Inevitable Ep 112: Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur University Professor at Harvard University
Today's guest is Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur University Professor at Harvard University.
We also talk a lot about climate change, how to think about the problem, the path forward, and most importantly how Rebecca came to be doing this work to begin with. She has a fascinating journey, and I know it was helpful for me as I'm navigating my own journey. I hope you find it helpful too. Enjoy the show!
You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
In today’s episode, we cover:
- Her work at the Harvard Business School
- Her journey to research climate change and studying purpose-driven organizations
- Her latest book, “Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire”
- The genesis of her focus on climate change
- Her work setting up the first course on sustainability at MIT
- Her initial perspective that climate change is fixable and that business would be central to the solutions
- How her views have changed since she first studied climate change
- Why a price on carbon has not manifested
- How the political dynamics and rampant denialism were unexpected barriers to a price on carbon
- Her findings on the role of entrepreneurship, anti-trust and initial government demand in the progress of innovation
- How carbon pricing has affected other countries
- Optimism for policy opportunities to price and tax carbon
- How job creation and credits can make a price on carbon more politically palatable
- How the dominance of passive investing has contributed to more sustainable-focused investments
- How individual behavior and consumption habits will have to change to respond to climate change
- The role of fossil fuel companies in addressing climate change
- The strategy of engagement versus divestment to influence corporations’ response to climate
- How capitalism has become a “master” instead of a “servant” to delivering progress
- Her views on the Green New Deal
- Her assessment of the partisan and social divide when it comes to taking action on climate change
- How climate education and political lobbying represent critical levers to moving the needle on climate change
Links to topics discussed in this episode:
- “Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire” : https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rebecca-henderson/reimagining-capitalism-in-a-world-on-fire/9781541730151
- Prof. Henderson’s Faculty Page: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=12345
- “Accelerating Energy Innovation: Insights from Multiple Sectors”: https://www.nber.org/papers/w16529
- Harvard University’s Climate Action Plan: https://green.harvard.edu/campaign/harvards-climate-action-plan
- Iberdrola: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberdrola
- Enel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enel
- Shell’s net-zero announcement: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/16/shell-unveils-plans-to-become-net-zero-carbon-company-by-2050
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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant