Energy – whether derived from fossil fuels, nuclear or renewables – is a commodity and the critical thing about commodities is: You can’t print commodities like you can print money. The rules are not the same.
That was conclusively demonstrated earlier this year in Texas. A swift series of winter storms crashed the Texan grid when gas infrastructure failed in the cold, renewables weren’t delivering. Over 200 people died as a result of power outages.
..... it will be mightily embarrassing for the Boris Johnson Government if the first UK power outages occur during the COP26 Climate Circus in Glasgow in November.COP26 has driven the Government’s agenda and ambition to be seen as more green, more carbon neutral and more ESG than anyone else.
ESG is perhaps the most dangerous force in Economics today. ESG has evolved into a religion, a high church of environmental orthodoxy.
Investment managers rely on people giving them money to manage.
That is why every single fund manager on the planet is fixated on polishing their green credentials, demonstrating how they are funding ESG compliant investments, and eschewing anything even vaguely linked to hydrocarbons. It is also why Saudi Arabia is polishing its credentials by improbably launching and successfully selling a Green Bond.
This winter – people are going to die of cold
As the price of energy goes higher, the costs will fall disproportionately upon the poorest in Society. Income inequalities will be dramatically exposed as the most vulnerable in society face a stark choice: Heat or Eat.
That has all kind of social consequences. Can you imagine how the Gillet Jaunes in France will react ahead of the French elections in April? And what about the prospect for riots as fuel prices hit the poorest communities and ethnic groups in the UK?
