1.
LOW OIL PRICES and THE NEW CLIMATE ECONOMY
Opportunity or constraint?
Luca De Lorenzo
Stockholm Environment Institute

2.
Context: Our energy system is built on fossil fuels
2
Where do lower oil prices leave us in a transition to a low carbon economy?
• Fossil fuels provide ~86% of global energy
• Stable carbon intensity over the last 3 decades

3.
Firstly cheaper oil helps the global economy
Although with uneven effects between consumer and producer countries
3
0,0
0,2
0,4
0,6
0,8
1,0
2016
0,8%
2015
0,7%
Global GDP
points increaseThe world uses approx. 90 million bbl per day...
...so an oil price of $50, rather than $100 per bbl...
...would save consumers $1,6 trillion
0,3%
0,2%
However, there are still many drivers that justify a move beyond fossil fuels...

4.
Volatility hurts the economy
4
1
• Increase decision uncertainty
• Delay business investment
• Costly reallocation of resources
Cost of oil as % of GDP
Reducing exposure to energy price
volatility has economic value
7,6%
0,8%
Source: BP Statistical Review

5.
We should not bank on low oil prices
5
2
• Predictions have hystorically proven
wrong
• OPEC could change sentiment
• Global economic activity could pick
up again
• CAPEX spending slashed by majors
• Varied outlooks already out there

6.
We should not deny fossil fuel subsidies
6
3
Source: Koplow, 2014
Accoding to the International Energy
Agency, fossil fuel subsidies:
 Reached $550 billion value, 2013
 Impose a heavy burden on state
budgets
 By 2020, can represent 0,7% of
global GDP
 Extremely inefficient way to
support the worse off

7.
Recognise that renewable costs are decreasing fast
7
4
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2020 20352030
2015
H1
x2.7
x3.6
x2.6
2012
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
203520302020
-32%
-53%
2015
H11
-56%
2012
2009F
2014F 2014F
2009F
Global forecast of CAPEX for utility scale solar PV
installations, USD/kW
Global forecast of cumulative installed solar power capacity,
GW
“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.”
Albert A. Bartlett

8.
Co-benefits have high value and are not priced in
Particularly relevant in the oil dominated transport sector
8
5
How air pollution has economic costs
Each year of life cut short in turn reduces
the GDP of that country. Productivity is
further reduced by lost work days due to
sickness
Chronic lung and heart diseases are
caused by PM2.5 inhalation, these in
turn cost countries millions in health care
Wheat crops in India were 36% lower in
2010, of which 90% is attributable to air
pollution
Cost of paying for damages associated
with extreme weather events has risen
by 60% over the past 30 years in Europe
Extreme
weather
damage
Agricultural
yield loss
Health-care
costs
Labour
costs
3.7%UK
Germany
USA
4.5%
India 6.0%
1.5%
5.8%China
Estimated costs (% GDP)
Source: WHO 2014 , New Climate Economy, 2014, OECD, 2007

9.
We should reflect on signals from long-term investors
9
6
• Reallocation of capital, both within
companies and at market level
• Potential for fossil fuel assets to
become ”stranded”
• Institutional investors becoming more
active shareholders
• Long term players (pension funds,
insurances, central banks) increasingly
considering climate risks
“The exposure of UK investors, including insurance
companies, to climate shifts is potentially huge”
Mark Carney, Governor Bank of England
In order to fulfil long-term liabilities, insurers like
Allianz need stable investments and long-term yields
– and this is exactly what wind and solar farms have
to offer”
David Jones, Head of Renewables at Allianz

10.
So are low oil prices an opportunity to correct course?
10
Fuel price volatility
Renewables getting cheaper
Fossil fuel subsidies
Investors concerns
Co-benefits drivers

11.
Take advantage of low price to reform energy markets
11
Remove fossil fuel subsidies Introduce a price on carbon
• As many as 27 countries are
now undertaking reforms
• 40 countries + over 20 jurisdictions have carbon pricing
• Another 26 countries/jurisdictions considering

12.
Play it safe and take a long-term view despite low price
12
Keep the investment momentum in renewable energy
Source: McCrone et al., 2015
Global renewable energy investment
(US$billion)
• $270 billion in 2014
• 35% more capacity than 2011
• Cross over, more RE capacity
addition than fossil fuel in 2013

13.
Realize that a low carbon transition can help reduce
pressure on fossil prices in the future
13
• There are plenty of reserves already, oil, gas and
coal – not all might be developed (stranded assets)
• Current lower prices are scaling back investments in
further developments and exploration
• Opportunity to recalibrate investment strategies
and maintain steps to a low-carbon economy
• Lower future demand vs. BAU – outlook for lower
prices (IEA models as much as 35% lower in a 2C
scenario)
• Abundance of fossil fuels, questioning development
of high-cost oil resources

14.
Concluding remarks
• Oil (and fossil fuels) still dominate the energy mix and lower prices are a
welcome help to the global economy
• However, we should not allow this to derail our transition towards a better,
more sustainable energy system as the long term economic benefits of
structural changes to economies and energy systems remain valid
• In fact we should see this as an opportunity to reform our energy markets
– True costs of fossil fuels and reduce their subsidies
– Introduce a price for carbon
– Target some of the long lasting co-benefits
14

15.
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Thoughts?