Overview

Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health is a Canadian non-profit initiative established in the late 2010s to address the financial and environmental risks that climate change poses to retirement savings. It focuses on the intersection of pension fund governance, long-term investment risk, and climate transition. The organisation’s underlying philosophy is that pension funds have both a fiduciary responsibility and a systemic interest in supporting an orderly transition to a low-carbon economy. It positions climate action as integral to protecting long-term pension wealth and broader economic stability.

Mission and focus areas

Shift’s mission is to empower pension beneficiaries to engage with their pension funds on climate-related financial risk and responsible investment practices. It works to improve transparency, accountability, and climate alignment across public pension systems. Key focus areas include climate risk disclosure, fossil fuel exposure, net zero commitments, and stewardship practices by pension fund managers. Shift’s work aligns with sustainable finance principles by emphasising ESG integration, long-term value creation, and the financial materiality of climate change for institutional investors.

Structure and governance

Shift operates as an independent charitable initiative with a small core team supported by a steering committee. Its leadership includes an executive director and senior staff with experience in climate policy, finance, and public interest advocacy. The organisation collaborates closely with partner organisations, researchers, unions, and civil society groups. This networked operating model allows Shift to combine technical analysis with beneficiary-led engagement while maintaining organisational independence.

Programs and offerings

Shift produces applied research and public-facing analysis focused on pension fund climate performance. Its flagship output is the Canadian Pension Climate Report Card, which assesses major pension funds against climate-related criteria relevant to long-term investors. In addition to research, Shift delivers education and engagement programs for pension beneficiaries, including workshops, briefings, and guidance materials. These resources are designed to help individuals understand pension governance, climate risk, and effective engagement pathways. Shift also undertakes targeted advocacy, engaging directly with pension funds and policymakers to encourage stronger climate strategies, improved disclosure, and alignment with long-term sustainability and financial resilience objectives.

Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health is a charitable initiative that works to protect pensions and the climate by bringing together beneficiaries and their pension funds on the climate crisis. We help Canadians understand where their retirement wealth is invested by tracking pension fund investments and strategy. We educate and empower Canadians on how to engage constructively with their pension funds to address the climate crisis. Now is the time for Canada’s pension funds to shift their investment approach and invest in a prosperous zero-carbon future.