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Stephen Heintz Praises the Agreement Reached at the Paris Climate Conference
350.org Executive Director May Boeve and RBF President Stephen Heintz at COP21
On December 2, 2015, May Boeve of 350.org and Stephen Heintz of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, announced that more than 500 institutions representing over $3.4 trillion in assets have made some form of divestment commitment. The announcement was made during the first week of the U.N. climate conference in Paris, France.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund is proud to support the Paris climate agreement as a monumental step forward for the world. This agreement would never have been possible without a strong, vital climate movement, an impassioned groundswell of work from the local and state levels building from the ground up, and a historic shift among investors and businesses.
Last year, we announced our plans to divest the Fund’s endowment from fossil fuels, aligning our investment practices with our grantmaking. We are thrilled that more investors are now convinced of the benefits of addressing climate change, and that the agreement provides a managed transition away from fossil fuels, with countries around the world officially on board.
It has been inspirational to see the profound shifts in attitude and behavior surrounding climate change that have taken place over the past few years, and to be a part of the collective moment of Paris. But this is just the beginning of a new and challenging phase; from here, the movement must grow stronger. We stand ready to support the groups that will create the will to reach and exceed the Paris goals and create the future that will sustain our children and grandchildren.
—Stephen Heintz, president