Wednesday 21 November 2007

Smart money follows environmental pioneers

Australian Financial Review
Monday 19/11/2007 Page: 23

As scientific evidence mounts that the global warming seen in recent years is a long-term trend fuelled by greenhouse gases produced by human activities, it is clear that there are going to be significant concomitant economic consequences. Considering this, companies that are seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or developing environmentally sound solutions will increasingly attract more attention. Firms early off the blocks will be the ones investors would do well to keep their eyes on. Some prominent companies - including ExxonMobil and Leighton Contractors, who were among the sponsors of last week's conference of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia - have recognised the trend, and have already unambiguously committed themselves to change.

There are investment opportunities across a range of business sectors involved in climate change-related activities, including water resources, biotechnology, disaster control, soil improvement, fertilisers and insecticides. Carbon emission-reduction activity is expected to be most intensive in the power, transport, building, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and waste industries. The author is an investment specialist with DWS Investments, the global retail asset management arm of Deutsche Bank.

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