in the coming decades climate changes will increase in all regions-there will be longer and more intense droughts, more and hotter heat waves, continued sea level rise, more episodes of heavy downpours that result in flooding, and harm to ocean ecosystems upon which humans rely.

 

Whereas, The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel’s scientific analysis also showed that, if humans make immediate, rapid and widespread cuts in emissions, the climate can still be stabilized. 

 

Whereas, the financial future of our pension funds is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the planet. 

 

Whereas, pensions are meant to provide a secure future for employees and investments in fossil fuel companies are antithetical to that purpose.

 

Whereas, the fossil fuel industry poses an existential threat to everyone’s future and continued investment in this industry is immoral and is an unacceptable financial policy risk. 

 

Whereas, more than 1,200 institutions and government entities, including New York City and the New York State Common Retirement Fund, with assets totaling more than $14.1 trillion have completed or are implementing commitments to divest from fossil fuels. 

 

Whereas, in September 2020, more than 1,100 academics, including prominent climate scientists, called on New York lawmakers to divest the state's retirement fund from fossil fuels.

 

Whereas, even prior to the April 2020 collapse in the oil market, the traditional energy sector has been the worst performer in the S&P 500 over the past decade and investment in fossil fuel companies has cost New Yorkers billions of dollars.

 

Whereas, the Corporate Knights’ report on the New York State pension fund shows a loss of $19,000 per pension member due to investment in fossil fuels over the past 10 years.

 

Whereas, the future of our fiduciary security is not in fossil fuels and NYSUT has an obligation to protect future as well as current retirees.

 

Whereas, communities of color, low-income communities and other vulnerable populations suffer disproportionately from extreme weather events, such as superstorms, extreme heat, drought and flooding, due to climate chaos and NYSUT has always been a leader and champion of human rights issues.

 

Whereas, members of NYSUT educate their students to do the right thing and it is time to lead by example.

 

Whereas, members of NYSUT are concerned about the future lives of their students and those lives are in jeopardy due to climate chaos.

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RESOLVED, This NYSUT Local ----------- strongly recommends that NYSTRS divest from fossil fuel stocks in a fiscally responsible manner as outlined in the Teachers' Fossil Fuel Divestment Act.

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