Published by maria gbaf
Posted on February 17, 2022
2 min readLast updated: February 8, 2026
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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – PFZW, the Dutch health care workers’ pension fund, on Wednesday said it would disinvest from any fossil fuel company by 2024 that doesn’t have a “convincing and verifiable” strategy to reach the goals laid out in the Paris Climate Change agreement.
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – PFZW, the Dutch health care workers’ pension fund, on Wednesday said it would disinvest from any fossil fuel company by 2024 that doesn’t have a “convincing and verifiable” strategy to reach the goals laid out in the Paris Climate Change agreement.
The decision by PFZW, with 278 billion euros ($316 billion) in assets, follows similar moves by other asset managers to overhaul the way they invest as part of a global efforts to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Some have chosen to exit high carbon-emitting sectors altogether in the fight against climate change.
The Dutch fund said that between now and 2024 it would work with other large investors and engage in discussions with companies in which it invests. It also said it would lay specific emphasis on stopping extraction in the Arctic and investments in new production.
“If necessary, a vote will be taken against the appointment of directors who are making insufficient contribution to the transition of their company,” the fund said in a statement.
PFZW could not immediately be reached for an estimate of what percentage of its portfolio could be affected by the decision.
The fund’s 2020 annual report showed investments such as a 250 million euros holding in Chevron Corp and smaller stakes in Total, Shell and BP among others.
($1 = 0.8794 euros)
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by David Holmes)
A pension fund is a type of investment fund that collects and invests money to provide retirement income for employees. It is typically managed by a financial institution and aims to grow the assets over time to meet future obligations.
Fossil fuel divestment is the process of selling off investments in fossil fuel companies to reduce financial support for industries contributing to climate change. It is part of a broader movement towards sustainable and responsible investing.
The Paris Climate Change Agreement is an international treaty aimed at limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. It encourages countries to set and achieve their own climate goals.
High carbon-emitting sectors are industries that produce significant greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels. Examples include oil and gas extraction, coal mining, and certain manufacturing processes.
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