When Larry Fink, Founder, CEO and Chairman of BlackRock Inc. announced that the largest asset management firm in the world will make investment decisions with environmental sustainability as its core goal then you can suppose that green concerns are finally becoming more mainstream.
In a letter to our clients today, BlackRock announced a number of initiatives to place sustainability at the center of our investment approach, including: making sustainability integral to portfolio construction and risk management; exiting investments that present a high sustainability-related risk, such as thermal coal producers; launching new investment products that screen fossil fuels; and strengthening our commitment to sustainability and transparency in our investment stewardship activities.
Over the next few years, one of the most important questions we will face is the scale and scope of government action on climate change, which will generally define the speed with which we move to a low-carbon economy. This challenge cannot be solved without a coordinated, international response from governments, aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Under any scenario, the energy transition will still take decades. Despite recent rapid advances, the technology does not yet exist to cost-effectively replace many of today’s essential uses of hydrocarbons. We need to be mindful of the economic, scientific, social and political realities of the energy transition. Governments and the private sector must work together to pursue a transition that is both fair and just – we cannot leave behind parts of society, or entire countries in developing markets, as we pursue the path to a low-carbon world.”
PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING can help you comprehend the essential articles discussing environmental and energy issues that will boost your career.
MATERIALS
These, as always, are tailored to students’ needs, by adapting articles, podcasts, videos taken from reliable and professional sources such as the World Bank, the World Energy Council, BRED, Siemens, Vesta, Iberdrola etc.
Take a look at some examples of exercises
