California Public Employees Retirement System Sustainability Profile
The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), headquartered in the United States, is a leading public pension fund that serves over 1.9 million members. Established in 1932, CalPERS has become a cornerstone of the public sector retirement landscape, primarily operating in California but also influencing national pension policies. As a key player in the financial services industry, CalPERS manages a diverse portfolio of investments, focusing on sustainable and responsible investment strategies. Its unique approach to pension fund management, emphasising long-term growth and risk mitigation, sets it apart from other retirement systems. With a market position as one of the largest pension funds in the world, CalPERS has achieved notable milestones, including significant advancements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. This commitment to responsible stewardship continues to enhance its reputation and impact within the public sector.
DitchCarbon Score
How does California Public Employees Retirement System's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Insurance Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
California Public Employees Retirement System's score of 36 is higher than 54% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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California Public Employees Retirement System's reported carbon emissions
In 2025, the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) reported total carbon emissions of approximately 68.3 billion kg CO2e. This figure includes about 8.96 billion kg CO2e from Scope 1 and 2 emissions combined, while Scope 3 emissions accounted for approximately 59.4 billion kg CO2e, specifically from downstream transportation and distribution. CalPERS has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming for net zero direct greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. This includes a focus on Scope 1 emissions, which are directly related to their operations, and Scope 2 emissions, which pertain to purchased electricity. The organisation is also committed to designing high-speed rail stations as high-performance buildings to maximise efficiency and reduce operational costs, with a target completion date of 2030. In 2023, CalPERS reported total emissions of approximately 1.06 billion kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions at about 44.2 million kg CO2e, Scope 2 emissions at approximately 205.2 million kg CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions at around 808.3 million kg CO2e. This reflects a significant increase in emissions compared to previous years, indicating the challenges faced in reducing their carbon footprint. Overall, CalPERS is actively working towards its climate goals, with a clear focus on reducing emissions across all scopes, particularly through infrastructure improvements and operational efficiencies.
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| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 00,000,000 | - |
| Scope 2 | 307,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000,000 | - |
| Scope 3 | 1,400,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 |
How Carbon Intensive is California Public Employees Retirement System's Industry?
How Carbon Intensive is California Public Employees Retirement System's Location?
California Public Employees Retirement System's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown
California Public Employees Retirement System's Scope 3 emissions, which increased significantly last year and increased significantly since 2015, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Most of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 76% of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Downstream Transportation & Distribution" representing nearly all of their reported Scope 3 footprint.
Top Scope 3 Categories
California Public Employees Retirement System's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
California Public Employees Retirement System has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
