by Byron Elton, President and Chief Operating Officer, Carbon Sciences Inc.
In the 1970s the late Dr. Lewis Thomas published an influential essay that has become a scientific classic. In it, he described three types of medical technologies - non-technologies, which are caring and supportive; halfway technologies, which are expensive, risky and not especially effective; and decisive technologies, which are inexpensive, easy to deliver and solve the underlying problem
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A “halfway” technology for polio, for instance, was the iron lung; a cylindrical steel chamber that allowed patients whose respiratory muscles had been paralyzed by the disease to breathe, while a “decisive” technology was the polio vaccine.
When discussing the upcoming COP-15 Global Environmental conference in Copenhagen, many pundits suggest that there are so many differences of opinion between countries and within various countries, both developed and developing, that the chances for any kind of agreement will be slim to none. I believe these naysayers have completely ignored one of today's most powerful, global phenomena, the Obama Effect.
The United States President is in full court press mode on this subject, as is evidenced by his recent push at the G20 summit and his National Energy Summit which basically lays out how he believes the United States will lead in the Green Energy revolution. He is essentially changing the game that has been played by Business and Government thus far.
Under the Bush administration the whole subject was framed as a battle between business-economy and Government-Environment. Barrack Obama has already re-framed the message as "essential" to economic prosperity. He has re-framed the word "Green" in the American Lexicon into the word "competitive", and those businesses and Governments who ignore this simple marketing message, do so at their own financial peril. So do investors.
As an investor, if you are betting against the Green revolution taking center stage at Copenhagen, then you stand to lose and lose big. A number of major players on Wall Street are already positioning themselves to benefit from this giant green shift in business. Some have even laid out their entire investment horizon over the next 20 years, based solely on the Green revolution in business. It is talked about in terms of other monumental shifts in economic power such as the Industrial revolution and the Information revolution. It will make and break fortunes in the coming years, so if you haven't already, start doing your research.
Companies with first mover status in Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Electric batteries (for autos) and fuel cell power have made jumps between 100% and 150% in just the past 8 months. It is the start of what might become the largest bull market since Microsoft and Apple first emerged as the Information age began. Once the United States lays out it's plan to lead this new economic shift at the Copenhagen summit, other countries will have no choice but to play by the new rules, or be left behind once again as the future of energy will be dictated by the worlds largest and most diversified economy. Look for fossil fuel subsidies to be replaced by green energy subsidies. The shift will be monumental.
Don't miss this great ride which is only just beginning.
COP-15 ! Have you heard this term yet? Well you are certainly going to. It is the short title for the "Untied Nations Climate Change Conference", a meeting of heavy weights from around the world in Copenhagen on December 7th 2009. It will absolutely dwarf the Kyoto Accord and it's importance to our planet. The importance to the markets, and investors like us, cannot be overstated either. It is that important! Government and business leaders from 40 Countries are all involved.
The results of COP-15will win and lose fortunes for many investors. Now which camp do you want to be in, the winners or the losers. I thought so! Now think of a world where producers of fossil fuels, instead of being propped up by governments, will be penalized by governments. Have I got your attention yet? The Copenhagen Summit will convene on December 7th and you should mark this on your calendar.
(From DailyWealth) Everything is being reconsidered:
The way we create electricity
The way we power our vehicles
The way we store and buy our energy
The way we synthesize plastics
The way in which we build the buildings where we work and live
As a prelude to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-15) in May, the "World Business Summit on Climate Change" brought together over 500 participants from 40 countries in Copenhagen at the same venue as the "BIG" Summit on Dec 7th. Here is a quote from one of the guest speakers attending this conference:
"There is not much time. We have to do it this year, not next year, this year. The clock is ticking and Mother Nature does not do bailouts"!Al Gore.
There were many "working groups" at this summit who brainstormed and came up with recommendations for the COP15 summit.
"De-Carbonizing power generation is essential to meeting emissions goals in 2050 and will make a large contribution in 2030."
Here is one from the "Value Chain" working group:
"Establish a transparent international standard for greenhouse gas measurement of products and services across value chains. Any standard needs to be simple, consistent, but nonrestrictive, for example setting minimum standards and common measurement methods".
From the "Aviation working group":
"Increase focus on solution industries, i.e. those industries that offer transformative technologieswhich can have a net positive impact on emissions"
Recommendations from the "road transportation group" seemed more ambiguous on the surface, but will have a huge impact on investors. Here is an excerpt of their recommendations:
"There is no silver bullet to reducing emissions from the transportation sector and many technologies will have to be developed and tested in parallel".
It is within this backdrop that the world will turn it's attention to the summit in Copenhagen on Dec 7th. What is decided there will not only affect the health of this planet, but the health of investors, pensions funds, and markets around the world, and more importantly from our point of view, your Retirefunds!
It is the future of energy that is at stake, and nothing less! This is the reason I have invested in companies like Ballard Power Systems of Vancouver as well as Natural Gas, solar and wind energy companies.
"Could be the largest economic opportunity of the 21st century." - Venture Capital Firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers
There won't be a bailout. There will be a colossal re-investment of the worlds resources into these green companies, and away from the carbon producing fossil fuels like coal and oil, and the companies that produce them. No one knows for sure just which green technologies will win out in their respective areas (power generation, construction, transportation, aviation etc) but rest assured, there will be massive investments in all companies who have even a hope of placing in this race.
Do you think this will impact your Retirefund? I don't think it will, I know it will!
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