Investing in a Changing Climate: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities

Net Zero is not enough. We have dithered so long about climate change that, by now, we would need to go to negative-emissions territory, well before 2050, to keep global warming under the iconic 1.5°C target. The national commitments made so far fall short of what is needed, and so do the investments envisioned. But even with the best of intentions, it is hard for policymakers and potential investors to discern where, in the profusion of initiatives and technologies, it would make sense to focus their attention and resources.

This is where this book comes in. It offers a clear-eyed view of how far along the decarbonization path six key sectors of the economy are―namely energy, utilities, transportation, industry, buildings, and agriculture―and which areas and technologies within each sector are promising in terms of investments to advance the cause. Furthermore, a special chapter on Africa spotlights a continent that is simultaneously one of the worst affected by climate change, the most likely to see its greenhouse gas emissions increase―and the one with the greatest potential for solving the West's, and the world’s, energy transition and economic growth conundrum.

As such, the book serves as a concise guide both to the state of the battle against global warming, and for investors, professionals, and policymakers to find their way through the maze of options.

Ludovic Subran is the Chief Economist and Head of Economic Research at Allianz SE, Europe’s largest insurer and investor. A French national, he is a Member of the Council of Economic Advisors to the Prime Minister. Before joining Allianz, Subran worked for the French Ministry of Finance, the United Nations, and the World Bank. He also taught economics at HEC Business School and Sciences Po in Paris. Subran is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a Millennium Fellow of the Atlantic Council, and a David Rockefeller Fellow of the Trilateral Commission.

Markus Zimmer is the Senior Economist for Sustainability at Allianz Research, where he heads all climate economic research activities. He links the business activities of Allianz to the global climate science community, fostering a fruitful exchange for both sides. Previously, he worked at the Energy, Climate and Resources Center of Germany's Ifo Institute at the University of Munich, where he was a researcher, policy consultant and lecturer. He contributes with his expertise to the United Nations-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero.