Clean Trillion

Global clean energy transition is both essential and irreversible, and it will generate tens of trillions of dollars of clean energy investment opportunities over the decades to come. Energy market dynamics have shifted in favor of clean energy such as wind and solar, which increasingly out-compete new fossil fuel and nuclear power sources. As the clean energy market continues to mature and expand into a mainstream, large-scale market, there is a growing and diversifying array of investment opportunities.

Achieving the Clean Trillion is eminently feasible, and our most recent research points to the significant opportunities for investors to scale up their clean energy investments while meeting their risk-return requirements. Companies likewise are realizing the economic benefits of shifting to clean energy as they make commitments to meet their energy demands with renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electrification of vehicle fleets.

“I call on the investor community to build on the strong momentum from Paris and seize the opportunities for clean energy growth. I challenge investors to double – at a minimum – their clean energy investments by 2020. Sustainable, clean energy is growing, but not nearly fast enough to meet energy demand which is required by what science tells. The investor community is of critical importance if we are to move from aspirations to action.” — Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 

Despite the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, more than 3,800 investors and companies have signed onto the We Are Still In movement, demonstrating that the U.S. business community is still committed to tackling climate change and investing in a low-carbon economy. 

Here’s how investors, companies and policymakers can help make the Clean Trillion a reality. 

Investors can take advantage of clean energy investment opportunities and help grow the clean energy economy by:

• Managing climate and carbon asset risks in their portfolios.
• Investing in clean energy across asset classes.
• Engaging with companies to improve their practices on energy and climate change, including by addressing carbon asset risks.
• Supporting policies that advance clean energy opportunities.
• Working with their advisors, consultants and asset managers to tap an expanding range of clean energy investment opportunities.

These opportunities are detailed in our most recent report In Sight of the Clean Trillion, and additional recommendations can be found in our previous Clean Trillion reports, Mapping the Gap and Investing in the Clean Trillion.

Companies can take advantage of clean energy opportunities and help accelerate the global shift to clean energy by:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions across their operations and supply chains
• Improving energy efficiency/productivity and reducing electricity demand
• Meeting electricity needs with renewable energy sources
• Electrifying vehicle fleets, and installing Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure to support employee and/or customer charging needs
• Supporting policies that expand investment in clean energy

For additional recommendations and opportunities for how companies can improve their climate and sustainability performance, see the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability. And learn more about how companies are advocating for climate and clean energy policies here in the U.S. as members of the Ceres BICEP Network.

Policymakers can support clean energy investment and deployment by enacting policies that:

• Stimulate investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation, including EVs
• Put a limit and set a price on carbon pollution, and phase out subsidies for high-carbon fuels
• Implement the Paris Agreement, the first-ever global accord to tackle climate change

Learn more about the role policy can play to support economic solutions for climate change and how Ceres is mobilizing investors and companies to support stronger climate and clean energy legislation. 

The Ceres Clean Trillion seeks to ramp up investments in clean energy around the world at the speed and scale required. This important goal comprises both a tremendous challenge and enormous opportunity, and is achievable if investors, companies and policymakers take action to advance clean energy leadership, action and solutions.

“Ceres has played a key role in catalyzing the flow of capital to support the low-carbon transition. It was at the heart of landmark announcements from the investor community that assisted in demonstrating to governments that trillions of dollars are now shifting – crucial for helping to build the confidence that inspired the adoption of the historic Paris Agreement." — Ban Ki-moon, Former Secretary General, United Nations (at the Ceres Investor Summit on Climate Risk)