Excluding fossil fuel stocks from our Reform Jewish Values Stock Fund

Since 1992, global temperatures increased on average almost 1.1°F (0.6°C), shattering annual high-temperature record eight times, resulting in extreme weather disasters. Worldwide there have been nearly 8,000 climate, water and weather disasters, killing 563,735, according to the EMDAT disaster database.

President Donald Trump claimed sea levels will only rise “one eighth of an inch (0.13in) over the next 400 years”. This is a vast underestimation. In the 2014-2023 decade, global average sea levels rose nearly 4.8mm per year (0.19in), said the World Meteorological Organization. That increase is already greater than the one Trump predicts will happen over the next four centuries.

The Union of Reform Jews believes that the effects of climate change aren’t just something that we read about—it’s something many are experiencing firsthand, and all of us can see. As part of our Jewish values, we don’t just sit back and watch. Instead, we have a sacred responsibility to care for the world as part of our belief in tikkun olam—repairing the world.

So, we’re doing more than just reflecting on our role in environmental stewardship—we’re taking action.

Following the recent URJ climate crisis resolution, our board has voted to exclude companies that generate more than 5% of their revenue from oil and gas production or coal extraction from our Reform Jewish Values (RJV) Stock Fund. Investments in fossil fuels don’t align with our climate values—or with the future we want to build.

Why? Because the science is clear: Fossil fuel combustion and related industrial activity account for 78% of global gas emissions and 73% of U.S.-based emissions.

Aligning Investments with Jewish ValuesFor our plan participants who want to closely align their retirement investments with their Jewish values, RPB created the RJV Stock Fund. It is our flagship fund for putting your investment dollars to work in building a better world.

The RJV Stock Fund’s holdings are guided by the resolutions of the Reform Movement. We use a range of investment screens and other strategies to incorporate the Reform Movement’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities into the portfolio. With this fossil fuel exclusion, that commitment is even stronger.

We’re not only taking time to reflect on the environment and our place in it, but the choices we make to protect them—for ourselves, for our communities, and for the generations to come.

The exclusion of fossil fuels in the RVJ Stock Fund strengthens how the climate crisis can be addressed through investment strategies. It is an essential way we can act to fulfill our obligation to protect our planet and ensure life for future generations.