Private equity firms collectively oversee $7.3 trillion in assets, giving them the financial leverage to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels—but their energy portfolios still include major investments in natural gas and coal-fired power plants, particularly to supply datacenters. A new report reveals these firms’ combined energy holdings emit 1.5 billion tons of greenhouse gases annually, surpassing the yearly emissions of every country except the four largest polluters globally. While their scale could drive cleaner energy transitions, current investments contradict that potential by locking in high-carbon infrastructure. The findings highlight a stark disconnect between financial influence and climate action in the private sector.
Firms manage $7.3tn in assets and could afford to transition away from fossil fuels yet invest in natural gas and coal-fired plants to power datacentersThe energy portfolios of 20 private equity firms produce 1.5bn tons of greenhouse gases a year, more than the annual emissions of any country except China, the US, India and Russia, according to a new report.Together, these firms manage $7.3tn in assets of all kinds, affording them the ability to shape the pace of the transition away from fossil fuels. However their energy investments include significant fossil fuel assets including natural gas and coal-fired power plants to provide electricity to datacenters. Continue reading...
