Big change is coming in commodities. That means big winners… and big losers. January 11, 2023 | Sponsored With the industrial revolution (and subsequent population booms) came an increased need for base metals and other commodities. With these changes came the need for more housing, industrialisation, and food production, increasing clearing of natural spaces and larger urban areas. Subsequently a massive loss of habitat and biodiversity worldwide. We can’t change the past, but [...]
The pandemic’s lasting impact is huge… How can the little idea of recycling help? January 11, 2023 | Sponsored The pandemic’s lasting impact is huge… How can the little idea of recycling help? For the past 2 years, it’s been one thing after another: Covid lockdowns, more Covid lockdowns, Russia invading Ukraine, and a few more Covid lockdowns (looking at you China). Therefore, it comes as no surprise the global economy continues to take [...]
The Cost of Living Crisis Is Not Just Local, It’s Global. We Need a Global Mindset to Tackle It. January 11, 2023 | Sponsored The cost of living crisis is being felt by everyone – people on the breadline are now in poverty, those once well-off are now counting their coppers. This might be the picture for most in developed countries, however developing markets have largely been unaffected by Covid and inflation linked to the Russian conflict. With only [...]
The landscape of Africa’s economy is changing drastically, are you invested? January 11, 2023 | Sponsored At the turn of the millennium, the United Nations recorded a population of 6bn people. By 2019 the score was 7.7bn people. And now, after analysing shifts in demographics, improved healthcare, sanitation, rights, and education, the United Nations predict the global population will reach 9.7bn by 2050. Boom time. Population growth is not expected on [...]
Aluminium’s dirty secret: We’re gonna need a LOT of it, and it’s pumping out a LOT of CO2. January 11, 2023 | Sponsored It sounds stupid, but materials have to come from somewhere. And once we’re done with those materials, they have to go somewhere… Following? Yes, you are. But don’t dismiss this concept as trite. As global populations are predicted to increase by 2 billion (!) by 2050, growing demand for commodities will place further strain on [...]
Is ESG facing an existential crisis? What could be next for sustainable investing… January 11, 2023 | Sponsored It’s been a rough year for ESG – Russian oil companies qualify as sufficiently environmentally and socially responsible to receive ESG funds. Sam Bank-Friedman’s bankrupted FTX crypto enterprise has a higher ESG score on ‘leadership and governance’ than Exxon/Mobil. In light of the discovery of controversial ESG fund allocation, it is vital ESG undergoes a significant [...]
Post COVID19: Do we really want to change the way we do business? January 11, 2023 | Sponsored It’s been a disruptive few years for both the public and business. No industry has escaped COVID’s impact. However, not all disruption has had negative consequences. Disruption in this instance is not a stand-alone event; one industry shutdown knocks onto the next causing widespread disruption. Key industries, and businesses that adapted to fill the resulting [...]
Investing in emerging markets is like sex: For good or bad depends on your position. January 11, 2023 | Sponsored It’s not a bandwagon, Africa’s emerging market is a hotbed for foreign investors; 75% of total investment in 2021 was made by foreign investors. Across all investors, Africa received a significant injection of cash: a grand total of $5.2bn was invested across 604 companies, 4 startups of which are now worth over $1bn. West Africa [...]
Now that you’re asking where your supplies come from, we should talk. January 11, 2023 | Sponsored As the world faces a shortfall of both energy supplies and critical metals, difficult decisions are being made to meet the growing supply gaps without risking new dependencies on unsustainable producers or compromised geopolitical actors. Quite a problem for some; particularly for a range of European countries and firms in light of the Russian invasion [...]
To ESG or not to ESG, why bother? January 11, 2023 | Sponsored There’s no denying the bombshell declaration of $9.5bn of “socially conscious funds” from ESG investments being tied up in Russian oil companies has come as a predictable shock. Or when ESG ratings company Truvalue Labs gave Sam Bank-Friedman’s FTX crypto enterprise a higher score on ‘leadership and governance’ than Exxon/Mobil. Being neither environmentally nor socially responsible, [...]