Energy-hungry data centers are the backbone of AI. And as big tech companies look to meet rising demand for AI capabilities, their emissions are ticking up. So, are net zero ambitions at risk? Or can they be saved by a decades-old energy source in a new guise?

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research
Guests: Yoon Young Chung & Mathew Lee, MSCI ESG Research

VW announced it would shut at least three of its German plants, axe tens of thousands of jobs and slash pay by 10%. This is notable because VW is the powerhouse of Germany which typically has been the EU’s industrial engine – meaning jobs, meaning unions, meaning political might. But this is more than a VW story. It is a story of how the energy transition – the transition from pollutive to non-pollutive forms of economic operations – is upending the global order of established industries. It is the story of the hard tradeoffs we have to make in our effort to cut carbon emissions.

In this episode we explore that new world and what it means for the auto industry; an industry many countries and states rely on for their economic driver.

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research
Guest: Yu Ishihara, MSCI ESG Research

Well not yet. But on October 11, a UN expert group reached a compromise on key elements of a global carbon trading system. If it passes (we go into this, don’t worry), it will resolve nearly a decade of talks on a what is seen as a fundamental tool for the Paris Agreement to be achieved. So, in this episode, we discuss why this global carbon market agreement is so important, and what it will do to the already up and running voluntary carbon markets.

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research
Guest: Juana Hernandez, MSCI Carbon Markets

Heat waves are getting longer and more intense. And although mitigating climate change will remain a long-term priority, investors will also be thinking about adaptation technologies. The humble air conditioner is an off-the-shelf solution, but does it have any downsides? 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research
Guest: Mathew Lee, MSCI ESG Research

Today is the last part of a three part series we've done for ESG now: we examine whether investors should care about incorporating environmental data into equity analysis. In previous episodes we discussed the social pillar and the governance pillar, now its on to the environmental pillar of our ESG ratings model. We look at the environmental pillar as a whole and the themes that build it and tell you whether companies that scored well on each theme performed better than their lower scoring peers.

If you want to read the blog that is associated with this podcast, here is the link: https://www.msci.com/www/blog-posts/managing-climate-change-risks/04992064034

Guest: Xinxin Wang, MSCI Research; Elchin Mammadov, MSCI ESG Research 
Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

It’s climate week in The Big Apple! And the perfect time to take a look at different investment approaches to a low-carbon transition. We talk through financial risks and opportunities for companies, transition funds, and how the things are playing out in bond markets. 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research
Guests: Meggin Eastman, Chris Cote & Michael Ridley, MSCI ESG Research

Flooding is one the costliest of all natural hazards and climate change is raising the stakes. In this episode, we discuss the need for precise asset locations and forward-looking climate models to figure out your risk exposure. 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research
Guest: Matthias Kemter, MSCI ESG Research

The 2024 proxy season has come and gone. In recent years, environmental and social proposals were abundant and saw record high support among shareholders. But what about this year? In this episode we take you through our findings from the 2024 proxy season, what they mean for sustainable investing, and where the future is liking headed. 

Host: Michael Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Jonathan Ponder, MSCI ESG Research

Antimicrobial resistance is getting worse. Set to impact healthcare, agriculture and insurance, it’s a phenomenon worth paying attention to. On this episode, we take a look at whether there’s an investment case for fighting back against the superbugs. 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research
Guest: Namita Nair, MSCI ESG Research

We periodically put out this report called the Net-Zero Tracker, and it examines the progress by the world’s listed companies toward curbing climate risk. This episode is a dive into the most important bits of our most recently published report.

Link to the Net-Zero Tracker: The MSCI Sustainability Institute Net-Zero Tracker 

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Sylvain Vanston, MSCI ESG Research

The social pillar has often been maligned as the ignored sibling of the ESG acronym. In its essence, the social pillar is a measurement of how a company, its employees, its products, and the community it operates in are supported and often challenged. For this episode, we show you why that all matters for measuring a company’s market performance.

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Liz Houston, MSCI ESG Research; Xinxin Wang, MSCI ESG & Climate Solutions Research