Ben Cushing
@bmcushing.bsky.social
👋 Director of the @SierraClub.org Sustainable Finance Campaign: sc.org/sustainable-finance
📍 DC resident, Oakland raised
💭 Thinking a lot about climate, finance, politics, & the NBA
📍 DC resident, Oakland raised
💭 Thinking a lot about climate, finance, politics, & the NBA
Pinned
Ben Cushing
@bmcushing.bsky.social
· Jun 10
📣👋 New paper from @sierraclub.org out today! It's been a long time in the making.
It challenges conventional sustainable investing and urges asset owners to confront climate change as a systemic threat to the global economy and long-term portfolios.
👉 Full paper: www.sierraclub.org/systemic-cli...
It challenges conventional sustainable investing and urges asset owners to confront climate change as a systemic threat to the global economy and long-term portfolios.
👉 Full paper: www.sierraclub.org/systemic-cli...
Reposted by Ben Cushing
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | Obama Supported It. The Left in Canada and Norway Does. Why Don’t Democrats?
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Reposted by Ben Cushing
In 2025, while much of the financial sector backtracked on climate action, one key part of the system stepped up: public pension funds managing trillions in workers’ savings. 🏦
Here’s how our Sustainable Finance Campaign helped drive progress this year: bit.ly/3MH1q3t
Here’s how our Sustainable Finance Campaign helped drive progress this year: bit.ly/3MH1q3t
December 17, 2025 at 1:39 AM
In 2025, while much of the financial sector backtracked on climate action, one key part of the system stepped up: public pension funds managing trillions in workers’ savings. 🏦
Here’s how our Sustainable Finance Campaign helped drive progress this year: bit.ly/3MH1q3t
Here’s how our Sustainable Finance Campaign helped drive progress this year: bit.ly/3MH1q3t
👀 BlackRock just lost another ~$6B mandate after backsliding on addressing climate risk to its clients’ portfolios.
NYC pension trustees meet this week and could approve the @nyccomptroller.bsky.social recommendation to shift $42B for the same reason. 🍿
NYC pension trustees meet this week and could approve the @nyccomptroller.bsky.social recommendation to shift $42B for the same reason. 🍿
PME, a Dutch pension fund overseeing about $70 billion, has severed ties with BlackRock based on an assessment that the world’s largest money manager no longer acts in its best interests on issues such as climate risk.
BlackRock Loses $5.9 Billion Mandate From Dutch Pension Fund PME
PME, a Dutch pension fund overseeing about $70 billion, has severed ties with BlackRock Inc. based on an assessment that the world’s largest money manager no longer acts in its best interests on issues such as climate risk.
bloom.bg
December 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
👀 BlackRock just lost another ~$6B mandate after backsliding on addressing climate risk to its clients’ portfolios.
NYC pension trustees meet this week and could approve the @nyccomptroller.bsky.social recommendation to shift $42B for the same reason. 🍿
NYC pension trustees meet this week and could approve the @nyccomptroller.bsky.social recommendation to shift $42B for the same reason. 🍿
Reposted by Ben Cushing
🔥 New @reclaimfinance.org report endorsed by @sierraclub.org reveals pension funds are failing to stop their asset managers from supporting fossil fuel expansion.
🤯 30 biggest US & European AMs hold $17B in new bonds to fossil fuel developers.
www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...
🤯 30 biggest US & European AMs hold $17B in new bonds to fossil fuel developers.
www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...
Sierra Club Endorses Report Revealing Pension Funds Failing to Stop Asset Managers Backing Fossil Fuel Expansion
30 biggest U.S., European asset managers held $17B in new bonds from fossil fuel developers
www.sierraclub.org
December 11, 2025 at 6:37 PM
🔥 New @reclaimfinance.org report endorsed by @sierraclub.org reveals pension funds are failing to stop their asset managers from supporting fossil fuel expansion.
🤯 30 biggest US & European AMs hold $17B in new bonds to fossil fuel developers.
www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...
🤯 30 biggest US & European AMs hold $17B in new bonds to fossil fuel developers.
www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...
In 2025, much of the financial sector backtracked on climate action — but one major pillar stepped up: public pensions that manage trillions in workers’ savings. 🫰
Here’s our @sierraclub.org campaign year-end review of key developments & what’s next 👇
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...
Here’s our @sierraclub.org campaign year-end review of key developments & what’s next 👇
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...
