Jeff Gitterman: Pragmatism over Polarization in Long-Term Investing
Sustainable investing veteran, Jeff Gitterman, joins hosts Chris and George to discuss bridging divides in ESG investing and climate change debates.
Presidio Student Insights: A Winning Pitch from the Next Generation of Sustainable Investors
Chris Ito and Georges Dyer talk with a trio of graduate students from Presidio Graduate School, who emerged victorious in the IEN’s 2023 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge.
March Madness – A Climate Investing Playbook for University Endowments
Some sports fans would say that March is the best time of the year. College conference basketball tournaments, and then the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments. So how, you ask, is March Madness related to climate change? Well, let’s see if we can find some analogies that might resonate with endowment investment teams and trustees
SEC Climate Disclosure Rules: No One Happy. No One Devastated.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finally issued its much-anticipated climate disclosure rules. As expected, it has received criticism both from climate activists disappointed by the removal of certain provisions contained in earlier drafts, and from members of the business community who cite regulatory over-reach and a veiled attempt to phase out fossil fuels.
Watch – Navigating the Shift from Fossil Fuels
COP28 signaled global acknowledgement that the world’s economies must shift from fossil fuels. Watch FFI Solutions’ timely, thought-provoking webinar on reshaping financial strategies amidst the energy transition.
Navigating the Shift from Fossil Fuels
COP28 signaled global acknowledgement that the world’s economies must shift from fossil fuels. Join FFI Solutions for a timely, thought-provoking webinar on reshaping financial strategies amidst the energy transition.
Decoding 2023: Key Themes from Our Top 10 Net Zero News Reads
In a year marked by crucial climate discussions and industry shifts, we offer our readers a snapshot of the key topics that captured your attention in 2023.
New Rules and COP28 Put Methane in the Crosshairs
The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) meeting in Dubai marked a critical juncture in global climate discourse. Amidst the urgency to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, methane emissions from the oil and gas industry were in the crosshairs. Methane (CH4), the primary component of natural gas and 80 times more potent than carbon
COP28: Words, Actions, and the Lingering Imperative
As the curtain falls on COP28, the spotlight remains fixed on what was a critical battleground — the final wording around the future of fossil fuels. The meticulously chosen term, “transition away,” echoes through the halls of negotiation, leaving both a sense of progress and a lingering question mark. In our recap of the week
COP28 Insights – Good COP, Bad COP
COP28 Insights – Our weekend recap of major topics at the 2023 UN Climate Conference
Ian Fuller: Unlocking Diversity for Alpha and Impact Investing
Georges and Chris discuss driving change through impact investing with Ian Fuller, CEO of the minority and women-owned investment advisory firm West Fuller Advisors.
Watch – Tracking Methane in Your Portfolio
Watch a joint FFI Solutions – Geofinancial Analytics webinar on measuring and tracking methane intensity of the largest oil and gas producers and the implications for investors and risk managers.
Unpacking Oil and Gas M&A: A Dissonance Between Words and Actions
In moves reflecting a continued bet on fossil fuels, ExxonMobil and Chevron have announced definitive agreements to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources and Hess, respectively. These oil and gas M&A transactions reflect both the continued consolidation of shale assets and a demonstration of the disconnect between the two largest US oil majors’ proclaimed climate commitments and
Tracking Methane in Your Portfolio
Join FFI Solutions and Geofinancial Analytics for an informative webinar on measuring and tracking the methane intensity of the largest oil and gas producers and the implications for investors and risk managers.
Our takeaways from Climate Week NYC 2023
Climate Week NYC 2023 was bigger, and we think better, than ever. With nearly 500 events to choose from (including our own), it was simply not possible to hear and participate in all of the discussions across areas like finance, energy, and policy. But the FFI Solutions team spread out across Manhattan to attend a
Back to School: A Call to Action on Climate Change for University Endowments
The summer of 2023 has been a stark example of the escalating impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events across the globe, from typhoons and hurricanes to wildfires and heatwaves, have resulted in human casualties and disrupted ecosystems. The end of summer on the calendar will likely not mean an end to extreme weather, but
Untapped Potential: Is Geothermal a Transition Pathway for Independent Oil & Gas Companies?
Following BP and Shell’s recent U-turn on their previously announced production cuts, the credibility of oil and gas companies’ transition strategies is in focus. However, much of the discourse in the press, and among shareholder activists, centers on the plans of integrated oil and gas companies, particularly the majors. The independent exploration and production (E&P)
Dr. Michael Greenstone: Decoding the social cost of carbon and the carbon offset market
Chris Ito and Georges Dyer go “beyond carbon” to discuss topics relating to climate change, net zero, ESG, DEI, justice and the benefits and challenges of sustainable investing. Beyond Carbon Podcast – Episode 9 In this episode, Chris and Georges do a deep dive into the economic implications of carbon emissions with one of the
Taking Inventory: The State of Sustainable Investing
Beyond Carbon Podcast – Episode 1 In their inaugural Beyond Carbon episode, Georges Dyer and Chris Ito reflect on COP27 and discuss what makes them hopeful, and skeptical, about the future of sustainable investing. They also provide a preview of future episodes.
Energy in Transition: A Framework for Evaluating Strategies and Actions of Oil & Gas Companies
August 2023 The global shift towards a low-carbon economy is reshaping the energy sector, presenting both challenges and opportunities for oil and gas companies. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for setting policy and making informed decisions. Our latest white paper, Energy in Transition: A Framework for Evaluating Strategies and Actions of Oil & Gas Companies,
March Madness – A Climate Investing Playbook for University Endowments
Some sports fans would say that March is the best time of the year. College conference basketball tournaments, and then the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments. So how, you ask, is March Madness related to climate change? Well, let’s see if we can find some analogies that might resonate with endowment investment teams and trustees
SEC Climate Disclosure Rules: No One Happy. No One Devastated.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finally issued its much-anticipated climate disclosure rules. As expected, it has received criticism both from climate activists disappointed by the removal of certain provisions contained in earlier drafts, and from members of the business community who cite regulatory over-reach and a veiled attempt to phase out fossil fuels.
