Thursday, May 9

Environment

Environmental Liabilities Part 1- Exxon-Mobil
Energy, Environment

Environmental Liabilities Part 1- Exxon-Mobil

Originally posted 5 November 2018 Two major stories hit the wire this past week  spotlighting the emerging realization that financial markets do care about the scale of environmental liabilities of energy companies. In this post the lawsuit filed  by New York State's Attorney General is examined.  In Part 2, the story about estimated environmental liabilities reported by the Alberta Energy Regulator to industry in a private meeting in February 2018 is explored. On 24 October the Attorney General of the State of New York, Barbara Underwood, brought a lawsuit against Exxon-Mobil. The lawsuit alleges ExxonMobil "fraudulently, systematically and repeatedly has deceived investors about the impact that future climate change regulations could have on the company's assets and value."New York...
Economy vs. Environment
Energy, Environment, Financial Institutions

Economy vs. Environment

Originally posted 18 December 2017 Several articles, studies, and announcements over the past weeks suggest that the "international movement" seeking to "manage" the risks of global warming are gaining ascendance. More recently, the World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim,  announced his institution was re-assessing the risks of fossil-fuel developments. Highlights: World Bank move China's Three Gorges floating solar panels Alberta renewable auction Moody's analysis Analysis/Opinion (more…)
The Matter of "free, prior and informed consent"
Energy, Environment

The Matter of "free, prior and informed consent"

Shawn McCarthy's column of 16 September  discussed the question of what "consent" means to First Nations' communities through which proposed pipelines run through. In Alberta, the New Democrat government agreed to be bound by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The federal government also  agreed to be so bound after taking office from the Conservative government last October. The federal government has not yet officially agreed to the Declaration. (more…)
Environment

Environment

Update Since the last post a great deal has happened in the provincial government's approach to climate. The recognition that climate change is a serious financial and economic matter, not just "political" was provided by Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Timothy Lane in a speech a couple weeks ago in Montreal.  Lane observed: climate change itself and actions to address it will have material and pervasive effects on Canada’s economy and financial system. While many of these will play out over many decades, I will argue that they are already starting to become important. So, the Bank needs to consider these effects as we deliver on our mandate to promote the economic and financial well-being of Canadians. (more…)