How much of the world’s fossil fuel reserves will eventually be burnt? This is not just a question for those concerned with climate policy. It is also a question for investors even if they believe (absurdly, in my view) that the science of climate change is a hoax. What, they must ask themselves, would it mean for my investments in fossil fuel exploration and production if policy makers acted on their expressed belief in the science of climate change? Where would that leave investments in companies that own reserves today and are investing in exploration and additional production for tomorrow? Might all this spending prove a disastrous waste of resources that would be better deployed elsewhere?
世界化石燃料储量中，最终将有多少被燃烧？这不仅是那些关注气候政策的人士面对的问题，也是投资者眼前的问题，即便他们认为气候变化科学是忽悠人的（在我看来，这种观点有些荒谬）。他们必须问一下自己，如果政策制定者们按照他们对气候变化科学的看法采取行动，那对我在化石燃料勘探和生产上的投资将意味着什么？拥有化石燃料储量、并准备面向未来投资于勘探和扩大生产的企业的投资会发生什么？事实会否证明，所有这些支出都是对资源的巨大浪费，不如把这些资源投入其他领域？