2025 in Review: Sustainable Finance Campaign Advances Investor Action on Climate Change
2025 has been a challenging year for climate action. In the U.S., the federal government rolled back climate protections and slashed support for clean energy, even as a wave of climate-fueled disaster...
www.sierraclub.org
December 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
In 2025, much of the financial sector backtracked on climate action — but one major pillar stepped up: public pensions that manage trillions in workers’ savings. 🫰
Here’s our @sierraclub.org campaign year-end review of key developments & what’s next 👇
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...
Here’s our @sierraclub.org campaign year-end review of key developments & what’s next 👇
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...
Reposted by Ben Cushing
The price fossil fuel forces on everyone else.
November 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The price fossil fuel forces on everyone else.
Reposted by Ben Cushing
Last week, Comptroller Lander recommended NYC’s pension funds drop BlackRock + 2 other public asset managers due to inadequate decarbonization plans.
After evaluating the pension systems’ 49 managers, only 3 failed to submit plans with the seriousness we expect.
comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/com...
After evaluating the pension systems’ 49 managers, only 3 failed to submit plans with the seriousness we expect.
comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/com...
December 1, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Last week, Comptroller Lander recommended NYC’s pension funds drop BlackRock + 2 other public asset managers due to inadequate decarbonization plans.
After evaluating the pension systems’ 49 managers, only 3 failed to submit plans with the seriousness we expect.
comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/com...
After evaluating the pension systems’ 49 managers, only 3 failed to submit plans with the seriousness we expect.
comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/com...
Reposted by Ben Cushing
In 2015, I wrote the first big article inside the war on coal for
@politico.com. Ten years later, I wrote about how the war is going for @canarymedia.com. The @sierraclub.org is still winning the war, but Trump and AI are complicating the endgame.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
@politico.com. Ten years later, I wrote about how the war is going for @canarymedia.com. The @sierraclub.org is still winning the war, but Trump and AI are complicating the endgame.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Can the war on coal still be won?
Ten years ago, the U.S. was on track to phase out coal by 2030, thanks to the Sierra Club. Now Trump and AI are delaying the fuel’s decline.
www.canarymedia.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
In 2015, I wrote the first big article inside the war on coal for
@politico.com. Ten years later, I wrote about how the war is going for @canarymedia.com. The @sierraclub.org is still winning the war, but Trump and AI are complicating the endgame.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
@politico.com. Ten years later, I wrote about how the war is going for @canarymedia.com. The @sierraclub.org is still winning the war, but Trump and AI are complicating the endgame.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Reposted by Ben Cushing
Landmark move: New York City's comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social, with hundreds of billions under his control, recommends dropping investment giant Blackrock because they won't reckon with climate change.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
NYC’s Lander Recommends Dropping $42 Billion BlackRock Mandate
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is urging three of the city’s pension funds to drop BlackRock Inc. because of “inadequate” climate plans, the latest move to penalize investment firms for failing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Landmark move: New York City's comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social, with hundreds of billions under his control, recommends dropping investment giant Blackrock because they won't reckon with climate change.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
👀 If the NYC pension boards adopt the @nyccomptroller.bsky.social recommendations and move BlackRock's $42B mandate to other asset managers, it could be one of the most consequential climate-related actions ever taken by a pension fund in the US or anywhere in the world.
Today I’m recommending that NYC’s pension fund boards drop BlackRock and 2 other (out of 49) public markets asset managers due to inadequate decarbonization plans.
Climate risk is financial risk – we need asset managers who will invest responsibly.🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Climate risk is financial risk – we need asset managers who will invest responsibly.🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
NYC’s Lander Recommends Dropping $42 Billion BlackRock Mandate
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is urging three of the city’s pension funds to drop BlackRock Inc. because of “inadequate” climate plans, the latest move to penalize investment firms for failing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
👀 If the NYC pension boards adopt the @nyccomptroller.bsky.social recommendations and move BlackRock's $42B mandate to other asset managers, it could be one of the most consequential climate-related actions ever taken by a pension fund in the US or anywhere in the world.
Reposted by Ben Cushing
Today I’m recommending that NYC’s pension fund boards drop BlackRock and 2 other (out of 49) public markets asset managers due to inadequate decarbonization plans.
Climate risk is financial risk – we need asset managers who will invest responsibly.🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Climate risk is financial risk – we need asset managers who will invest responsibly.🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
NYC’s Lander Recommends Dropping $42 Billion BlackRock Mandate
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is urging three of the city’s pension funds to drop BlackRock Inc. because of “inadequate” climate plans, the latest move to penalize investment firms for failing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Today I’m recommending that NYC’s pension fund boards drop BlackRock and 2 other (out of 49) public markets asset managers due to inadequate decarbonization plans.
