— An expert in sustainability says investors can benefit from the global transition to net-zero carbon through investments in “clean technology” clusters.
“A lot of money is going to be spent on that net-zero transition,” Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council founder Tom Eggert said yesterday during a Badger Talks webinar hosted by UW-Madison. “Smart investors stand to make a good bit of money by investing in sectors that will be key in this transition.”
State officials have set a goal for Wisconsin to reach 100 percent carbon-free electricity consumption by 2050, according to a recent report from the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy. And a White House fact sheet notes the 2050 target for carbon neutrality is “in line with what scientists have found is necessary globally to prevent catastrophic climate change.”
In his remarks yesterday, Eggert highlighted a McKinsey report released earlier this year that detailed the costs and impacts of reaching global net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. That report estimates $9.2 trillion will need to be spent globally each year until that time to achieve that goal. That’s about $275 trillion worth of investments in energy assets, land use changes, carbon reduction efforts and more, he said.
“Relative to the size of the global economy, we’re talking 6 to 9 percent of economic output would need to be directed to this net-zero transition, which is a substantial impact,” he said.
But he added that estimate includes investments already being made along with potential new spending. Of the $9.2 trillion annual figure, $3.7 trillion is already being spent on “high emission” assets such as power generation, buildings and transportation, while another $2 trillion is being spent on “low emission” assets such as renewable energy and electric vehicles.
Eggert gave an overview on a “thematic investment” strategy focused on bundles of stocks called exchange traded funds, or ETFs. Thematic ETFs include a number of stocks within a specific focus area, such as solar and wind energy production, electric vehicles, battery technologies, sustainable food systems and others.
“The advantage of investing in these bundles of stocks, in these ETFs, is that you don’t have to pick the company that comes up with the best solution,” he said. “It’s not that, you know, if I don’t pick the right company, I’m going to lose. You simply pick all of the companies working on the solution, so that whichever one wins, it’s automatically part of your investment.”
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change argued keeping global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees C will require action on “many different fronts,” Eggert said. The 2015 Paris Agreement calls on countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to keep global warming from exceeding this level, and Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Plan aims to ensure the state is fulfilling the carbon reduction goals of the agreement.
“If you believe that there is going to be a role for businesses to position technologies and services they’re providing on the cusp of some of these critical areas, then investing in some of those businesses becomes a really smart way to help shape the future,” Eggert said.
Watch a video of the webinar here: https://wiseye.org/2022/07/19/badger-talks-live-investment-opportunities-of-climate-change/
— Two nonprofits will be offering energy efficiency upgrades to 50 homes in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties with $500,000 in funding from the state Public Service Commission.
Revitalize Milwaukee and Green Homeowners United aim to help low-income homeowners reduce their utility costs and carbon emissions through the upgrades, according to a release.
PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq says residents of energy inefficient homes who are struggling to pay their energy bills are “essentially on a hamster wheel that you might not ever get off.”
“These dollars are going to be key to help us reach our goal of 100 percent electricity consumed in the state of Wisconsin to be coming from carbon-free sources,” she said in the release. “But it starts at home.”
See more on the funding. https://www.wisbusiness.com/2022/revitalize-milwaukee-partnership-receives-500000-state-grant-to-cut-carbon-emissions-and-utility-bills/
— Vivent Health is relocating its HIV clinic in Milwaukee to a larger facility to meet higher demand for treatment and prevention services.
The HIV care provider, which is headquartered in Milwaukee, says having more space for its HIV Medical Home will help it serve about 20 percent more patients once the move is complete.
The $9 million project is planned to start Aug. 15 with a tentative move-in date of April 1, 2023.
Vivent Health provided care for 4,753 patients locally in 2021. The company’s president and CEO, Michael Gifford, says the need for HIV services is “at an all-time high.”
“This new facility will launch us forward to meet that need and begin to end the HIV epidemic in Wisconsin through expanded and effective HIV prevention, care and treatment services,” he said in the release.
According to the release, Vivent Health will be doubling the number of rooms for exams and behavioral health, increasing the size of its pharmacy by one-third, adding three dental care areas and more.
Through its 17 locations in Colorado, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin, the care provider sees more than 13,000 patients per year.
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— Organizers for the Wisconsin Innovation Awards have announced this year’s finalists have been selected from over 300 nominees.
The 30 finalists were picked by a panel of 19 Wisconsin industry experts, and include startup companies, established businesses and other organizations. This year’s winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.
See the full list of finalists: https://www.wisbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/WIA-2022-Finalists_FINAL.pdf
See more on the annual awards: https://www.wisconsininnovationawards.com/
— Private equity firm Madison Lake Capital has brought on Ian’s Pizza Founder Ian Gurfield of Madison as an operating partner, the organization announced recently.
Gurfield has years of entrepreneurship experience and successful ventures in the food and beverage sector. In addition to Ian’s Pizza, he also is a founding partner of Gotham Bagels and Batch Bakehouse — both also in Madison — and an investor in multiple privately held businesses and real estate projects.
According to a LinkedIn post, he aims to help the venture capital firm pursue opportunities and drive growth initiatives.
See more at Madison Startups: https://www.madisonstartups.com/ian-gurfield-joins-madison-lake-capital/
See the post: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madisonlakecapital/
#TOP STORIES#
# Biogas: Wisconsin utilities partner with farmers to replace fossil gas
# Wauwatosa Medicaid managed-care nonprofit to be acquired for $150M
# Nursing homes struggle to find staff as Wisconsin economy bounces back
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin mink industry rebounding from pandemic
# CONSTRUCTION
– Affordable housing developers to get $32M to fill financing gaps
– Construction camp introduces Kenosha Unified students to new careers
# ECONOMY
– Report: Wisconsin’s ‘uneven’ economic recovery amid COVID may soon need legislative action
# EDUCATION
– La Crosse School Board agrees to hold referendum on $195M plan to combine high schools
# ENVIRONMENT
– Madison looks to improve and sustain ‘hidden gem’ of Glenway Woods
– Wisconsin DNR says no release date set for new wolf management plan
# ENTERTAINMENT
– Pabst Theater Group buys east side mansion built by a Great Lakes captain in 1874 for a new wedding venue
# HEALTH CARE
– GE sets official names for GE Healthcare spinoff, other successor firms
– UnitedHealth will drop out-of-pocket cost for insulin, albuterol, other drugs for group plans
– Vivent to relocate downtown HIV clinic to space near Deer District, future museum site
# LABOR
– Wisconsin yet to hit pre-pandemic job totals, but two industries saw double-digit growth
# POLITICS
– ‘Democracy in action’: Wisconsin co-ops fight for broadband access
# REAL ESTATE
– Why the contract extension for Milwaukee Bucks’ Pat Connaughton will help local real estate market: Q&A
– A sneak peek inside Ascent as it welcomes its first tenants
– Chicago firm purchases Teweles Seed apartment tower
# RETAIL
– Major tenant at The Avenue renews lease right after Kohl’s news
# SPORTS
– Looking for merchandise for the Bayern-Man City soccer match at Lambeau Field? The Packers Pro Shop has got you covered.
# TOURISM
– Sun Country Airlines will serve Chippewa Valley Regional Airport
– Wisconsin State Fair to implement new bag policy, add vehicle barriers for 2022
– Wisconsin’s glacial landscape inspires design for new Milwaukee museum
# TRANSPORTATION
– Electric vehicles are going mainstream. Can Madison’s charging infrastructure keep up?
# UTILITIES
– New Berlin will soon get an all-new fiber-optic service
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