Decoding 2023: Key Themes from Our Top 10 Net Zero News Reads
In a year marked by crucial climate discussions and industry shifts, we offer our readers a snapshot of the key topics that captured your attention in 2023.
New Rules and COP28 Put Methane in the Crosshairs
The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) meeting in Dubai marked a critical juncture in global climate discourse. Amidst the urgency to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, methane emissions from the oil and gas industry were in the crosshairs. Methane (CH4), the primary component of natural gas and 80 times more potent than carbon
COP28: Words, Actions, and the Lingering Imperative
As the curtain falls on COP28, the spotlight remains fixed on what was a critical battleground — the final wording around the future of fossil fuels. The meticulously chosen term, “transition away,” echoes through the halls of negotiation, leaving both a sense of progress and a lingering question mark. In our recap of the week
COP28 Insights – Good COP, Bad COP
COP28 Insights – Our weekend recap of major topics at the 2023 UN Climate Conference
Unpacking Oil and Gas M&A: A Dissonance Between Words and Actions
In moves reflecting a continued bet on fossil fuels, ExxonMobil and Chevron have announced definitive agreements to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources and Hess, respectively. These oil and gas M&A transactions reflect both the continued consolidation of shale assets and a demonstration of the disconnect between the two largest US oil majors’ proclaimed climate commitments and
Our takeaways from Climate Week NYC 2023
Climate Week NYC 2023 was bigger, and we think better, than ever. With nearly 500 events to choose from (including our own), it was simply not possible to hear and participate in all of the discussions across areas like finance, energy, and policy. But the FFI Solutions team spread out across Manhattan to attend a
Back to School: A Call to Action on Climate Change for University Endowments
The summer of 2023 has been a stark example of the escalating impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events across the globe, from typhoons and hurricanes to wildfires and heatwaves, have resulted in human casualties and disrupted ecosystems. The end of summer on the calendar will likely not mean an end to extreme weather, but
Untapped Potential: Is Geothermal a Transition Pathway for Independent Oil & Gas Companies?
Following BP and Shell’s recent U-turn on their previously announced production cuts, the credibility of oil and gas companies’ transition strategies is in focus. However, much of the discourse in the press, and among shareholder activists, centers on the plans of integrated oil and gas companies, particularly the majors. The independent exploration and production (E&P)
Earth Day 2023: Crunch Time for the Race to Net Zero
Every year on April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day, however, all of April is actually Earth Month. Sport fans, particularly those in the U.S, also celebrate in April: the NHL and NBA playoffs (Go Cavs); a new baseball season (Go Guardians); and the NFL (What can I say about the Cleveland Browns?) and WNBA
ESG Investing, Climate and the ‘Widening Gyre’
First off, let me say that I’m only an occasional reader of Epsilon Theory (ET), a website launched almost 10 years ago by investment manager Ben Hunt. ET provides newsletters with commentaries on finance, markets, politics, and popular culture. In their writings, Hunt and his colleagues refer frequently to the concept of the “Widening Gyre”.
Managing Expectations: Our Take on COP27
Nearly seven years on from the historic Paris Climate Accords, COP27 made clear that these annual meetings convened by intergovernmental organizations appear unlikely to play a significant role in limiting global temperature rise to below 1.5°C. To be fair, the conference in Egypt built consensus on some key issues – the landmark deal on
Breaking Down the Inflation Reduction Act with Chris Ito
The transition away from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy is a consistent focus among sustainable and responsible investors. The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act promises to meaningfully affect that energy transition, so the CEO of FFI Advisors, Chris Ito, joins the Ethos ESG podcast to discuss the provisions of the legislation, their implications for
The Inflation Reduction Act and the Green Premium
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has passed the Senate. The bill provides $369 billion to support clean energy and fight global warming in the form of investment, tax credits and loans across a spectrum of areas, but its significance and impact can go well beyond the dollars. While the bill contains certain provisions for the
Earth Day 2022: Investing in a Net Zero Future
With Earth Day upon us, the theme this year is Invest in our Planet™. Event organizers have made it clear that all facets of our society must take action to tackle the challenges of climate change—this includes the business world, government authorities, and most certainly, the investment community. This mission could not be closer to
Net Zero and the Conundrum for Public Pension Plans
In February of 2022, Senate Bill 1173 was introduced in the California legislature that would require its public pension plans to divest from companies in The Carbon Underground 200TM (CU200) on or before July 1, 2027. In March, the Board of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) voted to oppose the bill while acknowledging
It’s 2022: There is No Planet B
2021 was a climate debacle. Tied for being the 6th hottest on record, there were 20 weather/climate disaster events in the United States alone, the most events ever, with losses exceeding $1 billion. The global statistics are equally startling with radical climate events upending human lives in China, Europe, and Africa. To avoid the worst
The Race to Net Zero: Aligning the “How” and “Why”
The race to Net Zero by 2050 is on, and participating institutional investors are asking “how do we get there?” Many investors have the inclination to go directly to implementation and select one (or a combination) of the four main approaches that have emerged: investment, divestment, shareholder engagement, and carbon offsets. Choosing the right approach
Exxon Announcement Likely to Increase Scrutiny on Net Zero Ambitions
The mere mention of the name elicits opposite emotions. There are those who believe that fossil fuels are a necessity for future economic prosperity, and those who believe that they need to stay in the ground. Last week, the company announced a net zero ambition[1] that was quickly panned by those who are working to
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