Grounds for Cautious Optimism

[Recusant]

Plans for investment in clean energy are being made by some deep pockets. This may actually have some impact on the future, if they follow through.

"Climate Change 2016: Investors Vow To Pour Trillions Of Dollars Into Clean Energy Transition | International Business Times

The financial industry has transformed from a reluctant bystander on the topic of climate change to an active participant in the past few years.

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Motivations are mostly economic. If countries adopt policies to reduce emissions to nearly zero this century, those who heavily support coal, oil and natural gas will see their returns evaporate. The effects of climate change itself — from rising sea levels to enduring droughts and extreme storms — threaten to disrupt production and trade flows, and drain global economic growth.

Yet for all the conviction and enthusiasm at Wednesday's summit, the path for delivering a clean energy transformation remains largely uncertain. In many markets around the world, petroleum-based fuels and electricity from coal and natural gas remain cheaper and easier to access than cleaner alternatives. Most investors generally prefer to stick with the safe bets, rather than testing the waters with new financing tools like "green bonds," or carbon-free investment funds.

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