Last week’s news that caught our attention was a little short on “good stuff”. Yet, we still looked for the silver lining. And at least we can remark that three uncomfortable headlines had owners last week: #1: China told the world just weeks ahead of the Paris Climate Talks that it had been under-reporting its…
Fiduciary Duty
Retirement savers’ best interest may eventually get a front row seat
In April 2015, the Department of Labor (DOL) re-proposed regulations that amend the definition who is included in the definition of fiduciary for employee benefit plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s) and with it limits the scope of compensation for advice for those fiduciaries . In 2010, the DOL had proposed regulation with similar intent…
Fiduciary Duty
A happy dance-worthy clarification
The Department of Labor has issued a clarification on previous ERISA (that’s short for Employee Retirement Income Security Act) guidance that seems rather minor at a first glance but make no mistake, it is ground-breaking after all. In a nutshell: guidance issued in 2008 discouraged what we would now call “impact investment opportunities with competitive…
Social License to Operate
May I see your social license to operate?
Recently, a few pharmaceutical firms seem to have overstepped the unwritten boundaries of their social licenses to operate. Turing Pharmaceuticals and Valeant in particular have attracted the ire of Democrats – and also more formally a subpoena by US prosecutors – after raising prices of critical drugs those firms own by staggering amounts. Neither firm…
Renewables
Renewables are courted for their economics
Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) tirelessly produces data points in lieu of simple rhetoric to steer the discussion on renewable energy onto a rational footing. Their latest levelized cost of energy calculations (LCOE) revealed that wind is cost-competitive with gas- and coal-fired electricity generation in the UK and Germany, after accounting for the cost of…
Climate Change Policy and/or Action
Stranded Assets concept washing up in front of Old Boys – and can’t be ignored
Pilita Clark of the Financial Times summed up the incredibly positive impact the Stranded Asset research has had with the mainstream owners and managers of big money after observing Bank of England’s Mark Carney in a speech to insurers about climate change risk: “The idea that the governor of an institution such as the Bank…
Carbon Price, Climate Change Policy and/or Action
Moving on from climate change denial…
Did you hear? Shell, BHP Billiton, and GE are going to advise governments on climate change… Well yes, this issue isn’t quite free of the fear of hidden agendas and yes, these are strategic business opportunities for these firms. But do you remember the times when climate denial and then climate silence was an acceptable…
Uncategorized
Optimism hiding in plain sight
Since we want to change the world we have to see glasses at least half full everywhere. Otherwise, where do we find the magic elixir that keeps us moving forward, keeps us hoping, keeps us trying new things or keeps us at “keep doing it”. And sometimes, there are glasses that are half full or…