Recent actions at the federal level to undercut crucial environmental protections remind us once again that we can’t take our environmental quality and successes over the past decades for granted.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund continues to build on its efforts to integrate sustainability concepts into its investment strategy

Agriculture is important to New York State’s economy, and takes place in almost every region of the State.

Farms are an essential and diverse part of New York State’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, incomes and tax revenues across the Empire State.

New York offers a wide variety of sporting opportunities for the almost two million men and women who hunt, fish and trap in the State. More than 90 percent of New Yorkers who engage in these activities participate in fishing or in both hunting and fishing, while 9 percent participate in hunting exclusively.

New York is home to over 35,000 farms, covering approximately 7.3 million acres or nearly a quarter of the State’s total land area.

The integral role of farming in New York State’s history, economy and quality of life is effectively enshrined in Article XIV of the State Constitution.

This report articulates the evolution of the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s (Fund) approach to sustainable investment practices.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million State and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries.

As Trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, I have a responsibility to safeguard the Fund’s investments, which I manage for the benefit of the more than one million participants in the New York State and Local Retirement System.