Episode 7 | Rob Bauer: Sustainable investing…belief or evidence?

In this episode of The Transition Tapes, Hugh Wheelan talks with Rob Bauer, Professor of Finance at Maastricht University, Chair in Institutional Investors, and Director of the European Centre for Sustainable Finance (ECCE).

With extensive experience researching and advising pension funds and institutional investors, Rob brings an evidence-based perspective on how sustainability and climate risk are actually understood — and acted upon — in investment decision-making.

Drawing on new empirical research, Rob cuts through assumptions about investor behaviour to explore what pension fund members want, how professional investors think about climate risk, and when shareholder engagement really delivers value. He also reflects on the commercial and structural barriers that continue to limit investor collaboration.

Hear Rob talk about:

• what pension fund members expect when it comes to sustainability

• what research shows about investor beliefs on climate change

• the evidence on investor engagement and its impact

• why collaboration among investors remains so difficult

Beyond markets and models, Rob shares his interests in history, politics and music — including the tracks that make up his Transition Tapes playlist, spanning new wave, post-punk and indie.

Don’t miss Rob’s recommended reads, podcasts, series and his favourite tunes:

🎵 Playlist:

• ⁠Spotify Playlist

• Apple Playlist

📚 Books:

• Hilary Mantel - Wolf Hall

• Peter Buwalda - Bonita Avenue

• Donna Tartt - Secret History

• Jan van Aken - De Ommegang

🎙️ Podcasts:

• De stemming (Dutch politics)

• Heavyweight: Great and fun podcast about life (by Jonathan Goldstein)

📺 Series/movies:

• Game of Thrones

• The Leftovers

• One battle after another