The distribution of ownership of transition risk associated with stranded fossil-fuel assets remains poorly understood. We compute global stranded assets of US$1.4 trillion in the upstream oil and gas sector as expectations change to be consistent with stated climate policies. We trace the equity risk ownership from these 43,439 assets through a global equity network of 1.8 million companies to their ultimate owners. Most of the market risk falls on private investors, overwhelmingly in OECD countries, including substantial exposure through pension funds. Financial markets are exposed to a US$690 billion correction, comparable to the mispricing that triggered the 2007-08 crisis. The ownership distribution also shows the large stake OECD investors have in the continued operation of fossil-fuel facilities incompatible with climate change mitigation goals.
Stranded Fossil-Fuel Assets Translate into Major Losses for Investors in Advanced Economies
- Headline: Estimating Fossil Fuel Company Shareholder Losses through a Green Transition
- Intro Text: PERI researcher Gregor Semieniuk and co-authors compute global fossil fuel stranded assets—the oil, coal and gas in the ground that cannot be burned—if climate stabilization goals are going to be achieved. Focusing on oil and gas, they estimate this figure to be US $1.4 trillion. They trace these potential losses for a total of 43,439 assets through a global equity network of 1.8 million companies to their ultimate owners. Most of the market risk falls on private investors, overwhelmingly in OECD countries, including substantial exposure through pension funds.
- Type of publication: Working Paper
- Research or In The Media: Research
- Research Area: Environmental and Energy Economics
- Publication Date: 2021-10-06
- View pdf
- Show in Front Page Modules: No
