Mike Scott

Bournemouth, London

Business & environment writer, contributor to FT, Forbes, Guardian, Reuters, Bloomberg, and others. Winner, 2023 Sustainability Freelancer of the year award

Articles

Why high-yield dispersion is set to mount as market risks rise

3 weeks ago | trustnet.com | Mike Scott

This is a complex moment for the global economy. After a relatively benign period, the policies of the US administration threaten to destabilise its fragile equilibrium. The uncertainty surrounding the implementation of tariffs and the resolution of geopolitical tensions continues to create a difficult backdrop for financial markets. The impact of tariffs is unpredictable and there are likely to be implications for both sides. Tariffs are not a zero-sum game.
Producing Profit In The Desert - Pure Harvest Enjoys Fruits Of Success

1 month ago | forbes.com | Mike Scott

Self-sufficiency in food is important for any country, and it can lead to some strange developments, such as the fields of crops that were perfect circles or semicircles because of the design of the irrigation system, surrounded by the arid deserts of Saudi Arabia.
Water Risks Are Growing. Firms Must Act Now To Secure Supplies

2 months ago | forbes.com | Mike Scott

With the resource becoming increasingly scarce and polluted, businesses should treat their wastewater in-house, says industry chief. Water is the hidden ingredient in many products and production processes, but it is taking an increasingly central role as concerns over supply grow and the pressure on water utilities intensifies. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, home to a company that is helping to address water issues for industry.
ESG Watch: Companies ‘complacent about cybercrime’, despite rise in risk from AI | Reuters

2 months ago | reuters.com | Mike Scott

In the World Economic Forum’s latest Global Risks Report three of the top 10 risks are technological: misinformation and disinformation; adverse outcomes of AI technologies; and cyber espionage and warfare.
Bridging the water finance gap as climate impacts bite

Jan 7, 2025 | reuters.com | Mike Scott

Low water levels are seen at Lake Powell in Page, Arizona, due to growing demand for water and climate change.
ESG Watch: COP29 delegates look for rays of hope on climate action amid gloom about Trump victory

Nov 13, 2024 | reuters.com | Mike Scott

White House Senior Advisor for Clean Energy and International Climate Policy, John Podesta, holds a press conference during the United Nations climate change conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan November 11, 2024.
Solar Cells That Work Without Sunlight Open Way For Self-Powered Devices

Oct 27, 2024 | forbes.com | Mike Scott

In a previous article, I wrote that if you were to start a solar business, the Nordic region would not be the obvious choice, and yet the challenges of doing so have created a thriving sector. But there is one place that’s even less obviously suited to solar power – indoors. But that is where another Scandinavian solar company’s products come into their own, providing solar power without sunlight.
Harsh Scandinavian Conditions Create Conditions For Solar To Thrive

Oct 1, 2024 | forbes.com | Mike Scott

If you were planning to start a business selling solar panels, the very last place you would do it is Scandinavia. “It is the worst place on earth to start a solar company,” says Andreas Thorsheim, CEO and founder of Otovo, a Norwegian enterprise that has become Europe’s leading residential solar company. “It’s not just that we have the worst solar conditions in Europe.
ESG Watch: Transition credits set to help Asia shift from coal

Oct 1, 2024 | reuters.com | Mike Scott

Chimneys of a coal-fired power plant are seen behind a gate in Shanghai, China.
Food brands and investors scramble to stave off risk of stranded assets

Aug 22, 2024 | reuters.com | Mike Scott

Food system increasingly at risk from climate change, facing both physical and transition challenges Agricultural investments could turn into liabilities due to environmental and market shifts Livestock faces financial risks linked to methane emissions, rising feed costs and plant-based rivals While Investors focus on lower-risk food companies, farmers left to manage climate risk gaps Mars and other companies launch finance framework to support regenerative agriculture August 21 - The food...