The Economist Intelligence Unit: “Cost of inaction – Recognising the value at risk from climate change”

The value at risk to manageable assets from climate change calculated in this report is US$4.2trn, in present value terms. The tail risks are more extreme; 6°C of warming could lead to a present value loss worth US$13.8trn, using private-sector discount rates. From the public-sector perspective, 6°C of warming represents present value losses worth US$43trn—30% of the entire stock of the world’s manageable assets.

Cary Krosinsky: “The Future of Electric Utilities – Calls For Change Proving Disruptive”

There is also clear connectivity between Utilities and Cars and their footprint, as Electric Cars will only be as 'green' as the electricity input is.

Tesla can and will design and sell electric cars, and consumers can buy them as a badge of honor of sorts, but if the car is being charged with electricity sourced from a utility that is mostly burning coal, then electric cars are likely worse for the environment than driving a car, and filling up at your local gas station.

Cary Krosinsky: “The Future of Cars – The Sustainable Investing Sector Series Begins”

As seen years back when GM didn't act fast enough to change with the times while Toyota became dominant through its Prius success and focus on quality, sustainability is in many ways now the most important trend to consider in the Auto sector. GM used to be one of the largest companies in the world, and they faded in value while Toyota became dominant. The performance of this sector has arguably directly been tied to sustainability focus and success over the last 20 years, and this is likely to reoccur in future. At minimum, sustainability considerations need to be directly in the mix of investor considerations. Watch for future pieces across all sectors where sustainability has become increasingly critical to ongoing investment success.

Full article:

http://socialinvesting.about.com/od/Sustainable-Investing-Strategy/fl/The-Future-of-Cars.htm

ShareAction: “Asset Managers Side With Company Management Too Often On Controversial Votes”

Many of the world’s best-known Asset Managers side too often with company management on controversial votes at company AGMs, even when there is a clear case for challenging company management on a vote, says sector watchdog ShareAction, which has compared the voting records of the largest 33 UK Asset Managers on a host of controversial votes made at a year’s worth of Annual General Meetings.