Green Lights Sept 29: Top stories this week
Don't miss a single story: The best from Callaway Climate Insights
. . . . Welcome to Green Lights, our weekly roundup of the best of Callaway Climate Insights. This week, we’re waiting for the shutdown. It’s happened 20 times in the past four decades. It could halt vital government spending tied to the IRA and delay disaster spending of as much as $2.8 billion at FEMA right in the middle of hurricane season. But the market turmoil could be worse. Take a deep breath and have a safe and enjoyable weekend. Here are the highlights in a simple and convenient format that makes it easy for our readers. It’s also easy to subscribe.
. . . . We’re waiting, we’re watching. Every time the U.S. government is threatened by politics with a shutdown, constituencies from travel to military to social programs forecast disaster, and this year the climate chorus is no different, David Callaway writes. But a shutdown is nothing compared to what plummeting markets will do to future investment in the solar, wind, battery, electric vehicle, and carbon capture companies that are the ultimate hope of a technology solution to the climate crisis.
. . . . As the SEC gets ready to roll out its new climate disclosure rules, and as California unveils its own emissions disclosure law, analysts are starting to focus on the cost of tallying up climate risk, writes Mark Hulbert. According to one new study, these types of costs are actually raising the cost of equity at some companies trying to be more environmentally friendly, not lowering it. The study focused on companies with high ESG ratings, which are themselves somewhat subjective. But company profits are not, and that is what investors are watching. . . .
. . . . Even taking into account so-called seasonal weakness, U.S. stocks have had a dismal third quarter. And among stocks in the climate space the damage was even more severe. Of the 50 stocks in the Callaway Climate Index, all but four fell during the quarter, through Sept. 26. The only winner in the quarter was the electric vehicle sector, which managed to match the S&P 500’s 4% decline during the period.
. . . . Matthew Diebel’s daily commute is about 15 feet (Is this a good work-from-home setup or what?, above). And that, according to a new study just published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is a massive help in combating global warming.
. . . . About half of the world’s population is experiencing severe water scarcity for at least part of the year and about two billion people worldwide don’t have access to safe drinking water today, according to a UN report on water resources. Climate change and population growth are expected to make the problem worse.
More greenery . . . .
There’s still time. New climate change report offers something unique: hope (NPR)
Onions and rice: Climate change, El Niño and Russia’s war have sent food prices soaring as countries limit exports (Euronews)
As if war wasn’t enough: Syrian beekeepers have to battle climate change, too. (AFP)
Your leaves are falling: How to save plants from climate change? Just ask them (UCLA)
Real super foods: Meet the Climate-Defying Fruits and Vegetables in Your Future (NYT)