Climate risk is financial risk – we need asset managers who will invest responsibly.🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Climate risk is financial risk – we need asset managers who will invest responsibly.🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Cushing
Excellent overview of our report recommending policy levers for state governments to advance climate action and exercise economic power. As the conclusion notes, state leadership helped lay the groundwork for the New Deal institutions that fought fascism
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
How to Fill the Climate Void Left by the White House
Regardless of your party affiliation, it was hard to feel too jazzed about California Governor Gavin Newsom representing the US at the COP30 climate talks in Belem, Brazil. Democrats will grouse that ...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Excellent overview of our report recommending policy levers for state governments to advance climate action and exercise economic power. As the conclusion notes, state leadership helped lay the groundwork for the New Deal institutions that fought fascism
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Ben Cushing
This week, the House is voting on measures that would open the Arctic and other irreplaceable places to destructive oil and gas leasing. We need to speak up.
November 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
This week, the House is voting on measures that would open the Arctic and other irreplaceable places to destructive oil and gas leasing. We need to speak up.
This is a really important compilation of actions that states should take to mitigate climate risks & protect their economies. I was proud to contribute to the section on how public pensions can lead.
Bravo to @jordanhaedtler.bsky.social, @kostyack.bsky.social & everyone that worked on this!
Bravo to @jordanhaedtler.bsky.social, @kostyack.bsky.social & everyone that worked on this!
State lawmakers can grow local economies, cut costs, and tackle climate.
Our new report breaks down concrete tools like green banks, better pension fund management, and stronger insurance regulation to lower bills and build resilient communities.
Read the full report today ⬇️
Our new report breaks down concrete tools like green banks, better pension fund management, and stronger insurance regulation to lower bills and build resilient communities.
Read the full report today ⬇️
State Economic Power Project Resources - Climate Cabinet Education
Check this page for policy resources related to insurance regulation, disaster recovery policy, and more.
climatecabineteducation.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:25 AM
This is a really important compilation of actions that states should take to mitigate climate risks & protect their economies. I was proud to contribute to the section on how public pensions can lead.
Bravo to @jordanhaedtler.bsky.social, @kostyack.bsky.social & everyone that worked on this!
Bravo to @jordanhaedtler.bsky.social, @kostyack.bsky.social & everyone that worked on this!
Reposted by Ben Cushing
So my ask: commit to helping Sierra Club or any other organization that is standing with us in this struggle. I just hosted a house party for Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program, one of the organization's crown jewels. Give money, take action, do something, but don't take the bait. 8/
Campaign Form
act.sierraclub.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
So my ask: commit to helping Sierra Club or any other organization that is standing with us in this struggle. I just hosted a house party for Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program, one of the organization's crown jewels. Give money, take action, do something, but don't take the bait. 8/
If you read that @nytimes.com hit piece about @sierraclub.org and thought it didn’t quite smell right, you were right...
Here’s our Executive Director, Loren Blackford, setting the record straight — starting with what it got wrong about the organization 👇
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...
Here’s our Executive Director, Loren Blackford, setting the record straight — starting with what it got wrong about the organization 👇
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...
November 12, 2025 at 4:48 PM
If you read that @nytimes.com hit piece about @sierraclub.org and thought it didn’t quite smell right, you were right...
Here’s our Executive Director, Loren Blackford, setting the record straight — starting with what it got wrong about the organization 👇
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...
Here’s our Executive Director, Loren Blackford, setting the record straight — starting with what it got wrong about the organization 👇
www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...
Reposted by Ben Cushing
"Saying that the Sierra Club’s problems are all *because of woke* is both entirely too trite and entirely incorrect."
Read the whole thing for great insights about organizing, generational changes, this terrible moment & implicitly, WTF is going on at the NYTimes.
Read the whole thing for great insights about organizing, generational changes, this terrible moment & implicitly, WTF is going on at the NYTimes.
There was an NYT piece last week about the Sierra Club, and (by extension) the current state of the climate movement.
I think they got three big things wrong.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene...
I think they got three big things wrong.
davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene...
Every generation gets to recreate the environmental movement to suit its own purposes
Some big-picture reactions to a recent NYT piece
davekarpf.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
"Saying that the Sierra Club’s problems are all *because of woke* is both entirely too trite and entirely incorrect."
Read the whole thing for great insights about organizing, generational changes, this terrible moment & implicitly, WTF is going on at the NYTimes.
Read the whole thing for great insights about organizing, generational changes, this terrible moment & implicitly, WTF is going on at the NYTimes.
