Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 12h

Read @brettchristophers.bsky.social's The Price is Wrong with my book club and it was awesome. I learned a lot about the electricity market from this very insightful (albeit slightly depressing if you aim to avoid dangerous climate change) application of PE (with nice Polanyi ref)

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 23h

Flashbacks to my first job working on an earlier Argentinean crisis. That on this occasion a libertarian extremist is asking for a governmental bail-out, though, tells you all you need to know about the fairy-tale nature of their ideology. Living in economic la-la-land till the powerful also get hit

Peterson Institute for International Economics @piie.com · 1d

Even concrete US interventions are unlikely to save Argentina's peso for long unless they go further than so far promised—though it might give Milei a rickety bridge through the October election without an embarrassing devaluation.
By Maurice Obstfeld:

America's Argentina rescue won’t save the peso for long

The Argentine peso is in trouble again, but this time the US government is riding to the rescue. In late September, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced several supportive measures, including po...

www.piie.com

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 3d

Guest lecture with political economists @radboudpol.bsky.social, love it! Good discussions on using climate litigation to address corporate power and governance gaps. Thanks for having me @angelawigger.bsky.social!

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 6d

Once more for the people in the back #Offsets. Are. A. Scam. Deep and fast corporate CO2 emission reductions are what is needed. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says

Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

www.theguardian.com

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 9d

It never amounted to much substantive let alone Paris proof - and now it amounts to even less

The Banker @thebanker.bsky.social · 9d

The Net-Zero Banking Alliance has dissolved. Once representing $75.5tn in assets, it now provides guidance only—a move commentators see as a major setback for collective climate action.

on.ft.com/4mM0lDI

Climate alliance NZBA disbands as banks vote for guidance-only role

The group’s downfall follows the departure of prominent banks and pressure from the US

www.thebanker.com

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 9d

World Animal Protection NL has filed an @oecd-ocde.bsky.social complaint against Rabobank for its inadequate and recently weakened animal welfare policies while the bank invest billions in problematic companies like JBS and Tyson Foods www.worldanimalprotection.nl/nieuws/oeso-...

OESO-klacht tegen Rabobank voor financieren dierenleed

World Animal Protection dient een OESO-klacht in tegen Rabobank vanwege de financiering van dierenleed.

www.worldanimalprotection.nl

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 11d

Such a loss to the nature movement, RIP

Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 11d

My favourite Jane Goodall quotes....so many, so to the point, so wise. How different the world would be if enough people listened to her.

"People think hope is wishful thinking, and actually hope is about action." Quote from the Wiser Than Me podcast with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

"Only when our clever brain and our human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our true potential." Graphic by the Jane Goodall Institute of South Africa.

"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." Graphic by Ariana Huffington on Instagram.

Reposted by Jasper Blom

Market Forces @marketforces.org.au · 14d

A decade ago, then-Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, delivered his landmark "Tragedy of the Horizon" speech—highlighting the systemic financial risks posed by #climate change. 🧵 1/3

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 14d

De platgeslagen versie hiervan: rechts beleid is slecht voor de economie. Was getekend, Wobke Hoekstra. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Environmental damage is putting European way of life at risk, says report

EU officials warn climate breakdown and wildlife loss ‘are ruining ecosystems that underpin the economy’

www.theguardian.com

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 18d

Terrein weer een vrijstaat voor het ADM collectief, wanneer? www.parool.nl/amsterdam/ge...

Gemeente Amsterdam koopt voor 165 miljoen ADM-terrein terug van Wim Beelen

Na jarenlang gesteggel tussen de gemeente Amsterdam en havenondernemer Wim Beelen komt het ADM-terrein in de Amsterdamse haven weer in handen van de gemeente. De gemeente legt er 165 miljoen euro voor...

www.parool.nl

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Reposted by Jasper Blom

Finance Watch @financewatch.bsky.social · 19d

🧵 New report: “A trillion dollars of climate risk” 📊🔥

Finance Watch’s latest research reveals the world’s 60 largest banks hold $1.1–1.6 trillion in fossil fuel exposures.
This creates a dangerous climate-finance feedback loop.

Let’s break it down 🧵👇

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 19d

Stop doing bad things:
'Intensive farming practices have had a significant impact (...) Farmland bird populations have fallen by about 62%'

Start doing good things:
'woodland bird populations are beginning to stabilise as more habitat is restored across the UK'

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Wild bird numbers continue to fall in UK with some species in ‘dramatic freefall’

Species index fell by 4% between 2019 and 2024 – although data shows woodland populations beginning to stabilise

www.theguardian.com

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 19d

... Het creëert een mooie narratieve tegenstelling, maar negeert dat de Ecologistische intellectuele traditie ook teruggaat tot de 19e eeuw: er loopt een duidelijke lijn van Thoreau naar Hickel. GroenLinks deed daar mss niet altijd voldoende mee, maar de groene partijfamilie wel

Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 19d

Stuk laat mooi de ideologische uitdaging van de fusie partij zien (en hoe de leden op zijn minst partieel geïnformeerd werden toen de partijtop steeds riep in het begin 'dit is geen fusiebesluit'). Ik heb wel moeite met de ontkenning van de Groene ideologische traditie...

