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‘Limited momentum’ at Investment COP

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Investing in green innovations such as renewables, carbon capture and batteries were all on the table for discussion during Investment COP 2022 – a side event to COP27 – according to delegates who attended, but many were disappointed with the level of detail in discussions.

Here, they share with ESG Clarity some of the key takeaways, and some of the disappointments, from the event that took place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt between 13–14 November.

Net-zero transition

Eva Cairns, head of sustainability insights and climate strategy, and Jeremy Lawson, chief economist, at abrdn, said investment COP is a great opportunity to connect and collaborate across investors and corporates. But this year, they noted, there were, disappointingly, fewer investors present than in 2021.

“We participated in a panel on transitioning portfolios to support net-zero goals and what is expected of investors and corporates to achieve those. We highlighted the pace and scale of decarbonisation required for net zero by 2050 is immense, and there is a misalignment between policy pledges that would currently increase emissions by 10% by 2030 and what is expected of corporates and investors,” they said.

Green opportunities

Rich Nuzum, Mercer’s global chief investment strategist, was also in Sharm el-Sheikh and said innovation was a key part of the discussions at Investment COP.

“On the innovation side, renewable energy sources – including hydroelectric, solar and wind – already appear to be cost competitive with fossil fuels in a growing proportion of geographies in terms of power generation.

“However, further innovation to drive cost curves down could help improve the net present values of the massive infrastructure investments still needed to migrate generation,” he said.

On the mitigation and carbon recapture side, Nuzum said, building materials that use trapped carbon, direct air capture, and other technologies appear to be becoming cheaper and more cost competitive.

“It seems a market is growing for these mitigants, as private sector companies seek verifiable offsets. National government policies also seem to be trending in ways that create markets for increased private investment in all these types of innovation,” he commented.

‘Fossil fuel COP’

Carbon Tracker founder and executive chairman, Mark Campanale, also noted that at the broader COP event the competitiveness of clean energy is starting to shake things up.

“While this COP will be remembered as the ‘fossil fuel COP’ – as there were more than 600 lobbyists from the industry out actively defending their interests – it will also be remembered as the COP where the tide has turned against it, driven by the speed of the clean energy revolution and good old-fashioned economics of the cheap technology challengers winning over the fossilised incumbents,” he said.

According to Campanale, unlike at previous COPs global leaders now know that renewable technologies can compete with conventional energy on cost, as well as environmental grounds.

The battle to include the phasing out of fossil fuels in an overall COP27 agreement was “thwarted by economies almost totally dependent on fossil fuels for revenues – namely Saudi Arabia and Russia,” said Campanale.

However, despite their “win”, Campanele commented the battle is accelerating a coalition build out of democratic countries “determined to see fossil fuels driven out of the energy system.”

Nuzum pointed out that amid the agreement between some factions of the need to phase out fossil fuels, “debate about how to share the burden of reducing carbon emissions between developed and developing economies seems to be complicating global coordination across governments.”

“This could create an even greater need for private sector investment and further innovation to reduce cost and speed up adoption, motivated by profit-seeking behaviour under existing regulation and policies,” he said.

Not moving the dial

Meanwhile, despite some good conversations, momentum at Investment COP was limited, according to Cairns and Lawson.

“The content of the sessions and panels themselves was at times a bit too generic and high level and indeed, the more detailed breakout workshops were more useful for those keen to learn more on a specific topic,” they said.

“We attended one on lithium mining, which was very interesting as it highlighted the scale of lithium needed for batteries in electric vehicles but also the space, water and transportation required to mine it.

“Overall however, the content of the sessions at Investment COP fell short of our expectations. Indeed, there was a disappointing lack of any announcements or sessions that meaningfully moved the dial in terms of the drivers of the energy transition and carbon finance,” they said.

Cairns and Lawson said it was encouraging the food provided throughout the two days of Investment COP was vegetarian: “It’s important to acknowledge the positive impact that eating more plant-based food can have on the planet and emissions.”

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Investment

S&P/TSX composite up more than 100 points, U.S. stock markets mixed

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in base metal and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 103.40 points at 24,542.48.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 192.31 points at 42,932.73. The S&P 500 index was up 7.14 points at 5,822.40, while the Nasdaq composite was down 9.03 points at 18,306.56.

The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.44 cents US on Tuesday.

The November crude oil contract was down 71 cents at US$69.87 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.42 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$7.20 at US$2,686.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.35 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Economy

S&P/TSX up more than 200 points, U.S. markets also higher

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were also headed higher.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 205.86 points at 24,508.12.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 336.62 points at 42,790.74. The S&P 500 index was up 34.19 points at 5,814.24, while the Nasdaq composite was up 60.27 points at 18.342.32.

The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.71 cents US on Thursday.

The November crude oil contract was down 15 cents at US$75.70 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was down US$29.60 at US$2,668.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.47 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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S&P/TSX composite little changed in late-morning trading, U.S. stock markets down

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was little changed in late-morning trading as the financial sector fell, but energy and base metal stocks moved higher.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.05 of a point at 24,224.95.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 94.31 points at 42,417.69. The S&P 500 index was down 10.91 points at 5,781.13, while the Nasdaq composite was down 29.59 points at 18,262.03.

The Canadian dollar traded for 72.71 cents US compared with 73.05 cents US on Wednesday.

The November crude oil contract was up US$1.69 at US$74.93 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up a penny at US$2.67 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$14.70 at US$2,640.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up two cents at US$4.42 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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