(Daily Caller)—Much-needed light has been shed this past year on the collaboration between investment firms, environmental activists and corporate c-suites to enact a radical Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda. Although ESG runs the gamut of overtly political left-wing causes, none have been more pervasive than the ESG crowd’s obsession with eradicating fossil fuels.
This obsession is more than a shared enthusiasm for environmental conservation. Rather, this obsession places so-called “green energy” policies above profits and has effectively become the business model of the world’s largest corporations.
But how did this happen?
This net-zero business model did not occur in a vacuum. Executives did not just wake up one day and determine that it would be wise to change their practices to paint reliable and affordable fossil fuels as evil and to advance emissions reduction goals by a mutually shared end-date.
This change is the product of years of collaboration between radical left-wing activists, private and public asset managers and woke corporate executives. Indeed, it has become increasingly clear that the corporate world’s efforts to eradicate the use of fossil fuels has been carefully orchestrated by vast “networks” of money managers, environmental and shareholder activists and corporate elitists.
The evidence of such collusion is mounting – and much has been occurring in plain sight.
Consider the tactics of Ceres, a left-wing environmental group that serves as the “collaborator-in-chief” when it comes to getting corporations to adopt net-zero carbon emissions goals. In its own words, Ceres uses “its powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, [to] drive action….”
These “networks” include the largest asset managers and corporations. Its “Investor Network,” which includes more than 220 institutional investors managing more than $60 trillion in assets, touts some of the world’s largest asset managers and shareholders: BlackRock, State Street Global Advisors, CalPERS and both the New York City and New York State Comptrollers. It also includes labor unions like the AFL-CIO and AFSCME, and activists such as the Sierra Club Foundation and As You Sow.
The list of corporations included in Ceres’ “Company Network” is no less remarkable. It includes: Disney, Amazon, Target, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase, to name a few.
Participation in these networks apparently comes with a price tag. “Network Member Dues” made up more than $3.6 million – or 11 percent – of Ceres’ operating revenue in FY2021. What this suggests is that the world’s largest asset managers, like BlackRock, give money to Ceres to participate in its “Investor Network” alongside left-wing shareholder groups like As You Sow. As You Sow is responsible for spearheading net-zero emissions proposals at companies like Amazon, who is also a member of Ceres’ “Company Network” and presumably pays member dues, who then receives the As You Sow proposal, that is voted on by other “Investor Network” members like CalPERS, State Street, and yes, BlackRock.
Say what?
Despite then what appears to present massive conflicts of interest between network members, particularly asset managers and executives who have a fiduciary duty to shareholders, and between companies who are competitors, collaboration between “network” members abound, all in the name of eradicating fossil fuels.
Ceres makes no attempt to hide its collusive cheerleading. It touts its effective facilitation of “collective action” to “stabilize the climate.” And it has been so successful at deploying these tactics that it is a founding partner of Climate Action 100+, which it calls, “the world’s largest investor engagement initiative working to get the biggest corporate polluters to become net-zero businesses.” Climate Action 100+ also happens to be a “collaborator” with the “Investor Network,” demonstrating the many layers upon which these networks operate.
This handholding between corporations (who are otherwise competitors) to advance ESG initiatives and an anti-fossil fuel agenda, has caught the eye of lawmakers. That’s because antitrust laws prohibit anticompetitive business practices. And after all, aren’t the vast networks of collaboration between companies the very thing that groups like Ceres and its partners in the ESG lobby like to brag about?
Well, the ESG lobby has apparently done such a good job bragging about its partnerships that federal lawmakers are investigating whether actions by Climate Action 100+ have resulted in antitrust violations. However, Climate Action 100+ is only one of many such collaborations being investigated, creating a veritable whack-a-mole out of the ESG climate cartel.
As House Republicans continue their efforts to address the radical ESG agenda and the threat its efforts to destroy the oil and gas industry poses to our economy and national security, it may want to consider whether targeted antitrust protections are needed to address the vast “networks” of anti-fossil fuel activists. Until then, it may also find more “collaborators” to investigate, hiding in plain sight.
Sarah Rehberg is Deputy Director of the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.