Economics

Renewable energy is on the rise and the sun is setting on fossil fuels. The economic dominance of the old energy industry is coming to an end and a new economic powerhouse is gaining ground. Demand for coal has collapsed and oil and gas are sure to follow. Led by renewable energy the green economy now provides many more jobs than the fossil fuel industry.  IRENA reports that there were 11 million people employed in renewable energy last year. The report also says transitioning away from fossil fuels towards renewables makes good economic sense. This includes $160 trillion in savings...

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reports that there are $160 trillion of savings associated with renewables and other climate actions. Led by renewable energy the green economy is growing by leaps and bounds yet it is still an undervalued opportunity. Clean energy is benefiting from the mutually reinforcing factors of increasing demand and declining costs. Tremendous declines in the price of solar and battery storage make a compelling business case for renewables. Despite resistance from the federal government, the US is seeing a renewable energy boom as states and utilities are setting ambitious clean energy goals. According to an...

Alberta's new premiere Jason Kenney claims that by prioritizing the fossil fuel industry he can increase jobs and grow the economy. This was the central plank in Kenney's United Conservative Party (UCP) election platform. It is also an oft repeated refrain from conservative politicians.  However, this view fails to acknowledge that market forces are powering the demise of traditional energy. There is mounting evidence demonstrating that macroeconomic trends are driving the transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy. Despite the politically motivated rhetoric of conservative politician, the evidence shows that the fossil fuel industry is dying. Alberta is not...

In terms of climate change impacts women have the most to lose and in terms of engaging climate action they have the most to gain. Women are the sex most likely to suffer from the effects of climate change and they have been shown to be better environmental stewards than their male counterparts. Women are on the front lines of climate change and they are have made major contributions to both environmentalism and sustainability.  However, there is a vast potential that has yet to be fully unleashed. B U S I N E S S   &  E C O N...

The business community is driving sustainability forward in response to market incentives. The question is how far can the private sector go in the absence of responsible leadership from government? Businesses are leading first and foremost because they are looking to reduce costs and capitalize on opportunities. Other factors are also at play. Publically traded companies are beholden to shareholders and as such, they have a fiduciary responsibility to address threats. Investors are calling for nonfinancial information and a number of shareholder resolutions have demanded more disclosure and actions to mitigate climate change as well as adaptation strategies to protect...

Independent of the climate and environmental benefits, the economic potential of the green economy is staggering. The sheer scale of  the opportunity warrants more attention from heads of government, investors and the general public. As quoted by the Guardian, Nick Austin, director of agricultural development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said, "We recognize that adaptation has been a vastly under-invested opportunity, an upside in economic opportunities for resilience to climate change." More than a dozen years ago the Stern review anticipated this opportunity. The report noted that climate action will, "create significant business opportunities, as new markets are...

While governments around the world are investing in the green economy Donald Trump is providing massive corporate tax breaks.  Trump's inept economic policies now appear to be wreaking havoc as evidenced by unprecedented stock market declines and the subsequent ripple effect around the world.  The Dow's 1,175 point plunge on Monday February 5th was the biggest decline ever and on February 6th markets around the globe are being pummeled. Trump's tax scam, his only legislative accomplishment, may be the cause of this market volatility. As explained by CNN's Matt Egan, Trump's tax cuts, "may be playing a role in the...

What would a Trump presidency look like? This is the question that thinking people must ask. Trump is notoriously vague but he has offered some insight into his positions on the climate and energy fronts. If Trump were to become President it would signal the end of the Paris Climate Agreement, environmental regulations would be gutted and fossil fuel extraction would multiply. This is a recipe for disaster. Here is a review of his positions on climate change, energy, the economy, and government regulations. Included is a review of his shady business practices, and his love for Russian dictator Vladimir...

Donald Trump has laid out his vision for both energy and economics and independent assessments of his policy positions suggest that he is either profoundly ignorant or a bold faced liar. His energy policy seeks to expand dirty energy and while that would benefit the fossil fuel industry it would condemn the planet to a climate apocalypse. In a policy speech to the Detroit Economic Club, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, Trump said that his presidency would deliver "a complete rethinking of our energy policy." This translates to unmitigated expansion of domestic fossil fuel extraction. If the US were to...

Even though we have seen a recent uptick in oil prices the outlook in the short and medium term is anything but bullish. According to a number of energy pundits, there is little reason to believe that oil prices will keep their current value. First, despite the agreement to reduce production from Saudi Arabia and Russia, there is no agreement from other producers to curb production and secondly Iran’s oil shipment to Europe will rise sharply by May. In a March 29th Seeking Alpha article titled, "Big Trouble For Oil Prices Could Be Brewing," Daniel Jones says that despite the...