Should Long-Term Investors Value Profits Over Climate Change?

By Jay Jenkins – Nov 30, 2013 at 8:00AM

OTC: BTU

Peabody Energy Corporation

Should investors be concerned about greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas giants like ConocoPhillips, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, among others? This Fool thinks they should be.

According to a recent study published in the scientific journal, Climatic Change, and reported on by The Guardian, 90 companies have been responsible for nearly two-thirds of all carbon dioxide and methane gas emissions in the entire world since 1750.

As a long-term investor, should you be concerned if your investment appears on this list? Well, if you own shares in BP (BP -1.11%), ConocoPhillips (COP -0.21%), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.B), Peabody Energy (BTU), or Total SA (TTE 0.92%), it's time to ask yourself that very question.

In the video below, Motley Fool contributor Jay Jenkins digs into the numbers for these five companies, and highlights the huge risk for both the environment and for shareholders.

Fool contributor Jay Jenkins has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Total SA. (ADR). We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.