CalPERS CEO wins International Climate Leadership award as part of Climate Finance Week Ireland

Wednesday October 19th: The CEO of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), Marcie Frost, was last night named winner of the 2022 International Climate Leadership Award at the official Climate Finance Week Ireland gala dinner which was held in the National Gallery of Ireland.

The International Climate Leadership Award, proudly supported by the Maples Group, recognises leaders from across global financial community who are both taking and inspiring action when it comes to developing the response to climate change.

This year’s winner, Marcie Frost, joined CalPERS as chief executive officer in October 2016. She is the ninth CEO and second woman to head America’s largest pension fund.

Under her leadership, the organisation has focused on leveraging the fund’s global strength to drive sustainable markets. CalPERS is a founding member of Climate Action 100+, an initiative with 360 signatories and $34 trillion in assets under management, working cooperatively to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action to address climate change.

Marcie also serves on the United Nations Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance.

Speaking about last night’s award, Marcie Frost said: “It’s an honor for CalPERS to be recognized during an event featuring so many of those who are focused on the greatest challenge we’ve collectively ever faced.”

“We are gathered at a time of great uncertainty. Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to marshal resources and our collective resolve.”

Stephen Nolan, Chair of Climate Finance Week Ireland, said, “I’m delighted to announce Marcie Frost as winner of the annual Climate Leadership Award as part of Climate Finance Week Ireland.

Marcie’s commitment to fomenting a culture of sustainable financial practice within CalPERS has helped push the organisation to the international fore when it comes demonstrable action to address climate change.”

Peter Stapleton, Managing Partner at Maples and Calder (Ireland) LLP, the Maples Group’s law firm, said: “We are extremely pleased to have taken a lead role in this year’s Climate Finance Week and to have hosted the inaugural Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony”

“Under Marcie’s leadership, CalPERS is actively using its voice, investments and position in the financial industry to minimise climate risk by advocating for regulatory measures that are enforceable, engaging with the public companies in which it invests to reduce emissions, and integrating climate rick across its billion-dollar portfolio to generate returns for the long-term.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact Sustainable Finance Ireland Communications Manager, Anthony McFeely.

Email: [email protected]

Climate Finance Week Ireland

An output of the Ireland for Finance annual Action Plan, Climate Finance Week Ireland is now in its fifth year. Climate Finance Week Ireland has undergone exponential growth in the 5 years since its inception, going from 600 attendees in 2018 to over 5.5 thousand at last year’s event, and seeing event social media impressions increase from over 280 thousand to 10.4 million across the same time period.

Climate Finance Week Ireland is organised by Sustainable Finance Ireland, co-hosted with the Department of Finance and sponsored by AIB.

Sustainable Finance Ireland

Sustainable Finance Ireland works to position Ireland as a leader in sustainable finance. All activities are aligned with government’s Ireland for Finance strategy and help to deliver on annual action plans. Sustainable Finance Ireland is responsible for delivering the national Sustainable Finance Roadmap launched at Climate Finance Week Ireland 2021.

Irish Sustainable Finance Roadmap

The national Sustainable Finance Roadmap has been developed by Sustainable Finance Ireland and UN-convened FC4S, in collaboration with public and private stakeholders across Ireland including the Department of Finance, Skillnet Ireland and internationally in order to support the development of sustainable finance talent in Ireland.

Launched during Climate Finance Week 2021 by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue, the roadmap is a priority Action Measure under the Ireland for Finance Action Plan 2021, demonstrating sustainable finance’s increasing prominence as a priority for Ireland and an essential tool in addressing the climate crisis.

CalPERS

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is an agency in the California executive branch that manages pension and health benefits for more than 1.5 million California public employees, retirees, and their families.

CalPERS manages the largest public pension fund in the United States, with more than $469 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2021.

Maples Group

The Maples Group, through its leading international law firm, Maples and Calder, advises global financial, institutional, business and private clients on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Jersey and Luxembourg.

With offices in key jurisdictions around the world, the Maples Group has specific strengths in areas of corporate commercial, finance, investment funds, litigation and trusts. Maintaining relationships with leading legal counsel, the Group leverages this local expertise to deliver an integrated service offering for global business initiatives.

For more information, please visit: maples.com/services/legal-services.