Reposted by Ben Cushing
The Sierra Club is always evolving, but our mission stays constant: ensure everyone in this country has access to clean air, clean water, affordable clean energy, and public lands.
We’re focused on the work ahead. Onwards, together.
We’re focused on the work ahead. Onwards, together.
November 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
The Sierra Club is always evolving, but our mission stays constant: ensure everyone in this country has access to clean air, clean water, affordable clean energy, and public lands.
We’re focused on the work ahead. Onwards, together.
We’re focused on the work ahead. Onwards, together.
Reposted by Ben Cushing
This weekend, the New York Times ran a story claiming Sierra Club’s values have diluted our mission. They couldn’t be more wrong. The list of their errors is too long for one social post, but we go over some examples in these slides.
November 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This weekend, the New York Times ran a story claiming Sierra Club’s values have diluted our mission. They couldn’t be more wrong. The list of their errors is too long for one social post, but we go over some examples in these slides.
Reposted by Ben Cushing
How should state & local pensions respond to the GenAI / data center boom, arguably the largest private infrastructure project in world history? In @forbes.com, I argue they have a fiduciary duty to assess & mitigate systemic risks arising from data center contributions to rising GHG emissions.
State And Local Pensions Must Confront AI’s Systemic Risks
Data centers are generating systemic climate risks to portfolios of state and local pensions. Pensions must engage with the tech industry to reduce these risks.
www.forbes.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM
How should state & local pensions respond to the GenAI / data center boom, arguably the largest private infrastructure project in world history? In @forbes.com, I argue they have a fiduciary duty to assess & mitigate systemic risks arising from data center contributions to rising GHG emissions.
Reposted by Ben Cushing
🚨 We just launched an interactive tracker analyzing the proxy voting guidelines of major U.S. public pensions.
🔍Take a look & learn how these influential investors decide where to cast their votes on shareholder proposals at major corporations.
🔍Take a look & learn how these influential investors decide where to cast their votes on shareholder proposals at major corporations.
New Interactive Tracker Analyzes Proxy Voting Guidelines of Major U.S. Public Pensions
Information will be updated regularly as pensions change their guidelines
www.sierraclub.org
October 21, 2025 at 5:47 PM
🚨 We just launched an interactive tracker analyzing the proxy voting guidelines of major U.S. public pensions.
🔍Take a look & learn how these influential investors decide where to cast their votes on shareholder proposals at major corporations.
🔍Take a look & learn how these influential investors decide where to cast their votes on shareholder proposals at major corporations.
Reposted by Ben Cushing
Elites collapsed and capitulated. Regular people never did. #NoKings
Remember back in January when all these sage politics-knowers were writing about how there had been a vibe shift and now the resistance was over?
lol. lmao.
lol. lmao.
October 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Elites collapsed and capitulated. Regular people never did. #NoKings
Reposted by Ben Cushing
After a week of ridiculous Republican smears and Trump claiming that “very few people are going to be there,” you just made history. #NoKings
October 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
After a week of ridiculous Republican smears and Trump claiming that “very few people are going to be there,” you just made history. #NoKings
Reposted by Ben Cushing
WOW! Protesters created a HUGE human sign on San Francisco’s Ocean Beach reading “No Kings YES on 50” to support California’s Prop 50 and stand up against Donald Trump’s fascist regime
October 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
WOW! Protesters created a HUGE human sign on San Francisco’s Ocean Beach reading “No Kings YES on 50” to support California’s Prop 50 and stand up against Donald Trump’s fascist regime
US banking regulators just withdrew guidance from 2 years ago on how big banks should manage climate risks.
The science hasn’t changed & the risks have only grown. The only difference is who’s in the White House.
So much for the Fed’s vaunted “independence” from politics.
The science hasn’t changed & the risks have only grown. The only difference is who’s in the White House.
So much for the Fed’s vaunted “independence” from politics.
@federalreserve.gov, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announce withdrawal of principles for climate-related financial risk management: www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/p...
Agencies announce withdrawal of principles for climate-related financial risk management
The federal bank regulatory agencies today announced the withdrawal of interagency Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial
www.federalreserve.gov
October 17, 2025 at 10:31 PM
US banking regulators just withdrew guidance from 2 years ago on how big banks should manage climate risks.
The science hasn’t changed & the risks have only grown. The only difference is who’s in the White House.
So much for the Fed’s vaunted “independence” from politics.
The science hasn’t changed & the risks have only grown. The only difference is who’s in the White House.
So much for the Fed’s vaunted “independence” from politics.