Thematic Thoughts
Real world sustainability linked changes and what they might mean for companies and investors
Making green buildings actually happen
Sometimes good data is the key that unlocks change. In this case the data that is needed is how well aligned buildings are with industry agreed 1.5C aligned pathways.
Artisanal Mining – Opportunity for Mercury Elimination
It's hard to believe that the use of mercury in artisanal mining is still so prevalent 200 years after its extensive use in California. Until you start to think about the practicalities. The alternatives are often limited.
The cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use
The cheapest and greenest energy is the energy we don't use. And this is especially true in industry, where energy waste reduction can result in real financial gains. Plus benefits to the planet and wider society.
Creating sustainable cities
There is more to this than just selecting the right 'technology' and finding the finance. If we don't take the local community with us, then our investments run the risk of failing.
Decarbonised cement - are we getting closer?
And sorry - the short answer is not really. But we can make progress faster than we might think, just by spreading current best practice
How willing are we to pay a green premium?
A recent PwC survey suggests we are willing to pay a green premium, but is this being reflected in real world decision making? The jury is still out on this one. Be careful about surveys, the intentions actions gap (what you say you want is not what you end up
Can new technology 'save' our transmission grids?
One new (ish) type of interconnector is attracting more attention. Ultra High Voltage DC (UHVDC) enables electricity to be transported vast distances with low line losses. Could this be our best solution?
Should London become a sponge city, and who pays?
Do we need to rethink surface flood protection in our cities, and if so who pays? Over the last few years London, like many cities around the world, has been hit by a series of disruptive and expensive floods, mostly caused by intense heavy rain falling on impervious sources such as concrete.
Understanding responsible battery supply chains
Do we really understand how to measure responsible sourcing in EV and battery supply chains?
Is the need for greener agriculture even more urgent than we first thought?
Does investment in green agriculture need greater attention? It seems pretty obvious to most people that we should be focusing our investments and actions on the biggest climate related challenges.
Is the corporate DEI panic finally over?
That's the headline for an article in The FT that caught our eye this week. In June of last year when the US Supreme Court overturned affirmative action for college admissions meaning that race could no longer be considered as a factor in university admissions there has been
Ethics training prevents normal people veering off course
Joachim Klement who is an investment strategist at Liberum and author of the excellent Klement on Investing blog recently published a piece titled "Normalisation of deviance" highlighting some interesting research from University College London. It concluded that if people keep on telling lies, people become desensitised as their