Table of Contents
Executive Summary 2
Diesel’s bubble slowly bursting: Opportunity for cleaner fuel sources arising 2
Rising global coal demand creates contrasting impact on business 3
The Pacific Trash Vortex: Oceanic plastic pollution and the impact on business 3
Rising sea levels will impact the global economy making some cities uninhabitable 4
Climate Change and Food Security: The Global Threat 5
Diesel’s bubble slowly bursting: Opportunity for cleaner fuel sources arising 11
World cities are recording high levels of dangerous pollutants 11
Fines and bans will affect 50% of the European vehicle fleet 12
The move from petrol to diesel was encouraged by legislators 12
Manufacturers have used dirty tactics to keep up with rules 13
Some small signs that consumers are moving away from diesel 13
Manufacturers are improving their designs in readiness 15
Europe will become an attractive market for EVs and Hybrids 16
Rising global coal demand creates contrasting impact on business 18
Expensive energy creates contrast in industrial competitiveness with non-OECD nations 18
Low-cost coal continues to rule in non-OECD countries, helping industry 20
Cheap coal keeps prices down for consumers, encouraging use 21
Trump and coal: Dumping waste in water could harm unrelated industries 22
Impact of coal on fresh water has wider ramifications for economies 22
Environmental laws on coal helps renewable energy across the world 24
The pacific Trash Vortex: Oceanic Plastic pollution and the impact on business 25
The extent of oceanic plastic pollution is colossal, raising concerns about the use of plastic in the consumer society 25
Microbeads in the oceans could be making fish and marine life toxic, threatening numerous industries 26
Government policy on plastic waste is forcing companies to change, opening up fresh opportunities 26
Decline in plastic bag use prompted by government action increases demand for alternatives 27
Industry successfully turned UK government policy away from tough targets on non-recyclable plastic use 28
Growing influence of corporate responsibility the consequence of oceanic plastic pollution 28
New companies with innovative solutions to ocean plastic pollution enter the market 29
New technology seeks to solve environmental problems caused by waste plastic 30
Big industry: Dell converts ocean plastic waste into packing for laptops 31
Rising Sea Levels will impact the global economy making some cities uninhabitable 32
Current projections of sea level rise suggest disaster is looming 32
China and Netherlands heavily exposed to population displacement 33
US, China and India have billions of dollars of exposed assets 35
Sea level rises will affect inland areas too through river floods 36
Avoiding these problems is looking increasingly unlikely 36
Companies and governments need to make difficult decisions 38
Climate Change and Food Security: The Global Threat 39
Impact of climate change on agriculture is unevenly spread - tropical regions will suffer the most, threatening supplies 39
Crop yields around the world fail to keep pace as climate change sets in 40
Conditions demand a second ”˜green revolution’ - this time to create resilience against extreme weather events 41
Pesticide use in response to climate change harms food security throughout the world 42
Growing food insecurity is damaging economies and creating political strife 43
Agriculture in Africa is sensitive to the effects of climate change, potentially causing political and social mayhem 43
Desertification will get worse, harming food security, with the onset of climate change 44
Business action points 45
Appendix 46
Sources 46
Further Reading 47
Ask the analyst 48
About MarketLine 48
Disclaimer 48