A theory of change for climate investing [partner content]

Catalyst · 8 Mar 2023 · 23m

What this episode covers

Zach Stein, co-founder and CEO of Carbon Collective, explains the firm's strategy of building climate-focused portfolios by excluding fossil fuels and engaging with companies that can transition to a post-carbon world. He distinguishes sustainable investing from the broader, often greenwashed ESG framework, arguing that ESG metrics can obscure environmental risks by weighting social and governance factors too heavily. Stein highlights the long-term underperformance of oil and gas stocks compared to the S&P 500 and advocates for engaging with 'engageable' corporates like utilities and big-box retailers to drive decarbonization rather than trying to change fossil fuel majors from the inside.

Mentioned

Companies
Carbon Collective, BlackRock, BP, ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola, Colorado State pension fund
Also
Project Drawdown, IEA, Rewiring America, IRA

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