We were very encouraged to hear Bank of England Governor Mark Carney address the financial market stabilization risk of “stranded assets,” the risk that if we are to avoid 2 degree warming, we will need to leave up to 80 percent of proved oil, gas, and coal reserves in the ground, echoing the important message that has been promoted tirelessly by our friends at the Carbon Tracker initiative. (Read Carney’s full speech here)
Capital Institute’s 2011 post, “Our $20 Trillion Big Choice” addressed this issue not just as a financial market stabilization issue. Approximately three quarters of these fossil reserves are owned and controlled by national oil companies. Exxon and BP are relative bit players in this game. The REAL risk and challenge is perhaps the largest geopolitical one ever to face the modern world. Rapid drops in solar costs, and other technical revolutions could render much of these fossil fuels obsolete, resolving the problem, although with profound ramifications for fossil- fuel-dependent economies and their societies, with spillover affects throughout the world. More likely, a comprehensive and highly complex international policy regime will be required far beyond what is currently even contemplated with voluntary “pledges” by nation states negotiating from the perspective of their national interests.
Great progress this week. The hard work lies ahead.
