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Environmental stewardship

The Board of Pensions seeks, and implements, positive energy strategies. It is an active participant in efforts by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to combat climate change and move the world toward meeting the standards of the Paris climate accord. 

A portion of the Board's Balanced Investment Portfolio is allocated to companies dedicated to sustainable practices. And individual Presbyterians have the opportunity for sustainable investing through the Retirement Savings Plan of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (RSP).

Sustainable investing

In 2017, the Board began investing a portion of its Balanced Investment Portfolio in a fossil fuel-free strategy that seeks companies positioned for long-term profitability based on the transition to sustainable practices. In 2024, the Board invested in an additional strategy that employs a sustainability theme in the construction and management of the portfolio. The Board has approximately $225 million invested across the two strategies, the largest sustainability investment in PC(USA) history.

Also in 2017, the Board added the Impax Global Environmental Markets Fund Institutional Class (PGINX) to the RSP. So, individual Presbyterians can use their RSP accounts to combat climate change. [Impax Global Environmental Markets joined the PC(USA) Socially Responsible U.S. Equity Fund and PC(USA) Socially Responsible Balanced Fund as an environmentally responsible investment option in the RSP.]

Collaboration

The Board of Pensions convened a working group of representatives of the General Assembly agencies in 2014 to assess and address the PC(USA) response to God's imperative to care for the Earth. The result was the Collaborative Agenda for Environmental Stewardship, unanimously adopted by the 222nd General Assembly (2016).

At the same time, the Board proposed an expansion of the Church's Office of Faith-Based Investing and Shareholder Engagement. The staff went from one to two professionals, with the second devoted to corporate engagement, including on climate change issues. The Board contributes up to $180,000 annually to the expanded effort and the Presbyterian Foundation, $30,000.

Great strides have come with the expansion. The committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI), an arm of the office, now tracks progress by individual companies on shrinking their carbon footprint.

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