State Ownership and Climate Change Mitigation : Overcoming the Carbon Curse?

Climate policies have often focused on the role of State as a regulator. Meanwhile, their role as leading economic actors, especially as shareholders and investors, has been neglected. State-owned enterprises control significant shares of economic sectors which are central to a carbon-intensive economy (e.g. fossil fuels, power generation), in particular in emerging economies. Positioned within a general trend towards active ownership, this article seeks to initiate a debate on the role that State ownership policies could play in mitigating climate change. After assessing the position of State-owned enterprises in relevant sectors and countries, the article explores policy opportunities for State ownership policies not just to divest from unsustainable practices, but to actively lead the way towards a carbon-neutral economy