https://karlhrichter.com/ Karl H Richter https://karlhrichter.com/2026/06/12/carbon-emissions-accounting-embracing-a-new-era-of-radical-simplicity/ https://karlhrichter.com/2026/06/12/carbon-emissions-accounting-embracing-a-new-era-of-radical-simplicity/ Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Emissions accounting is prohibitively complicated and expensive. The solution is to embed emissions data directly into financial accounting systems — a data science approach that makes it easier, faster, cheaper, and more accurate. https://karlhrichter.com/2026/02/18/the-false-conflict-holding-back-emissions-accounting/ https://karlhrichter.com/2026/02/18/the-false-conflict-holding-back-emissions-accounting/ Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT The feud between the GHG Protocol and the E-Ledger Institute is a false choice, rooted in inattentional blindness rather than material differences. A single, interoperable emissions accounting system can serve the GHG Protocol, E-Ledgers, CBAM, and input-output analysis at once — without distorting the underlying data. https://karlhrichter.com/2026/01/01/leveraging-private-capital-for-a-sustainable-competitive-advantage/ https://karlhrichter.com/2026/01/01/leveraging-private-capital-for-a-sustainable-competitive-advantage/ Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT Aligning private capital with policy priorities requires understanding how institutional investors, impact investors, and DFIs each pursue supra-financial goals differently — and why disclosure rules alone can't align their mandates. https://karlhrichter.com/2024/09/01/busting-the-myths-of-carbon-accounting-a-new-era-of-radical-simplicity/ https://karlhrichter.com/2024/09/01/busting-the-myths-of-carbon-accounting-a-new-era-of-radical-simplicity/ Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT Carbon accounting is evolving rapidly — becoming easier, faster, cheaper, and more accurate. A new playbook is emerging, led by startup innovators, academic pioneers, central bank statisticians, and a voluntary collective. https://karlhrichter.com/2021/01/20/we-need-an-internet-of-impact-here-is-my-proposal-for-a-data-science-construct-that-can-enable-it/ https://karlhrichter.com/2021/01/20/we-need-an-internet-of-impact-here-is-my-proposal-for-a-data-science-construct-that-can-enable-it/ Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:42:11 GMT The Aggregate Confusion Project at MIT has done a great job of analysing why there is a tremendous divergence between different sources of impact data (sustainability data). They conclude that the biggest contributing fa… https://karlhrichter.com/2020/03/22/mega-trending-towards-zero-what-next/ https://karlhrichter.com/2020/03/22/mega-trending-towards-zero-what-next/ Sun, 22 Mar 2020 14:11:23 GMT Three long-term economic trends all point towards zero: 1- official interest rates (5,000 years); 2- dividends from stock markets as a proportion of total returns (70 years); and 3- economic growth rates (2,000 years). W… https://karlhrichter.com/2018/11/20/what-is-a-market-rate-of-return-on-our-data/ https://karlhrichter.com/2018/11/20/what-is-a-market-rate-of-return-on-our-data/ Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:23:52 GMT To find the answer, we need to go back to the origin of the word “data”. ‘Etymology can give a startling new perspective on many of the phrases we frequently toss around in business’, says Gillian Tett in her FT column L… https://karlhrichter.com/2018/10/06/triple-entry-bookkeeping-sumptuous-accounting-principles/ https://karlhrichter.com/2018/10/06/triple-entry-bookkeeping-sumptuous-accounting-principles/ Sat, 06 Oct 2018 12:52:48 GMT Sumptuous Accounting™ is an intellectual provocation, taking a light-hearted approach to a very serious issue – fixing capitalism. The working paper Sumptuous Accounting™ uses the sci-fi genre and a story-telling narrati… https://karlhrichter.com/2016/02/10/engagedx-new-website-2016/ https://karlhrichter.com/2016/02/10/engagedx-new-website-2016/ Wed, 10 Feb 2016 13:37:17 GMT Dear friends and colleagues, We have launched our new website for 2016 ... https://karlhrichter.com/2015/06/05/truth-or-dare-transparency-by-vanguard-social-investors-reveals-risks-and-returns-in-a-maturing-market/ https://karlhrichter.com/2015/06/05/truth-or-dare-transparency-by-vanguard-social-investors-reveals-risks-and-returns-in-a-maturing-market/ Thu, 04 Jun 2015 23:01:00 GMT A landmark study released today via the Government's open data portal reveals for the first time historic performance of UK social investment activity. The total financial performance (comparing all capital draw down… https://karlhrichter.com/2015/02/04/coining-the-terms-heavyreturns-and-enumeme/ https://karlhrichter.com/2015/02/04/coining-the-terms-heavyreturns-and-enumeme/ Wed, 04 Feb 2015 12:40:14 GMT Money, finance and capital markets are social constructs that have ostensibly evolved for societal purpose. Yet paradoxically finance and enterprises that intentionally target social returns need to be prefixed with the … https://karlhrichter.com/2014/11/22/x-capitalism-fixing-capitalism-with-capitalism/ https://karlhrichter.com/2014/11/22/x-capitalism-fixing-capitalism-with-capitalism/ Sat, 22 Nov 2014 16:31:00 GMT Below are the slides of the keynote address that I gave at the 9th Annual Social Responsibility Forum , IE Business School (Madrid, Spain). If the presentation does not load, you can find the original here . https://karlhrichter.com/2014/11/03/social-investing-from-hype-to-impact/ https://karlhrichter.com/2014/11/03/social-investing-from-hype-to-impact/ Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:04:50 GMT Impact investment is blossoming. What started as a fad for idealists is gradually becoming a mainstream concept often discussed by fund management hotshots and company executives. The concept itself is certainly appealin… https://karlhrichter.com/2014/09/19/data-unlocks-capital-why-social-investment-and-impact-investing-need-data-and-why-it-is-a-priority/ https://karlhrichter.com/2014/09/19/data-unlocks-capital-why-social-investment-and-impact-investing-need-data-and-why-it-is-a-priority/ Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:47:36 GMT Great article by my co-founder Rupert Evenett explaining why we're passionate about creating EngagedX. Normative Capital - On Social Investment, Finance for Social Purpose and the Role of the City Data unlocks capita… https://karlhrichter.com/2014/09/18/worts-all-my-live-tv-interview-on-bbc-word-news-business-edition/ https://karlhrichter.com/2014/09/18/worts-all-my-live-tv-interview-on-bbc-word-news-business-edition/ Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:54:05 GMT Because one always wants to remember the first time - below is a transcript of my first live TV interview. I was asked to explain social enterprise, social investment and EngagedX in 2 minutes... https://karlhrichter.com/2014/03/30/the-welfare-state-is-dead-long-live-the-kinky-state/ https://karlhrichter.com/2014/03/30/the-welfare-state-is-dead-long-live-the-kinky-state/ Sun, 30 Mar 2014 21:13:08 GMT I don’t mean the type of adulterous scooter socialism enjoyed by French President Francois Hollande – I mean an agile and nimble State that is deftly able to do more with less. Kinky like an inflection point in a trend l… https://karlhrichter.com/2014/01/17/open-letter-concerns-about-process-in-the-land-deal-that-is-part-of-the-zhongrong-groups-proposal-in-crystal-palace/ https://karlhrichter.com/2014/01/17/open-letter-concerns-about-process-in-the-land-deal-that-is-part-of-the-zhongrong-groups-proposal-in-crystal-palace/ Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:00:44 GMT - If you agree with this letter, then please sign the petition here - Open Letter from Residents in the Crystal Palace area 17 January 2014 Rt Hon Dame Tessa Jowell MP Hon Jim Dowd MP Hon Steve Reed MP Hon Chuka Umunna M… https://karlhrichter.com/2013/08/20/a-royal-visit-in-pictures-hosting-hrh-the-duke-of-gloucester-in-the-crystal-palace-subway/ https://karlhrichter.com/2013/08/20/a-royal-visit-in-pictures-hosting-hrh-the-duke-of-gloucester-in-the-crystal-palace-subway/ Tue, 20 Aug 2013 15:24:10 GMT To prove that Royal Mail takes ROYAL MAIL very seriously: The Duke's office kindly sent a letter of thanks to the Subway team. Any regular letter would have had practically no chance of finding us - but this one did … https://karlhrichter.com/2013/06/19/how-to-accelerate-social-investment-interview-podcast-for-cambridge-university-judge-business-school/ https://karlhrichter.com/2013/06/19/how-to-accelerate-social-investment-interview-podcast-for-cambridge-university-judge-business-school/ Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:06:07 GMT Discussing the opportunities and challenges of bringing together finance and social investment. Social investment is still a small market segment but has tremendous potential. There are more investors who are looking for… https://karlhrichter.com/2013/05/28/the-fancy-names-arent-helping-lets-call-it-investment-and-get-on-with-doing-it-properly/ https://karlhrichter.com/2013/05/28/the-fancy-names-arent-helping-lets-call-it-investment-and-get-on-with-doing-it-properly/ Tue, 28 May 