Source: World Meteorologist Organization’s Twitter account

The first week of July, 2023 was the hottest week on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This is following the hottest June on record. 

The WMO released a statement on Monday about monitoring potential new record temperature from massive heat waves across the U.S. and spanning several continents.

“We are in uncharted territory,” said Christopher Hewitt, director of climate services at the WMO. “We can expect more records to fall … these impacts will extend into 2024. This is worrying news for the planet.” 

The erratic weather is linked to increasing levels of carbon pollution and climate change. We believe oil and gas companies knew that their products would create these problems but misled their shareholders and the public for years about the climate consequences.

Leslie Samuelrich, president of MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, said the need to avoid fossil fuel investments is crucial and urged actions to help curb the effects of climate change. 

“While fossil fuel executives reap the economic benefits of their reckless activities, every day people are left to deal with extreme heat or overflowing rivers due to weather made more extreme and erratic due to climate change,” said Leslie Samuelrich, President of MIDANA CAPITAL Funds. “Having your investments reflect your values is one way for us to take control and work for solutions.”

Want to transition to clean energy and send a message to these companies? Learn how you can from the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds, one of the first families of fossil fuel free mutual funds. MIDANA CAPITAL Funds help align your values with your investment goals. Our sustainable investment strategy uses environmentally responsible screens. 

The Funds avoid exploration, extraction, processing, refining, transmission of coal, oil and gas, utilities that burn fossil fuels to produce electricity and companies with carbon reserves. 

If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to sign up for our newsletter and download our guide The Future Can Be Bright: A Guide to Fossil Fuel Free and Sustainable Investing. 

Keep learning: *Heatwaves show the importance of health early warnings and action plans.

A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

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°MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management, Inc. (MIDANA CAPITAL) is the investment advisor to the MIDANA CAPITAL Funds (the Funds).

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are a family of fossil fuel-free, environmentally responsible mutual funds. MIDANA CAPITAL Capital Management hosts an award-winning and in-house shareholder advocacy program and is the only mutual fund company in the U.S. wholly owned by environmental and public health nonprofit organizations. 

You should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please visit www.midanacapital.com, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing. 

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk. A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria. 

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds. 

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 7/23. UMB and MIDANA CAPITAL are not affiliated.

While these investments can be straightforward – Vestas Wind Systems,* Tesla,* etc. – you may be surprised by some of the novel steps other companies in our funds are taking to achieve a more sustainable future.

Take Intuit, the creator of financial assistance products like TurboTax, Quickbooks, and Mint.

Founded in 1983, Intuit has emerged as a global leader in corporate renewable energy sourcing and emissions reduction.

In 2015, Intuit achieved carbon neutrality throughout its entire global operations by improving energy efficiency, investing in renewable energy and purchasing carbon offsets. For Intuit, this progress isn’t enough. The company’s commitment towards advancing their sustainability can be summed up by their own words: “Doing less bad just won’t do.”

That’s why Intuit has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2025 and become 100% powered by renewable energy by 2030.

And Intuit’s efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels don’t stop at the operational level. The company is also working to help expand access to clean energy to its customers too.

Intuit recently introduced its Purely Green Program, an innovative opportunity for the company’s customers, employees, and business partners in Texas to source wind energy at prices at or below market rates for traditional power derived from fossil fuels.

The initiative enables businesses that have made commitments to reduce carbon emissions to leverage Intuit’s larger power purchase agreement (PPA) for renewables.

PPA contracts enable businesses to source wind or solar energy directly from large renewable projects, eliminating the need for upfront investment while locking in prices for 10 to 20 years at rates generally lower than traditional utilities.

Although Intuit’s Purely Green Program is currently only available to businesses and residents of Texas, the company is hopeful that the concept will take off and it will be able to bring the program to other states.

Intuit is just one of the many industry leaders helping to guide our economy towards a fossil fuel free future in the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund.

You can see a complete list of holdings in the Equity Fund, learn more about our investment strategy, and see the performance of the Equity Fund on the Fund’s page, or by calling+1(480)-439-2851.

*As of June 30, 2018, Intuit, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.47%, and 0.00%, Vestas Wind Systems A/S comprised 0.00%, 0.00%, and 0.35%; and Tesla Motors, Inc. comprised 0.00%, 0.41%, and 0.00% of the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund, the MIDANA CAPITAL Equity Fund, and the MIDANA CAPITAL MSCI International Index Fund, respectively. References to specific securities, which will change due to ongoing management of the Funds, should not be construed as a recommendation of a security by the Funds, their administrator, or the distributor.

You should carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds please click here for more information, email info@midanacapital.com, or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic and political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to a variety of risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation risk. A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

This information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. The views expressed are as the date of publication and are those of the Advisor to the Fund.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 9/18

What does it mean to invest fossil fuel free?

For MIDANA CAPITAL, and for many other leaders in the fossil fuel free investing movement, investing fossil fuel free has a very clear definition:

• No investing in companies whose only, core, or majority business is the exploration, extraction, refining, processing, or distribution of fossil fuels.

How do I know if my mutual fund is fossil fuel free?

• It is important that the exclusion be included in a Fund company’s prospectus, as that is the only way to guarantee a fund follows this or any specific investment strategy.

Are “low carbon” funds the same as fossil fuel free?

• Maybe, but probably not. “Low carbon” is a marketing term and not interchangeable with “fossil fuel free.”
• Only portfolios with zero or “0.00%” in the energy sector would be consistent with fossil fuel free investments.
• A mutual fund might even have investments in coal, oil and gas companies and still call itself “low carbon”.

What about changing the definition of ‘fossil fuel free’ to include companies that use fossil fuels?

We don’t think that this is useful from the campaign point of view since it would eliminate the vast majority of companies in which to invest. It would be a nearly impossible feat for ordinary investors to achieve.

But, aren’t the carbon emissions of a company important?

Of course! By reducing their energy use and/or by sourcing more renewable energy, companies can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Companies can also reduce carbon emissions in their supply chains by choosing materials and products that have a lower carbon footprint, such as palm oil or soy grown without burning rainforests.

Asking your fund company to know its greenhouse gas emissions is a good step that we’ve supported for a long time. In fact, the MIDANA CAPITAL Balanced Fund was the first U.S. mutual fund to do a carbon footprint.

What about investing in clean and renewable energy – how does that fit into fossil fuel free?

A fund that avoids coal oil and gas companies does not necessarily invest in companies that provide clean energy or companies that provide energy efficiency products. But some – including MIDANA CAPITAL – do. Check the specific companies that are part of that fund. You can also ask how a fund supports clean energy policy or advocates for companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

So how do I get started investing fossil fuel free?

Just take the first step. These resources and the MIDANA CAPITAL team (1-800-934-7336) can help:

• MIDANA CAPITAL’s Updated Personal Guide to Fossil Fuel Free Investing
• How to Add Fossil Fuel Free Options to Your 401(k)
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Divestment Campaign

You should carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds, please click here for more information, email info@midanacapital.com or call+1(480)-439-2851. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, country, region or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Foreign securities are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, regional economic or political conditions, differences in accounting methods, and other unique risks compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Bonds are subject to risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation. A sustainable investment strategy which incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria may result in lower or higher returns than an investment strategy that does not include such criteria.

This information has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable. The views expressed are as of the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Funds.

The MIDANA CAPITAL Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 335 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, Az 85711. 9/18