Oct 16, 2022Financing the transitionLooking at most low-carbon and zero carbon scenarios that exist today, one of the most obvious factors weighing on the potential success or failure of the strategy, is cost. Looking closely at the various costs involved, and the potential for economic prosperity associated with a particular strategy, we can then…34 min read34 min read
Oct 13, 2022Hydrofracturing: the real cause of recent global temperature spikesClimate scientists are not telling us the whole truth. Today, a lot is understood about climate change, and everyone from the CEOs of multinational companies to the heads of major economies are focusing intently on the challenges (and opportunities) that a rapidly warming planet presents. …7 min read7 min read
Jul 26, 2022Fiscal vs monetary policyThe debate today is starting to focus on the two types of stimulus that may be created, and the changing responsibilities of the institutions issuing such stimulus. Essentially, governments control taxes and spending (fiscal policy), and central banks control the money supply and bond issuances (monetary policy). Further expedited by…Energy Transition5 min readEnergy Transition5 min read
Jul 26, 2022The exit strategy for fossil fuels(Note: this is a chapter from my 2021 book, ‘Planet Zero Carbon - A Policy Playbook for the Energy Transition’. Obviously, the oil market has changed substantially following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; notably by reducing oil and gas supplies and therefore causing prices to surge. …Fossil Fuels24 min readFossil Fuels24 min read
Jul 17, 2022Agriculture, land use and negative emissionsWhile agriculture may be regarded by some as being the less exciting and dynamic aspect of the global drive to reduce emissions and try to bring some balance back to the Earth’s climate; in reality it is agriculture alone that has the most chance of providing the carbon-sequestering potential that…Agriculture Emissions20 min readAgriculture Emissions20 min read
Jul 15, 2022Net-zero targets, diversification and the rise of the ‘renewables supermajor’As markets start to consolidate across the board, with upstream investment (representing E&P companies) the first to lose investment, western IOCs are already starting to focus on core assets that don’t represent a liability going forward. Initially, this will mean a series of mergers and acquisitions, and a shedding of…Fossil Fuel Divestment8 min readFossil Fuel Divestment8 min read
Jul 13, 2022Identifying barriers to the energy transition: from lobby groups to the ‘degrowth’ movementA number of factors can be identified today as barriers to the energy transition. In a general way, it’s not difficult to see why these barriers might exist: most people don’t like change. Change requires acquiring new knowledge, new skills, new ways of living, and represents a hurdle to our…Degrowth8 min readDegrowth8 min read
Jul 11, 2022Climate science: hydrofracturing and methaneBefore continuing, it may be important to look more closely at the subject of climate change itself: what are the intrinsic drivers of the temperature increases we are now witnessing around the world? In contrast to the 2021 edition of my book Planet Zero Carbon, I am going to look…Hydrofracturing5 min readHydrofracturing5 min read
