Minimising cost overruns - part 3
Cost over runs not only destroy project economics, they also taint future similar projects with the cost 'blow out' brush. A technique known as Reference Classes can help, but we need to work together to make it useful.
The evolving role of a Chief Sustainability Officer
As a prospective CSO perhaps one of the first questions you should ask of your new employer is 'who will I report to'. The closer we are to the financial and strategy decision makers, the more influence we can have.
The energy world is changing, and yet staying the same
The latest IEA World Energy Outlook has been published, and as always it's a useful source of both data and commentary. The headlines were encouraging. Full report here 👇🏾 World Energy Outlook 2023 – Analysis - IEAWorld Energy Outlook 2023 - Analysis and key findings. A report by the International
Enel to fail its green bond emissions targets?
The Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute, one of our favourite sources on green bonds, recently (20th Oct) highlighted that Enel, the Italian Utility, looks likely to miss its Sustainability Performance Targets (SPT's) on 10 of its green bonds. The bonds have a total notional of €10.bn, so a
The growing gap between Brown and Green building value
Lucienne Mosquera, Managing Partner, at SustainCRE has published some interesting analysis on the growing evidence of a Brown discount in the global real estate market. According to their research "in their current form, around 97% of today’s commercial buildings will not support the transition to net zero. This
What caught our eye - three key stories: week 45
Fridges help farms cut carbon/costs; Nature risks for directors; Fuel subsidy end helps Nigeria solar?
EV demand and EV charging - things will change
If you think about the expected rise of EV's, and their need for frequent charging, from a strategic perspective, you start to realise that large elements of our economic system could change as a result.
Sunday Brunch: sustainability is an intangible asset
Sustainability can be like a good brand. Without it your business can lack the quality that gives it a viable long term future. Intangibles may be invisible, but it doesn't make them any less real.
Corporate lobbying needs closer attention.
... and the ecgi has done just that! Tom Gosling, Executive Director at the European Corporate Governance Institute (ecgi) recently interviewed Professor Michelle Lowry on her research paper ‘Firms’ Transition to Green: Innovation versus Lobbying’ We strongly encourage all Sustainability Professionals to watch the interview (the above video) and then read
Rice: a perfect challenge for blended finance
The challenges we face in making rice more sustainable are a microcosm of the wider issues Sustainability Professionals face in agriculture. And the answer is probably blended finance.
Sunday Brunch: your secret weapon for your sustainable investment case?
Pitching sustainability investments or strategies to finance people is tough. Expectations Investing could be the Sustainability Professionals secret weapon.
Environmental litigation funding - increasing pressure to prevent?
US hedge fund Gramercy (along with some of its clients) has provided $552.5 million in litigation funding (a secured loan) to Pogus Goodhead, a UK law firm involved in a number of class action lawsuits with environmental links.