Newsletter - Week of Oct 16, 2023
Hi All,
This week's theme is NATURE. I had the privilege of visiting Oxfordshire this week with WWF & Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to visit the Ingleborough nature restoration site that my company is supporting and I was surprised to learn that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world - bottom 10%. Perhaps it was the naive American/Korean perspective, but I always thought London looked much greener than NYC and also, the countryside is always beautiful with the greenery scene. Apparently, after WWII, per government policy, many trees were cut down from the mountains to turn the land into grazing farmlands for sheep and cattle for farmers. To read more about this please check out my other post.
As always let me know if you have any suggestions and/or feedback! If you liked it, please subscribe and share it with your friends, colleagues and family. Also, ping me if you want to collaborate!
Have a great week! :D
📈Markets & Investing
- My weekly global market recap can be found here.
- Global Tech: Generative AI and Asset Management - As I am taking courses on machine learning and AI, I've been paying attention to chatGPT's arrival and where it could go next, and it appears generative AI is now making center stage in the financial industry; at least in the US firms.
🌍 Sustainability
Me: What is humanity's value-add to the Earth?
Dr. Tim, Project manager-ecologist: What do you mean value-add? We are a species - we are part of her.
- For more about my recent trip with WWF to Ingleborough National Nature Reserve - Yorkshire's nature restoration project site, please visit this page.
- What is the British countryside really for? (FT, Oct 20 2023)
Key takeaways:
- UK aims to plant new woodland across 8,400 sq km and protect 400,000 hectares for biodiversity by 2030 while building 300,000 homes per year.
- RSPB study suggests 22% of UK farmland needs to change use to reach net zero emissions by 2050, altering food production.
- Only four out of nine scenarios in the RSPB study achieve net zero in land use by 2050, with the best scenario reducing farmland from 60% to 47%.
- Farmers face dilemmas as new policies like required woodland coverage for subsidies may impact their practices and livelihoods.
- Multifunctional landscapes proposed as a solution to meet climate goals without compromising food security, integrating woodland on less productive agricultural land.
- Can you reach net zero by 2050? (FT interactive game)
- What Peak Oil Tells Us About Climate Goals (Bloomberg Green, Oct 22, 2023) based on the bloomberg Green's Zero podcast: “Historically, if you're predicting peak oil, it's like you're predicting peak economic growth, which is a disaster for the world” Fickling tells Akshat Rathi on Zero. “I don't think we are talking about that now. We have substitutes, and they're becoming more effective by the year.” It’s not as easy as declaring peak oil is here and putting up your feet to relax, however; oil has gone through many boom and bust cycles that have come back to haunt doomsayers.
- Net zero: Next moves for CEOs (McKinsey, Jan 2023):
Key takeaways:
- Non-Linear Path: Achieving net zero is a non-linear journey with short-term disruptions like geopolitical events.
- Investing Amidst Duality: Leaders need to manage short-term challenges while investing in long-term decarbonization.
- Economic Trade-offs: Balancing between decarbonization, job creation, and other sustainability goals is crucial.
- Market Dynamics: Identifying areas for green premiums or market share gains is key for sustainable value creation.
- Strategic Partnerships: Collaborative approaches with supply chain partners can help manage risks in transitioning to net zero.
- UN committee deadlocked on climate disaster recovery fund (CNBC, Oct 21, 2023): United Nations representatives failed to come to an agreement on how to establish a fund that would finance the recovery of climate disasters in developing nations. Countries agreed last year on the establishment of a so-called loss and damage fund, but created a committee to negotiate the terms of the fund later. The UN committee is supposed to settle on official recommendations to set up the fund before this year’s Climate Conference, which will take place at the end of November.
- Underestimating the Damage From Climate Change - Rosy assumptions about economic growth help minimize the urgency of mitigation measures. (WSJ, Oct 16, 2023)
🧘🏽 Conscious living
- On leadership: This week's episode is on Queen Elizabeth I, my other hero. Hope you can enjoy reading about her life and get inspired by how she put the UK on the map!