2013 07:20:44 GMT The extent of debate (and often disagreement) about the definition of social impact investment is fascinating - exploring in great depth the nuances and prerequisite principles for investing in a way that seeks both posi… https://karlhrichter.com/2013/05/25/evidence-submission-uk-parlimentary-commission-on-banking-standards/ https://karlhrichter.com/2013/05/25/evidence-submission-uk-parlimentary-commission-on-banking-standards/ Sat, 25 May 2013 13:16:37 GMT The Commission on Banking Standards is appointed by both Houses of Parliament to consider and report on: professional standards and culture of the UK banking sector, taking account of regulatory and competition investiga… https://karlhrichter.com/2013/03/20/osbornes-march-budget-for-the-uk-giving-love-a-chance/ https://karlhrichter.com/2013/03/20/osbornes-march-budget-for-the-uk-giving-love-a-chance/ Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:40:00 GMT A committed fiscal conservative like UK Chancellor George Osborne was never going to deviate from Government’s hard-wired policy of austerity. Nobody really expected a change of course in his 2013 Budget , not even after… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/12/12/worlds-first-financial-index-for-impact-investing-unveiled/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/12/12/worlds-first-financial-index-for-impact-investing-unveiled/ Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:03:22 GMT Press release: 11 December 2012, London (reblogged here 12 Dec) Engaged Investment has launched a pilot to test the creation of the world’s first investment index for the growing emerging market of social investment (‘im… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/12/04/impact-measurement-a-conceptual-framework/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/12/04/impact-measurement-a-conceptual-framework/ Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:57:11 GMT Tomorrow (5 Dec) in Brussels I will be presenting my views on the impact measurement discourse at a conference on "Measuring the Social Impact of Social Enterprises". My approach will be to explore how to frame… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/07/19/social-investing-fixing-capitalism-with-capitalism/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/07/19/social-investing-fixing-capitalism-with-capitalism/ Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:32:22 GMT Capitalism – in its current form – has let us down. We have seen this truism manifest itself globally, from the disruptive protests of the “Occupy” movements to mainstream debates such as Capitalism in Crisis , the in-de… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/05/07/global-impact-economy-forum-us-state-dept-washington-dc-26-27-april-2012/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/05/07/global-impact-economy-forum-us-state-dept-washington-dc-26-27-april-2012/ Mon, 07 May 2012 13:25:04 GMT I recently went to Washington to learn about the new global impact economy being advocated by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and specifically to find out whether it is aligned with social business and social inve… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/03/13/hs2-is-there-veracity-in-the-velocity/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/03/13/hs2-is-there-veracity-in-the-velocity/ Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:00:43 GMT Promoters of the new high speed rail line (HS2) between London and Birmingham claim that it will generate £2 of economic benefit for every £1 spent. The Government says the benefit will be lower, around £1.40. But if a n… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/03/11/the-future-of-economic-governance-in-the-eu-and-where-does-this-leave-britain-and-the-other-26/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/03/11/the-future-of-economic-governance-in-the-eu-and-where-does-this-leave-britain-and-the-other-26/ Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:03:23 GMT “The real issue at stake is how the EU can maintain its influence and its relevance in a changing world”, said Lord David Howell, UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in his keynote speech of the… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/02/13/global-instruments-of-finance-and-the-folly-of-economic-growth-part-1/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/02/13/global-instruments-of-finance-and-the-folly-of-economic-growth-part-1/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:44:07 GMT Is the social usefulness of financial instruments