What;s that whooshing noise?
Is it policy papers blowing in the wind? Is it the choppy waters of the Atlantic crumbling another village into the sea? Or is it, perhaps, another 500 garments being added to the shopping rails of fast fashion?
It's none of those things.
No, it's the sound of private jets and government planes landing in [checks notes] Dubai, for the latest round of COP discussions. Waiting for them, hordes of climate experts, lobbyists and scientists, whose viewpoints will play a crucial role in forging international consensus on the climate crisis.
Or not, as the case may be.
Because there are big, big distractions. At COP28 this year, the agenda will be detailed to the point of overwhelming. Climate justice, green innovation, the energy transition, and emissions reductions will once more rear their heads. But the backdrop is more chaotic than ever. So, some questions.
Who will make the strongest moral case for co-operation? Will there be any big breakthroughs, or any big compromises? And will future generations thank attendees for their efforts?
Moreover, what can you do as an investor to get involved, and, now that owning an ESG fund isn’t frankly good enough on its own, how do you tell the difference between positive and negative results?
This week, join Morningstar's editorial teams across the world as they answer all that and more. Stay tuned.