(Daily Caller)—Much-needed light has been shed this past year on the collaboration between investment firms, environmental activists and corporate c-suites to enact a radical Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda. Although ESG runs the gamut of overtly political left-wing causes, none have been more pervasive than the ESG crowd’s obsession with eradicating fossil fuels.
This obsession is more than a shared enthusiasm for environmental conservation. Rather, this obsession places so-called “green energy” policies above profits and has effectively become the business model of the world’s largest corporations.
But how did this happen?
This net-zero business model did not occur in a vacuum. Executives did not just wake up one day and determine that it would be wise to change their practices to paint reliable and affordable fossil fuels as evil and to advance emissions reduction goals by a mutually shared end-date.
This change is the product of years of collaboration between radical left-wing activists, private and public asset managers and woke corporate executives. Indeed, it has become increasingly clear that the corporate world’s efforts to eradicate the use of fossil fuels has been carefully orchestrated by vast “networks” of money managers, environmental and shareholder activists and corporate elitists.
The evidence of such collusion is mounting – and much has been occurring in plain sight.
Consider the tactics of Ceres, a left-wing environmental group that serves as the “collaborator-in-chief” when it comes to getting corporations to adopt net-zero carbon emissions goals. In its own words, Ceres uses “its powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, [to] drive action….”
These “networks” include the largest asset managers and corporations. Its “Investor Network,” which includes more than 220 institutional investors managing more than $60 trillion in assets, touts some of the world’s largest asset managers and shareholders: BlackRock, State Street Global Advisors, CalPERS and both the New York City and New York State Comptrollers. It also includes labor unions like the AFL-CIO and AFSCME, and activists such as the Sierra Club Foundation and As You Sow.
The list of corporations included in Ceres’ “Company Network” is no less remarkable. It includes: Disney, Amazon, Target, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase, to name a few.
Participation in these networks apparently comes with a price tag. “Network Member Dues” made up more than $3.6 million – or 11 percent – of Ceres’ operating revenue in FY2021. What this suggests is that the world’s largest asset managers, like BlackRock, give money to Ceres to participate in its “Investor Network” alongside left-wing shareholder groups like As You Sow. As You Sow is responsible for spearheading net-zero emissions proposals at companies like Amazon, who is also a member of Ceres’ “Company Network” and presumably pays member dues, who then receives the As You Sow proposal, that is voted on by other “Investor Network” members like CalPERS, State Street, and yes, BlackRock.
Say what?
Despite then what appears to present massive conflicts of interest between network members, particularly asset managers and executives who have a fiduciary duty to shareholders, and between companies who are competitors, collaboration between “network” members abound, all in the name of eradicating fossil fuels.
Ceres makes no attempt to hide its collusive cheerleading. It touts its effective facilitation of “collective action” to “stabilize the climate.” And it has been so successful at deploying these tactics that it is a founding partner of Climate Action 100+, which it calls, “the world’s largest investor engagement initiative working to get the biggest corporate polluters to become net-zero businesses.” Climate Action 100+ also happens to be a “collaborator” with the “Investor Network,” demonstrating the many layers upon which these networks operate.
This handholding between corporations (who are otherwise competitors) to advance ESG initiatives and an anti-fossil fuel agenda, has caught the eye of lawmakers. That’s because antitrust laws prohibit anticompetitive business practices. And after all, aren’t the vast networks of collaboration between companies the very thing that groups like Ceres and its partners in the ESG lobby like to brag about?
Well, the ESG lobby has apparently done such a good job bragging about its partnerships that federal lawmakers are investigating whether actions by Climate Action 100+ have resulted in antitrust violations. However, Climate Action 100+ is only one of many such collaborations being investigated, creating a veritable whack-a-mole out of the ESG climate cartel.
As House Republicans continue their efforts to address the radical ESG agenda and the threat its efforts to destroy the oil and gas industry poses to our economy and national security, it may want to consider whether targeted antitrust protections are needed to address the vast “networks” of anti-fossil fuel activists. Until then, it may also find more “collaborators” to investigate, hiding in plain sight.
Sarah Rehberg is Deputy Director of the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
