The Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing released the Climate Change Mitigation Opportunities Index, a report and interactive tool investors can use to examine the risks and opportunities of climate change mitigation investments. The index seeks to evaluate technology investment opportunities, both on their impact on mitigating climate change and their potential for market-rate returns.
With input from a panel of experts, the Institute, with The Economist Intelligence Unit, identified five sectors (energy, transportation, industry, agriculture and the built environment), which are responsible for 90 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. The index is then applied across 20 countries selected to illustrate climate change mitigation opportunities across a range of geographies and economies. The index considers country-level conditions such as sector maturity, infrastructure, political environment and other enabling factors in order to inform investors about specific opportunities and risks.
The threats posed by climate change require that we adapt to a new reality of severe weather, rising resource costs and increased risk. But underpinning a successful adaptation strategy is the need for mitigation — reducing emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Across all sectors, innovation is driving efficiency and productivity.
Key findings from the Climate Change Mitigation Opportunities Index report:
- The international climate policy outlook is uncertain, especially with the United States’ announcement that it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement, but corporations and other public leaders are tightening their focus on climate change mitigation, adding market impetus for investment.
- The clean energy outlook remains strong in emerging markets with their growing energy demand, rising emissions and pollution concerns, and falling clean tech prices.
- Rapid urbanization, environmental concerns and demand for cost efficiency are creating substantial opportunities in the green buildings sector.
- Agriculture technologies for climate mitigation are coming to the forefront after years of neglect.
- In advanced economies — that are both able to afford mitigation technologies and have sophisticated investment markets — growth opportunities lie in the substitution of clean for dirty infrastructure. These countries dominate the top of the overall index rankings.
- Mitigation across sectors is interconnected and investments in one sector can reduce emissions in others.
To explore the Climate Change Mitigation Opportunities Index 2017 in detail, click here.