De Groene Amsterdammer @groene.nl · 19d

Na vier jaar praten is de linkse fusie bijna een feit. Zijn de verschillen tussen GroenLinks en PvdA overbrugd? En hoe ziet hun gezamelijke toekomst eruit? Vier jaar lang volgde politiek journalist @coenvdven.bsky.social de fusiegesprekken 👉 buff.ly/CeXAUtV

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 19d

Vrij wonderlijk om op 1 dag twee verschillende stembusakkoorden te tekenen op hetzelfde thema...

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Reposted by Jasper Blom

Positive Money Europe @positivemoneyeu.bsky.social · 19d

⏰ Last week to apply! We're #hiring a Researcher to explore how finance can reduce inequality, fund a green transition & shape a democratic digital euro.

€48.4k/year + great benefits (holidays, insurance, hybrid + EU remote)

Apply by Sunday ⬇️ positivemoney.org/vacancy/rese...

We're hiring: Researcher

This is an exceptional opportunity for a researcher passionate about new economic thinking.

positivemoney.org

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Reposted by Jasper Blom

Milieudefensie @milieudefensie.bsky.social · 21d

Donderdag kwam ING met een klimaatrapport. 📝

Spoiler: het zijn 30 pagina’s vol kletspraat en herhaling. Niks nieuws, en dat is schokkend.

Terwijl de klimaatcrisis uit de klauwen loopt, blijft ING - bankier van de klimaatcrisis - stilzitten. Dit bevestigt de noodzaak van onze klimaatzaak tegen ING.

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 21d

Wonderful start of @hetactiefonds.bsky.social donor day with speeches from within the movement, historical anecdotes, and proud supporters

Slide stating 'Het Actiefonds, 57 jaar solidariteit'

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 23d

Dit dus. Het zou lachwekkend zijn als het tegelijk niet zo gevaarlijk was

De Speld @speld.nl · 23d

Opa die in verzet zat tegen nazi’s blijkt lid te zijn geweest van terroristische organisatie

Opa Harm was tot voor kort dé trots van de familie: hij zat tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog in het verzet tegen de nazi’s.

speld.nl

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 24d

Whohoo, hardcopies! This makes me more happy than I guess it should in the 21st century. Anyways, for normal people: doi.org/10.54648/euc... #BankClimateTransitionPlans

Hardcopies of the academic journals European Company Law

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Reposted by Jasper Blom

BankTrack @banktrack.bsky.social · 24d

ING released its 2025 climate update today. Disappointingly, the Dutch bank has failed to take any new steps to restrict financing for fossil fuel expansion.

www.ing.com/Newsroom/New...

ING publishes Climate Update 2025

Today we published our Climate Update 2025

www.ing.com

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 25d

The withdrawal from ESG policies under Trump pressure is costing US asset managers business (and rightly so). Long-term investing does not sit comfortably with a climate catastrophe www.netzeroinvestor.net/news-and-vie...

European asset owners are doubling down on climate – managers might want to take note

Gustave Loriot-Boserup, founder of Compass Insights argues that many asset owners remain committed to tackling climate change, this could offer an important opportunity for managers

www.netzeroinvestor.net

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Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 28d

When niche debt instruments (seemingly based in regularly arbitrage) suddenly grow, that always bodes well, right? Right??!?

Tony Tassell @tonytassell.bsky.social · 28d

The niche debt tool at the heart of Apollo’s private credit machine - very good piece by @leeharris.ft.com on the rise of funding agreement-backed notes (FABN) which are treated treated like an insurance liability for ratings purposes but raises capital like a bond. www.ft.com/content/4459...

The niche debt tool at the heart of Apollo’s private credit machine

How Apollo’s in-house insurer has raised capital to fund the group’s lending, without turning to policyholders

www.ft.com

Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 28d

Worth the read! 'A dramatic climate-insurance breakdown that shocks the financial system of entire national economies will be preceded by something more banal, but perhaps equally sinister: years of more vulnerable communities getting more squeezed' www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/ins...

Insurance in the Polycrisis | Kate Mackenzie & Tim Sahay

The future is triage on an uninsurable earth.

www.phenomenalworld.org

Jasper Blom @jasprblom.bsky.social · 29d

'markets may be powerful, but they are not enough. Markets found an alternative to whale oil; whaling increased nonetheless. It took a ban to save the whales. It’s not sufficient to have a hand, invisible or not. You have to decide what you’re going to do with it' www.theguardian.com/news/2025/se...

‘We’ve done it before’: how not to lose hope in the fight against ecological disaster

Some days it can feel as if climate catastrophe is inevitable. But history is full of cases – such as the banning of whaling and CFCs – that show humanity can come together to avert disaster

www.theguardian.com

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