Before I begin, here is some big news: GreenMoney’s e-Journal, like this one, is going monthly in January, featuring a new and improved design. More details below. Now on to this issue…
We chose “Integrating Sustainability” as this issue\’s theme to reflect the growing desire of people to divest from companies with non-sustainable or even harmful practices and reinvest in sustainable enterprises that make positive impacts on our current and future well-being, both financial and environmental. In truth, GreenMoney knows that a healthy environment is not only good for business, but in the long term, key to our survival.
First among the divestment targets are the fossil fuel companies. Logan Yonavjak recently wrote at Forbes.com “There are still ample reserves to continue building our economy based on fossil fuels…, but if we want to stabilize the climate and avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, we have to stop investing in extracting, refining and burning them.”
The big extractive industries of oil, coal, and natural gas (that use controversial fracking methods), all come with impossibly expensive externalized costs, from not only climate change, but also from direct environmental damage, not to mention the taxes Americans must pay for a military to keep oil pipelines and shipping lanes open around the globe.
Yes, we all use gasoline, coal-generated electricity and natural gas, but through divestment and reinvestment we can promote a global paradigm transition to clean renewable energy through ever-expanding technological innovations.
We are in the age of clean energy discovery. Why is this vital and important? Logan Yonavjak says “going forward we must leave 80 percent of the current coal, oil and gas reserves in the ground in order to stay below a 2 degrees Celsius temperature increase and avoid the worst effects of climate change (which, at current levels, we are expected to reach by 2052). Read Logan’s article at- http://onforb.es/18NzEbR
Extractive industries make lasting and often destructive environmental impacts. True, all energy has impact, but our demanding western lifestyles leave an environmental footprint that must be paid for by generations to come.
So how do we begin to address that impact and move from a demand economy to a sustainable or even a restorative one? During the coming year we will explore solutions to many environmental challenges, including resource scarcity, clean water, and renewable fuels, while focusing on companies and funds that sustain rather than deplete our planet.
We are seeing a real upswing in the number of such investors, looking to divest from fossil fuels, mining, and natural gas, and reinvest in companies that are addressing issues such as climate change, clean energy, affordable housing, infrastructure, education, healthcare and job creation.
I personally prefer to invest in innovative clean and renewable energy. We need, as I’ve mentioned many times, an innovative clean green energy future. How do we get there? Basically through companies involved in Cleantech, Greentech, Naturetech (biomimicry) or all of the above. Natural ecosystems, enduring and resilient, already demonstrate many proven answers for a sustainable future.
Investors and financial professionals must ask themselves and their clients – what do you want to profit from and what do you not want to profit from? For myself I do not want to profit from guns, tobacco, alcohol, slave labor or environmental pollution, to name a few “screens.” On the other side I do want to fairly and reasonably profit from sustainable agriculture, organic food, and renewable energy.
Time to rethink your investment goals? What impact do you want your money to have?
So I close this note with, well, some optimism. Yes, there are many challenges in today’s world, but there are innovative solutions discovered every day. I am constantly inspired via social media or publications on investing, business, and innovation, etc. Most recently I read about Jay Harman\’s new book on biomimicry entitled “The Shark’s Paintbrush.” I recommend it. (Harman is speaking at the Bioneers conference in October, along with Biomimicry expert Janine Beynus. More at- www.bioneers.org )
Before we close, here\’s what you’ll find in this Fall 2013 Issue to help you meet the challenges that lay ahead. We begin with a GreenMoney Interview of one of our favorite leaders, – long time CSR visionary and ethical economist Dr. Hazel Henderson, who took time to give us some quality in-depth commentary. Next up is a rare article from Jerry Dodson, founder of the Parnassus Funds. Check out what he says about their Workplace fund and the new Asia fund. Then we hear from our faith-based investing friends at Praxis Mutual Funds/Everence Financial, who continue to bring ethics and high standards to SRI. Madalyn Metzger and her colleagues share their perspectives on the positive impact of Green Bonds. And finally, returning with a new update on impact investing, is Don Shaffer of RSF Social Finance, who continues to redefine the investing world.
You will also find a variety of additional articles here on GreenMoney.com, including SAP\’s Peter Graf and Christoph Huetten on sustainability and their recently released Integrated Report; Steve Hoffman and Nikki McCord look at the world of GMOs in food and agriculture; and David Rose of Unified Field Corporation explores their work in the world of money and sustainable community development. Of course also check out our huge calendar of sustainability events at- greenmoney.com/global-events-calendar/
Some news for our financial professional readers: Selected GreenMoney articles are now available on Bloomberg Terminals as part of their expanding interest in sustainable business and investing.
More on the BIG News: We are going monthly in January 2014. We have been pleased and encouraged by the expanding activity of impact investors and by the encouraging stories that need to be shared about sustainable business and investing. We are increasing our frequency to help spread that information. How can you be involved? Be sure to tell your friends and colleagues to sign up for the free e-Journal on the GreenMoneyJournal.com homepage and consider sponsoring or cosponsoring an issue. Find those details at- greenmoney.com/advertising
We look forward to seeing you in the New Year,
– Cliff Feigenbaum, founder and publisher, cliff@greenmoney.com
