The World’s Biggest Capitalist Says Climate Is ‘Reshaping Finance’

The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, is suddenly putting sustainability and climate risk at the center of its investment strategy.  “Investors are increasingly...recognizing that climate risk is investment risk. These questions are driving a profound reassessment of risk and asset values. And because capital markets pull future risk forward, we will see changes in capital allocation more quickly than we see changes to the climate itself,” wrote BlackRock CEO Larry Fink in his yearly investment letter. BlackRock manages over $7 trillion in assets. This new strategy could have a wide impact on the world of finance -- and put climate risk at the top of investor considerations. Plus, activists are targeting banks like Chase and Citibank by hitting them on the consumer finance side. We check in on the divestment movement as it gains momentum. Then, a look at some lesser-known, but formidable greenhouse gases: refrigerants. How much a problem are they? Finally, California looks beyond lithium-ion batteries. The state is looking to fund the next ideas in energy storage. What are those technologies and how will they be deployed? Resources:New York Times: BlackRock C.E.O. Larry Fink: Climate Crisis Will Reshape FinanceListen to the Climate 2020 podcast interview with Bill McKibbenBill McKibben in NYT: Want to Do Something About Climate? Follow the MoneyE&E News: Senators Float HFC Phase-Down BillGreenBiz: Why Supermarkets are Key to a Cooler ClimateUtility Dive: California Is Looking for Better StorageThis podcast is brought to you by Energetic Insurance. Energetic’s EneRate Credit Cover policy is an easy button for commercial solar – similar to a FICO score in residential solar. This enables savvy developers and investors to quickly finance commercial solar projects and turn around portfolio refinancings faster. Find out more. This podcast is brought to you by KORE Power. KORE Power is a leading manufacturer of high-density, high-voltage energy storage solutions for utility, industrial, microgrids and mission-critical markets. Find out more.