Will RichardsonHead of EcoSystems and Networks, 51toCarbonZero · Sustainability & Net-Zero Strategy Leader | Helping £100m+ Enterprises Cut Climate Risk & Operating Costs | Head of EcoSystems & Networks | Host of Sustainability Solved Podcast

Why new drilling is stalling #oilandgas #investing #shorts

27 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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0:39

In this YouTube short, Will Richardson explains that oil companies have paused new drilling projects because of heightened policy uncertainty. He notes that capital consistently avoids uncertainty, and recent climate‑related investments made in the United States over the past five years now face a policy environment that did not exist when the original investment cases were approved. Richardson describes this situation as a CFO’s nightmare and warns that it applies broadly across the sector. He advises executives planning multi‑year investments to scrutinize which projects assume a stable policy backdrop and to reassess those assumptions in light of the current uncertainty.

Chapters

Oil companies are now facing a very different reality than they expected, with new drilling on hold because of the uncertainty. Capital hates uncertainty. Always has, always will. Any business that made a serious climate investment in the US in the last 5 years is now sitting on top of a policy environment that didn't exist when the investment case got signed off. That's a nightmare no CFO wants. And this one applies broadly. If you're an executive planning multi-year investments right now, ask yourself which of your investments assumes a stable Policy environment.