- Grounding and root chakra: In my mindfulness class, the instructor Daniela @womenmakestories told us that holding the energy of 'peace and stillness' is the best way to support and bring peace to the world in this seemingly chaotic time. This calm energy and presence will have a ripple effect and mirror back to people who are caught in the whirlwind of a storm.
- As I delved deeper into this practice, the concept of focusing on the root chakra, situated at the base of our spine, emerged as a profound pathway to achieving this tranquility. This chakra is like our energetic tether to the earth, epitomizing our basic survival instincts and our essential human needs. The color red, intrinsically linked to the root chakra, is a robust hue that resonates with our earthly existence, embodying power, vigor, and a zest for life. As I meditated on this radiant color and nurtured my root chakra, a serene anchor amidst the tempest began to form, aiding in retaining a balanced and centered demeanor. This practice transcended being merely an inward journey; it blossomed into a celebration of our human resilience and our deep-seated connection to the world around us. Even as chaos attempted to engulf the serenity, this grounding practice ensured a stance of resilience, poise, and a firm rootedness in our essence. Through this spiritual endeavor, navigating through the stormy seas of life with grace, steadiness, and a heart brimming with fortitude became an enlightening experience. Each meditation session became a step towards not only personal tranquility but a subtle contribution to the world's collective peace, resonating the calm energy outward in ripples of serene resilience. Check out this 15 min crystal bowl sound-healing music to support your root chakra during your meditation if you want to try it out for yourself! :)
😍 My Favorites
🎥 Movie: Wes Anderson is one of my favorite directors along with Christopher Nolan. I re-activated my Netflix subscription to watch Wes Anderson's new short movie, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. I was surprised to find out there are more shows with non-English dubbing, so if you are like me - who's trying to learn other languages, Netflix has definitely upped their game (not sponsored).
📺YouTube: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and CTO Mira Murati on the Future of AI and ChatGPT (WSJ Tech Live, Oct 21 2023): OpenAI executives Sam Altman and Mira Murati discussed the rapid advancement of AI creativity, the potential of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the necessity of significant capital for their mission, the importance of international regulation for AI safety, and the societal implications of job displacement due to AI, emphasizing a proactive approach to ensure broader societal involvement and equitable benefits distribution.
📺YouTube: The Godfather of AI; General Milley; Rich Paul; 3D Printing (Oct 9, 2023, 60 Minutes): The episode discusses the advancements in AI and concerns associated with it, such as the potential for AI to surpass human intelligence, self-awareness, and the implications like unemployment and autonomous battlefield robots. It also highlights the neural network mechanism where machines learn through trial and error to improve their learning, and mentions an interaction with OpenAI's chat GPT-4. It also covers General Mark Milley's military leadership under different presidencies, sports agent Rich Paul's rise in the NBA sphere, and Icon's revolutionary 3D printing technology aimed at affordable housing and potential Moon colonization.
📚 IG/Podcast/Book recommendations from the Yorkshire nature restoration site visit with WWF:
- Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm (Mar, 2019)
- Talking to My Daughter about the Economy: A Brief History of Capitalism (Jan, 2013)
- Comforting vegan food Instagram @ellysplate
🎵 Music: I was here. Queen Beyonce's legendary music! This is a clip from 11 years ago yet never fails to give me goosebumps and tears. I think Beyonce had a moment of tears welling up in her eyes in the video as well.
I want to leave my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something that, something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets
Leave something to remember, so they won't forgetI was here, I lived, I loved, I was here
I did, I've done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was hereI wanna say I lived each day, until I died
I know that I had something in somebody's life
The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave
That I made a difference and this world will seeI was here, I lived, I loved, I was here
I did, I've done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will knowI was here, I lived, I loved, I was here
I did, I've done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was hereI just want them to know
That I gave my all, did my best
Brought someone some happiness
Left this world a little better just because
I was hereI was here, I lived, I loved, I was here
I did, I've done, everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I wanna leave my mark so everyone will knowI was here, I lived, I loved, I was here
I did, I've done
I was here, I lived, I loved, I was here
I did, I've done
I was here
👍 Quote of the week
