Category: ESG

ESG update

Thank you for your questions and comments today when reviewing our ESG slides.  Implementing ESG is an evolving process, so your feedback is helpful.  Also, clients’ ESG goals vary so we are trying to create a lot of options for presentation materials.

I removed the slide that shows ESG strategies outperforming and the next slide that debunked ESG as a factor that outperformed.  I thought it was important to discuss performance expectations internally, but these are not client facing slides.

Not all of the slides in this desk have been cleared by compliance, so please check with Research before using.

ESG overview slides 111518

Thanks,

John

 

Cost of production of renewable electricity falls below that of coal

Good news for environmental fans!  The economics of renewable power generation are more attractive than those for burning coal even without considering externalities – the cost of pollution and CO2.  In 2017, Coal was used for 29% of energy production, so lots of room to build out renewables.

Expect utilities to struggle with assets of that burn coal as they become less competitive.

FT article on generation costs of renewables less than coal 110918

Thanks,

John

Problems with the Recycling Industry

Passing on one article and one podcast on interesting changes in the recycling industry.  Changes began when China stopped importing recycled goods and energy prices fell.  Recycling is no longer a profitable business and countries need to reassess waste disposal systems and environmental costs of trash.

Planet Money Podcast on Recycling

Why the world’s recycling system stopped working _ Financial Times

When it comes to our personal behavior as to wanting to be ‘green’, reducing waste may become more important than recycling.

Thanks,

John