2023 will be a year of unprecedented policy support.
Clean Energy and Net Zero Economy – The wind in the sails
Sustainability
Reducing inflation through renewable energy
As Al Gore said at the opening of COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in November, we cannot choose our misfortunes, but we can choose the benefits that come from them, especially when it comes to renewable energy. Indeed, we are in the early stages of a sustainability revolution that will have the scale of the industrial revolution and the speed of the digital revolution.
Energy transition: from necessary to strategic
At present, the energy mix in the European Union is 42% fossil fuels, 35% renewable energies and 22% nuclear energy. And as the current crisis has unfortunately highlighted, most of the gas consumed in Europe comes from Russia (see graph below).
Europe: the race to electrification, a major challenge
The drama unfolding in Ukraine signals the end of energy “recklessness” for Europe. The transition to a decarbonised economy has become a top political priority, guaranteeing our future independence.
Healthy debate at Building Bridges
In October we sponsored the 3rd edition of Building Bridges in Geneva, a conference focused on advancing sustainable finance in Switzerland and connecting the different worlds of finance and international organisations as well as government.
QUAERO CAPITAL launches Net Zero Emissions fund
QUAERO CAPITAL has launched Quaero Capital Funds (Lux) – Net Zero Emission, a new UCITS fund invested in companies whose services, products or technologies contribute to the transition to a carbon-free economy. The strategy selects current and future leaders in the field of energy and ecological transition, as well as the circular economy, from around the world and across different sectors. In addition to energy, the fund managers Olivier Ken and Martina Turner also focus on food, textiles, heavy industry, transport, urban planning and the entire supply chain.
ESG: SFDR Regulation Level 2 is coming
We have seen two major steps in the European regulation intended to promote sustainable investment and prevent greenwashing. None has been without controversy and concerns but it continues to move the industry in Europe ahead at a faster pace than elsewhere.
The Inflation Reduction Act – a USD 369bn bill for the climate
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed in law by President Biden on 16 August 2022 after House Democrats approved the biggest-ever federal investment against climate change with a 220 to 207 vote.
IRA Bill: Initial comments
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed in law by President Biden on 16 August 2022 after House Democrats approved the biggest-ever federal investment against climate change with a 220 to 207 vote. The package targets USD 369bn of spending on energy and climate change. To illustrate the monumental size, some are pointing out the spending will be four times more than Obama’s Recovery Act of 2009 for climate initiatives. The impact will be far-reaching – even pushing some technologies, in our view, past tipping points. The legislation aims to cut emissions by at least 40% by 2030.
The ESG difference in small cap investments
There is a danger that the sustainable investment world focuses too much attention on large companies. There is a rationale to do so, as they may be responsible for larger footprints and greater impacts, but this misses the significant portion of global GDP in the hands of small to medium companies, and the capacity for these companies to respond to environmental and social issues.