Robert G. Eccles

Lexington

Contributor at Forbes

Dedicated weight lifter. Sustainability advocate. Board accountability campaigner. Visiting Professor of Management Practice at SBS, Oxford University.

Articles

Reflections On Some Commentary Regarding “China Is No Green Enery Darling”

1 month ago | forbes.com | Robert G. Eccles

Last week Nick Loris, EVP of Energy Policy at C3 Solutions, and I published a white paper titled “China Is No Green Energy Darling.” I posted it on LinkedIn and very much appreciate a number of thoughtful comments that were made. Rather than attempt to respond to every single one of them, I thought it would be more efficient to summarize the main points and provide my reflections.
How Big Is BP’s Stranded Assets Problem?

1 month ago | forbes.com | Robert G. Eccles

The short answer is: Zero. If anything, the company has the opposite problem of not having enough oil assets. This is the result of a misguided move into renewable energy where the company misjudged the speed of the energy transition and paid a substantial price for this well-intended but fundamentally flawed diversification strategy. Here’s the story.
An Investor Letter On Climate Change: Who’s Missing?

Nov 11, 2024 | forbes.com | Robert G. Eccles

The answer to who’s missing is nearly every single asset owner and asset manager of any significance. Let me explain why.
Andare oltre l’ESG

Nov 4, 2024 | hbritalia.it | Robert G. Eccles

BUSINESS E SOCIETÀ Il modello ha i suoi detrattori. Ecco le nuove strategie per un business responsabile Robert G.
The EU Green Deal And Taxonomy Nurtured The Nature Of The CSRD

Nov 3, 2024 | forbes.com | Robert G. Eccles

Last Friday I had lunch with a friend who is a board director and on the audit committee of a company that must comply with the EU’s “Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive” (CSRD) which went into force on January 5, 2023. He was complaining about the burden the CSRD was placing on his company, a company which is very sophisticated in sustainability reporting.
What Is The Right Price To Pay For Combating Climate Change?

Oct 30, 2024 | forbes.com | Robert G. Eccles

For most Americans the answer is “Not much.” Here’s why. Last weekend I read the report “Politics Without Winners CAN EITHER PARTY BUILD A MAJORITY COALITION?” by Ruy Teixeira and Yuval Levin of the center-right think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI). The Executive Summary begins by noting that “In the American political system, the parties’ purpose is to form enduring national coalitions.
The IIF Challenges The Finance-Centric “Theory Of Change”

Oct 19, 2024 | forbes.com | Robert G. Eccles

Last month the Institute of International Finance (IIF) published a very thoughtful staff paper titled “Resetting the Debate on the Role of Private Finance in the NZ Transition.” The views of the IIF are important.
Addressing Six Common Concerns of the Nuclear Naysayers

Oct 15, 2024 | c3newsmag.com | Ericka Andersen |Nick Loris |Robert G. Eccles

Support for nuclear power is continuing to grow as more people recognize that it is a source of dependable, emissions-free energy. Recently, 14 of the world’s largest banks committed to backing nuclear energy, and big tech is turning to nuclear to meet growing power needs. Fifty-six percent of Americans favor building more nuclear plants – up from 43 percent in 2020–and nearly 80 percent of young, first-time voters favor nuclear power.
Sir Jonathon Porritt’s Critique Of Unilever Is An Attack On Capitalism

Oct 10, 2024 | forbes.com | Robert G. Eccles

For the past few years I have been following, writing about, and participating in the “ESG Culture Wars” in the U.S. There has been a great deal of performative activity on both ends of the political spectrum. Left-wing NGOs and some investors are attacking companies for not doing enough to make the world a better place. Republican politicians and some right-wing think tanks are pursuing anti-ESG campaigns in various ways with the claim that ESG is a “woke” political agenda of progressives.
The Small Modular Reactor Revolution Is Arriving Soon

Oct 7, 2024 | papundits.wordpress.com | Robert G. Eccles

From the team at CFACT ~By Robert G. Eccles ~It’s been a big year for nuclear energy in the U.S. The Department of Energy has allocated a large amount of capital to nuclear energy research and has committed $900 million to advance Gen III+ (more on them below) small modular reactors (SMRs). The Inflation Reduction Act’s inclusion of nuclear energy has opened opportunities for tax credits for investors in nuclear projects.