Climate Change and Superbugs

A recent UNEP report, Bracing for Superbugs, examines the relationship between climate change and superbugs. Antimicrobial products kill or slow the spread of microorganisms. They are an essential tool in battling infectious diseases. However, their effectiveness is now at risk because several antibiotic, antiviral, antiparasitic and antifungal treatments no longer work because of antimicrobial resistanceContinue reading “Climate Change and Superbugs”

Market Reaction to Corporate ESG News

A recent paper by George Serafeim and Aaron Yoon explores the market reaction to different ESG news. They analyze the market reaction to ESG news for 3,109 companies. They find that prices react only to financially material ESG news, and the reaction is larger for news that is positive, receives more news coverage, and isContinue reading “Market Reaction to Corporate ESG News”

The Net Zero Emissions Bill 2022

The Net Zero Emissions Bill 2022 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on December 9, 2022. It hasn’t received the attention that it deserves. The Bill creates a structure that will enable India to achieve the net zero target set out at the Glasgow Summit and incorporated in India’s NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions). To achieve theContinue reading “The Net Zero Emissions Bill 2022”

Inflation, Sustainability and Consumer Behaviour

High inflation rates have persisted for quite some time now. As a result, inflation affects both (a) how businesses operate in a high inflation environment and (b) how consumers respond with their purchase decisions. In an inflationary environment, businesses face higher costs due to increased input prices. Staff costs rise too as the company needsContinue reading Inflation, Sustainability and Consumer Behaviour

Stranded Assets and Finance

The shift to net-zero requires moving away from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) and decarbonizing production processes and supply chains. Thus, new equipment or new methods may be required. This results in stranded assets. In this article published in Artha (journal of IIM Calcutta) I explore stranded assets and their implications and focus onContinue reading “Stranded Assets and Finance”