Climate Havens: May Be Closer To Home Than Initially Thought
November 22nd, 2023
Via Grist, commentary on why ‘climate havens’ are not something nature hands us, but something we have to build ourselves: Moving is never easy — and it’s even harder in the era of global warming. Beyond the usual concerns like jobs, affordability, and proximity to family and friends, people are now considering rising seas, wildfire […]
Read more »The Next Power Plant Is on the Roof and in the Basement
November 22nd, 2023
Courtesy of The New Yorker, an article on a new Department of Energy report promoting a new system that could remake the energy grid: On any given Monday in Vermont, Josh Castonguay, the vice-president of innovation at that state’s Green Mountain Power utility, told me, he studies the forecast for the days ahead, asking questions […]
Read more »Heat Pump Water Heaters: Winner For The Climate
November 22nd, 2023
Via Canary Media, a report on heat pump water hearts whose tech costs more than conventional options upfront, but federal tax credits, new 120V models and strong savings have made them more appealing than ever: Water heaters toil away, often unseen in basements and garages, to keep our showers hot, clothes cleansed and pets bathed […]
Read more »Are These Cities Ready To Become Climate Havens?
November 21st, 2023
Courtesy of National Geographic, a look at how – in the future – cities that survive climate change could be full of green spaces, smart buildings, and compact neighborhoods: For decades Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne have been lauded as some of the most livable places on the planet. But in recent years, thousands of ‘mainlanders’ have been relocating to Hobart, the […]
Read more »It’s Time to Invest in Climate Adaptation
November 21st, 2023
Via HBR, commentary on the need to invest in adaptation: Companies around the world are increasingly committing to climate change mitigation, pledging to reduce carbon emissions and water consumption across their operations and supply chains in an effort to slow the pace of global warming and better protect environmental ecosystems. However, while essential, these efforts […]
Read more »The Heat Pump Manufacturing Boom is About to Begin
November 18th, 2023
Via HeatMap, a look at the Biden administration’s recent announcement of $169 million in grants to boost production of the technology in America. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, American environmentalist and writer Bill McKibben pitched an idea to sap Russia’s power by drying up the market for its oil and gas. Heat Pumps for […]
Read more »'Black Swans' are highly improbable events that come as a surprise, have major disruptive effects, and that are often rationalized after the fact as if they had been predictable to begin with. In our rapidly warming world, such events are occurring ever more frequently and include wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and drought.
'Green Shoots' is a term used to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during a downturn. It references a period of growth and recovery, when plants start to show signs of health and life, and, therefore, has been employed as a metaphor for a recovering economy.
It is my hope that Black Swans / Green Shoots will help readers understand both climate-activated risk and opportunity so that you may invest in, advise, or lead organizations in the context of increasing pressures of global urbanization, resource scarcity, and perils relating to climate change. I believe that the tools of business and finance can help individuals, businesses, and global society make informed choices about who and what to protect, and I hope that this blog provides some insight into the policy and private sector tools used to assess investments in resilient reinforcement, response, or recovery.