08 Apr 2020
There's no shortage of knowledge and expertise at RSMR! Each week we get our heads together and talk about events in the world and how investments are affected by them. Our broadcast tackles a wide range of topical issues facing investors from liquidity to the future of alternatives to politics and the pound. We like to think of it as cracking content for the financial adviser. Have a read & get clued up...
For a long time, the view was that all swans were white, but in 1697 the Dutch explorer, Willem de Vlamingh, discovered black swans in Australia. The ‘surprise’ discovery of black swans gave rise to the definition of ‘black swan events’. Black swan events are characterized by their extreme rarity, their severe impact, and the widespread insistence that they were obvious in hindsight.
In January this year, the Bank of International Settlements predicted that a black swan event related to climate change was more likely to bring down the global financial system than any other black swan event. In this week’s broadcast, we consider the potential retrospective benefits of the coronavirus black swan event and whether future ‘climate black swans’ or ‘green swans’ can be averted.
With the data that we will garner from this highly unusual period, that would not otherwise have been possible, can we prevent climate change risk from becoming a ‘black swan’? Will this period of history provide us with the evidence and impetus that we need to make a difference to our carbon footprint?
It has been reported that lockdown has caused a reduction in air pollution across the world with satellite images showing a fall in air pollution over urban areas in several European cities. Cities including Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Frankfurt showed a reduction in average levels of noxious nitrogen dioxide from the 5th to the 25th March, compared with the same period last year, which is likely to be due to the drastic reduction in traffic.
In Madrid, average nitrogen dioxide levels decreased by 56% week-on-week after the Spanish government banned non-essential travel on 14th March. For the world's biggest polluter China, the average number of ‘good quality air days’ increased by 21.5% in February when compared to the same period last year and according to Nasa, nitrogen dioxide levels have dropped by between 10 and 30% across eastern and central China. And for the first time in decades, there are swans and fish back on the canals in Venice!
Analysing the data from the lockdown period will help us to understand and demonstrate the impact of our behaviour. With proven, tangible evidence, we will have the leverage to instigate change that could help mitigate a future green swan event.
And there may be other benefits associated with the lockdown period. We aren’t producing as many toxins and pollutants, so are likely to see a reduction in certain diseases such as lung cancer and strokes and the new hand-washing habits may reduce or eradicate some diseases altogether.
Lockdown is extremely tough for us all, but we will take some positives from it. With demonstrable evidence, we can do things differently. Life after coronavirus could see a drastic change in behaviour and habits for the better.
Important Notice This is intended for investment professionals and should not be relied upon by private investors or any other persons. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise, is not guaranteed and your clients may get back less that they invest.
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