CHICAGO, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM), BP Plc (NYSEARCA: BP), General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Toyota Motors (NYSE: TM).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101027/ZIRLOGO)
Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513
Here are highlights from Wednesday's Analyst Blog:
Global Divide Over Global Warming
Nearly 200 countries have converged on South Africa for the climate conference, which is currently underway in the city of Durban. Climate change conferences primarily focus on reaching a consensus to reduce global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Kyoto Protocol (1997) had identified developed countries as primarily responsible for high levels of greenhouse gas emissions following decades of unbridled industrialization. The protocol requires countries to lower emissions according to pre-agreed targets, but does not impose penalties.
Although the Durban conference comes at an important juncture because the commitment under the Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2012, the possibility of a consensus emerging among participating countries remains unlikely. The division appears to have particularly sharpened between the industrialized bloc and the Asian giants like China and India in terms of who should bear the larger responsibility.
Meanwhile, the Durban conference has revealed an important statistic. According to a team of German scientists the current carbon commitments will increase global warming by up to 3.5 degrees Celsius as opposed to the United Nation's target of 2 degrees to which governments had agreed on last year.
Although the environmental Kuznets Curve (inverted U-shape) submits that ecological degradation falls as prosperity rises, this does not hold true for the use of energy and natural resources, such as land and water. As a matter of fact, economic growth makes increasing demands on environmental resources. Therefore, as global consumption increases so does global warming.
A global 'Climate Change Initiative' would be incomplete without public-private participation. Innovations on sustainable management of resources would, therefore, have to come from fossil fuels producers such as ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) and BP Plc (NYSEARCA: BP) among others, and their intermediate-user industries like the automotive companies – General Motors (NYSE: GM), Toyota Motors (NYSE: TM), etc.
In Conclusion
The approach to climate change needs to undergo a radical transformation. Financial mechanisms like carbon trading cannot be lasting solutions because they do not address the issue of rising global temperature. To put it in simpler terms, penalizing and dissuading excessive energy consumption may not amount to much on their own.
Sustainable consumption of resources needs to be encouraged and incentivized even as indiscriminate exploitation of resources needs to be penalized through user charges and taxes. Climate change cannot be treated as an item on the balance sheet. In the absence of a tangible roadmap, the impact of climate change would be far-reaching and irreversible for humanity.
Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.
Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
[email protected]
http://www.zacks.com
SOURCE Zacks Investment Research, Inc.
Share this article