misunderstood in a similar way to how, in the darkness, **the aspiring animal musicians _ in the folktale **_ Town Musicians of Bremen are mistaken for being a witch? Fin… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/01/25/the-road-less-travelled-social-business-in-europe/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/01/25/the-road-less-travelled-social-business-in-europe/ Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:59:55 GMT Call it a new kind of capitalism. You make goods to sell to a mass market but your aim isn’t profit. Enterprises are run by workers and customers and surpluses are ploughed back to achieve social goals. Capitalism? Not a… https://karlhrichter.com/2012/01/09/the-eu-budget-2014-2020-and-the-social-business-initiative/ https://karlhrichter.com/2012/01/09/the-eu-budget-2014-2020-and-the-social-business-initiative/ Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:07:18 GMT Commissioned by E!Sharp as part of the series "How to spend the EU budget" and published 9 January 2012, orginal article here . Photo: Spiegel online. Lauri Wylie’s 1963 comedy sketch “Dinner for One” has becom… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/12/01/task-force-for-a-european-social-investment-facility/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/12/01/task-force-for-a-european-social-investment-facility/ Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:42:10 GMT Published 1 December 2011, www.alliancemagazine.org , orginal article here . Fiscal consolidation within the European Union means that a stronger social economy is required to deliver where the state can no longer. More … https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/23/european-social-investment-facility-to-finance-the-social-economy/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/23/european-social-investment-facility-to-finance-the-social-economy/ Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:57:14 GMT Commissioned by E!Sharp, Brussels based Journal - 23 Oct 2011 Fiscal consolidation within the European Union means that a stronger social economy is required to underpin the creation of socio-economic prosperity where th… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/23/the-jenli-manifesto-part-3-moving-the-mainstream-economy-towards-a-social-economy/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/23/the-jenli-manifesto-part-3-moving-the-mainstream-economy-towards-a-social-economy/ Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:27:22 GMT This part of the Manifesto describes how the ideas presented in Part 1 and Part 2 can be implemented through undertaking integrated development projects for the creation of self-sufficient communities - the approach has … https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/23/dear-dr-doom-dr-hope-here/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/23/dear-dr-doom-dr-hope-here/ Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:25:22 GMT The world is not ending but the world of finance is changing. Nouriel Roubini, the economist who earned his moniker “Dr Doom” for predicting the financial crisis of 2008, asks “Is capitalism doomed?” in an article by the… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/22/britain-and-europe-theres-no-need-to-be-down-and-out-in-london-and-paris-or-brussels-for-that-matter/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/22/britain-and-europe-theres-no-need-to-be-down-and-out-in-london-and-paris-or-brussels-for-that-matter/ Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:11:02 GMT Article for the ResPublica Fringe Magazine 2011 "Essays and Articles from selected political party conference partners" (download magazine here , article on pg 17). 2011, Jointly written for ResPublica by: Fili… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/06/press-release-making-good-in-social-impact-investment/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/10/06/press-release-making-good-in-social-impact-investment/ Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:35:57 GMT Thursday 6th October 2011 UK at watershed moment for social impact investing with potential to be global leader Social impact investment has the potential to evolve from being an emerging market to a very large, mature i… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/08/10/england-riots-what-drives-people-into-the-streets/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/08/10/england-riots-what-drives-people-into-the-streets/ Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:27:22 GMT The underlying reasons for this apparent feral behaviour