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Retirement

Climate change set to affect your super

By
  • September 24 2019
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Retirement

Climate change set to affect your super

By
September 24 2019

Superannuation funds could be 0.25 of a percentage point a year worse off for the foreseeable future when climate change is factored in, an asset consultant has advised.

Climate change set to affect your super

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By
  • September 24 2019
  • Share

Superannuation funds could be 0.25 of a percentage point a year worse off for the foreseeable future when climate change is factored in, an asset consultant has advised.

Retired old couple

According to investment advisory firm Frontier Advisors, even under the best conditions where governments around the world reduce carbon, superannuation will take a hit.

Under the worst-case scenario, investors in long-term assets such as superannuation will lose 0.5 of a percentage point a year by 2065 and nearly 1 per cent a year by 2100.

Principal consultant at Frontier Advisors Philip Naylor believes the upfront cost will be far less than the long-term implications.

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“The primary driver of this downward revision has been the long-term impact on the global economy of climate change,” Mr Naylor outlined. 

Retired old couple

He said that “there are costs of transitioning to a low-carbon economy, but the long-term costs of global warming and extreme weather events are far greater”. 

Frontier has completed modelling of a number of possible policy pathways and potential climate change impacts, including an ambitious model where global warming is limited to a 2 degree increase outcome and pledges made under the Paris Agreement outcome.

“There are a number of possible future scenarios, with the degree of impact dependent on a range of different policy path responses policymakers make in the future,” Mr Naylor explained.

When considering climate change impacts, Frontier examined the potential impact of climate change on investment returns across a number of different policy paths.

Their resultant downward revision is effectively based on a best-case outcome that governments around the world reduce carbon emissions and limit global warming.

Frontier concluded that if actions to limit temperature rises by reducing carbon emissions are not achieved, then the outcome for the economy and investments will be much worse.

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About the author

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Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

About the author

author image

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

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