Jeremy Leggett on the systemic risk in energy markets and the shift to a new narrative

May 10, 2014

In his keynote address, Jeremy Leggett addressed the systemic risk that climate change poses to energy markets. As chairman of the Carbon Tracker Initiative, he guided the narrative of the “Carbon Bubble,” changing the conversation around investment and regulation in the energy industry. He discussed the nature of intersecting risks from climate, the carbon bubble, the shale surprise, and the oil shock, demonstrating how financial-sector shock permeates all of them.

Leggett is the founder and chairman of Solarcentury—an international solar solutions company—and SolarAid—an African solar lighting charity. His book, The Energy of Nations: Risk Blindness and the Road to Renaissance examines the interdependent risks of global oil supply, climate shock, and financial collapse.

The Five Thousand Pound Life (5KL) is an initiative of The Architectural League on new ways of thinking, talking, and acting on architecture, climate change, and our economic future.

The Energy Issue is a GSAPP initiative to make energy a cultural issue, launched in partnership with Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope®.