are complex and individual motivations will vary, but there are some underlying psychological themes which may help us understand why the rioting was so contagious… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/06/29/taskforce-for-a-european-social-investment-bank-fund-facility/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/06/29/taskforce-for-a-european-social-investment-bank-fund-facility/ Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:49:45 GMT The Taskforce for a European social investment bank/ fund/ facility will be launched in Krakow, September 2011 (organised in cooperation with the Euclid Network (of European civil society professionals)) https://karlhrichter.com/2011/06/18/is-social-investing-the-scarlet-pimpernel-of-the-vickers-report/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/06/18/is-social-investing-the-scarlet-pimpernel-of-the-vickers-report/ Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:22:56 GMT Social investing (equivalent to impact investing) encompasses such an increasingly broad range of financial activities and products, that some of it may be considered investment banking for the social sector. Examples in… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/04/21/jp-morgan-has-heralded-impact-investment-as-a-distinct-asset-class-but-is-there-a-fly-in-the-ointment-2/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/04/21/jp-morgan-has-heralded-impact-investment-as-a-distinct-asset-class-but-is-there-a-fly-in-the-ointment-2/ Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:09:00 GMT Published 21 April 2011, www.alliancemagazine.org , orginal article here . J P Morgan’s seminal report Impact Investments: An emerging asset class , published in November 2010, is the watershed proclamation that impact i… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/02/06/the-new-economy-money-and-the-meaning-of-life-not-a-monty-python-sketch/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/02/06/the-new-economy-money-and-the-meaning-of-life-not-a-monty-python-sketch/ Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:47:58 GMT Featuring Charles Darwin, Ayrton Senna, Strawberry Fields, Steven Hawking, Shaka (King of the Zulus), Steve Wozniak and Karl Marx. There is a healthy dose of blue-sky thinking in this article. I have included some provoc… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/01/14/social-investment-funds-selected-case-studies/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/01/14/social-investment-funds-selected-case-studies/ Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:14:28 GMT Originally prepared for Euclid Network, see here . This short paper is intended as an introduction to the broad spectrum of Social Investment Funds, with the purpose of stimulating debate about the characteristics and va… https://karlhrichter.com/2011/01/13/jp-morgan-has-heralded-impact-investment-as-a-distinct-asset-class-but-is-there-a-fly-in-the-ointment/ https://karlhrichter.com/2011/01/13/jp-morgan-has-heralded-impact-investment-as-a-distinct-asset-class-but-is-there-a-fly-in-the-ointment/ Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:41:19 GMT The publication of JP Morgan’s seminal report “ Impact Investments: An emerging asset class ” (29 Nov 2010) is the watershed proclamation that Impact Investment is going mainstream. In the wake of the 2007/8 financial cr… https://karlhrichter.com/2010/11/21/the-jenli-manifesto-part-2-attracting-and-leveraging-philanthropic-capital/ https://karlhrichter.com/2010/11/21/the-jenli-manifesto-part-2-attracting-and-leveraging-philanthropic-capital/ Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:06:55 GMT "If the state has to rescue the financial system – the heart and soul of the capitalist economy – the game has to change", pronounced Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, on the fina… https://karlhrichter.com/2010/11/17/jenli-manifesto-1/ https://karlhrichter.com/2010/11/17/jenli-manifesto-1/ Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:43:00 GMT If Cameron's “Big Society” is a call to arms and modern capitalism the front-line in rebalancing social and financial agendas; then we are still mobilising ourselves no better than eager freedom fighters. Quixotic ve… https://karlhrichter.com/2010/10/31/case-for-support/ https://karlhrichter.com/2010/10/31/case-for-support/ Sun, 31 Oct 2010 13:25:53 GMT Goal: To reduce social deprivation, inequality and the risk of conflict through the creation of self-sufficient communities. Mission: To undertake renewal of the physical, social and economic fabric of deprived neighbour…