ABOUT $2 in every $100 of the retirement nest eggs of 247,000 Victorian public servants is invested in former US vice-president Al Gore's sustainable investment fund.
VicSuper, with one of the most aggressive pro-environment investment strategies of any big super fund, has $135 million of its $5.7 billion invested in Mr Gore's Generation Investment Management.
But VicSuper's general manager, Bob Welsh, said the fund did not pay for Mr Gore's Australian visit.
He said Mr Gore, who charges up to $200,000 as a speaker in the US, often visited Victoria because of VicSuper's large stake in Mr Gore's London-based company.
VicSuper is a private superannuation company independent of the Victorian Government, but is a "default fund" for many State Government departments and agencies.
This means that many public servants' super contributions automatically go to VicSuper unless they choose another fund.
Under Mr Welsh's leadership, VicSuper has adopted an investment strategy that is almost unique among big super funds and emphasises "sustainable investments".
In fact "sustainability" is its main operating principle. About $1.4 billion, or a quarter of its managed funds, is invested in new forestry, future farming projects and venture capital firms developing green energy technology. Read more.