Australian stock market resembles carbon bomb waiting to explode

The Australian stock market resembles a carbon bomb waiting to go off, according to the findings of a new report measuring and comparing the level of embedded emissions and revenues derived from fossil fuels in the world’s top financial market indices.

According to the Carbon Scorecard report, published by the S&P Dow Jones Indices this week, the S&P/ASX All Australian 50 has the highest level of embedded emissions in proven and probable fossil fuel reserves and the greatest percentage of revenues derived from coal-based activities.

The findings make the Australian market – one of seven headline global indices in the S&P Global 1200, which captures approximately 70 per cent of global equity market capitalisation – the world’s “most exposed” to potential stranded assets, at a time when the rest of the world is rapidly shifting to a low-carbon economy.

As you can see in the chart below, the report analyses five measures of carbon: carbon footprint, fossil fuel reserve emissions (future emissions), coal revenue exposure (revenue from coal extraction or coal power generation), energy transition (transition to clean energy to gauge the International Energy Agency’s 2°C scenarios) and green-brown revenue share (clean energy activity versus carbon intensive activity).

To find Australia, look for the big block of dark brown…

carbonscorecardchart

The only other dark brown patch is attributed to the Emerging Markets index, but that is for its overall carbon footprint. In terms of embedded emissions, coal revenue exposure and the mix of  renewables compared to fossil fuels, the emerging markets index is ahead of Australia on every count.

Comments

7 responses to “Australian stock market resembles carbon bomb waiting to explode”

  1. George Darroch Avatar
    George Darroch

    If you have your super with a regular – get it out now.

    The ASX is very heavily exposed to miners and emissions intensive resources. Your
    ‘balanced’ account is mixed between these, banks and other stocks, real estate, and cash.

    1. nakedChimp Avatar
      nakedChimp

      what happens to all the other sectors once the miners and emissions intensive resource stocks go down?
      Anyone up for ‘Musical Chairs’?
      This continent essentially is an island.. where do you hide?

      1. neroden Avatar
        neroden

        That’s a complicated investment question. If you can pick individual stocks, you have a way of getting fossil-fuel-free stocks — might try US or European stocks. If you are stuck with a limited list of mutual funds all of which are no-good, cash is your best option.

      2. Mike Shackleton Avatar
        Mike Shackleton

        My super gets split between 2 funds – International Equities (Hedged) and International Property. Any decent super fund lets you pick and choose where your money goes.

    2. ben Avatar
      ben

      I shifted mine to Australian Ethical for this very reason

  2. John McKeon Avatar
    John McKeon

    Oh, shit! …. of course this probably explains a lot about the toxic state of our national politics re planning – or not – for a low carbon future.

  3. Michel Syna Rahme Avatar
    Michel Syna Rahme

    The last dark brown patch will be in the pants of those that think it prudent to remain exposed!

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