Leading futurist sets out vision for the transition

Transition Economist talks to Bank of America’s Haim Israel about how the world can achieve net zero by 2050—and how the associated ‘megatrends’ will shape society and the global economy

Haim Israel has been with Bank of America since 2004 but very much has his eyes on the future. Three years ago he became the global strategist and head of thematic investment research team, which identifies the ‘megatrends’ that will have a profound impact on society over a five-to-ten-year horizon. The thematic team certainly does not engage in the short termism for which financial markets and institutions often attract criticism. “We do not look at the quarterly earnings or valuations,” he says. “We operate one level above the top-to-bottom approach.” “[Net zero] is a very ambitious target with geopolitics and lots of different interests involved, so every delay is critical” Israel