The holiday season is a time to gather around the table for meals with family and friends. In today's episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we're exploring how to make food systems more sustainable with Alexander Gillett, Co-founder and CEO of HowGood, a food and personal care product research and data company. 

Alexander discusses challenges in measuring the emissions footprint of food products and describes how factors like climate change and regulation are driving changes in the sector. He also talks about how the current food labeling system is confusing for consumers trying to make sustainable purchasing decisions. 

Alexander says that making food systems more sustainable requires a holistic approach that goes beyond just tackling carbon emissions.  

"If we create a collapse within the food system because of loss of biodiversity or soil health, but we've solved carbon, we're still going to have massive problems feeding the planet," he says.  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global  

DISCLAIMER  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.  

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

Today we bring you the final installment in our Women in Leadership series of the ESG Insider podcast. Over the past two years, we’ve spoken to women CEOs and leaders from across industries and around the world to understand their path to the top.   

In the episode, we talk to Dr. Vanessa Chan, Chief Commercialization Officer at the US Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions. She was also just named to the TIME100 Climate list of the 100 most influential climate leaders for 2024.  

In the interview, Dr. Chan talks about her outlook on energy transition technologies, the unlikely path that led her to her current role and her advice for people earlier in their careers.  

“It's really easy to follow the status quo and ... stay within a box, but that's not really where change and impact comes from,” she says. “If someone had told me five years ago that I would be a senior government official, I'd be like ‘there's no way, that is not on my vision board.’ But I said yes to this opportunity.”  

Listen to our full Women in Leadership podcast series here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/women-in-leadership  

Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1 on gender diversity in leadership here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/women-in-leadership-what-s-the-holdup  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global  

DISCLAIMER  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.  

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

In recent episodes of the ESG Insider podcast we’ve been covering some of the big outcomes from COP29, the UN’s climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. This was known as the "finance COP,” and today we’re back with another bonus episode looking at how climate finance has changed over time.  

We sit down on the sidelines of COP29 with Sean Kidney, CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, a nonprofit that works to mobilize global capital for climate action. He discusses his key takeaways from COP29, the dramatic change he is seeing in sustainable debt markets and the outlook for the energy transition in 2025.  

“I launched the Climate Bonds Initiative at the 2009 Copenhagen COP, where things got pretty grim,” Sean says. “I look now at the change of sentiment ... most of the conversations I'm involved in — with finance, with development banks, with governments — are all about HOW to do it, not IF.”

Listen to our previous coverage of COP29:

UN official says credibility of climate COPs at stake heading into 2025: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/un-official-says-credibility-of-climate-cops-at-stake-heading-into-2025  

How the private sector showed up at COP29: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-the-private-sector-showed-up-at-cop29  

How the insurance industry is tackling climate risk: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-the-insurance-industry-is-tackling-climate-risk  

After COP29, what’s next for carbon markets: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/after-cop29-what-s-next-for-carbon-markets

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.    

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global  

DISCLAIMER  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. 

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

In recent episodes of the ESG Insider podcast, we’ve explored how different sectors are approaching climate change. In today’s bonus episode, we’re focusing on the insurance industry in an interview with Liz Henderson.  

Liz leads Climate Risk Advisory for Aon, a global insurance and reinsurance brokerage firm. In the episode she talks about her key takeaways from COP29, the UN climate conference that recently took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

This event was widely known as the "finance COP," and Liz says that insurance plays a critical role alongside private finance. "You cannot have bankable high-value investment capital without risk capital alongside it to de-risk those investments," she tells us.  

Liz also talks about the role of data and the insurance industry’s unique perspective on risk, thanks to its long history of modeling the impacts of events like hurricanes, floods and wildfires. She said this allows insurers to help companies measure and manage their climate risks.  

Listen to our previous coverage of COP29: 

How the private sector showed up at COP29: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-the-private-sector-showed-up-at-cop29  

After COP29, what’s next for carbon markets: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/after-cop29-what-s-next-for-carbon-markets  

UN official says credibility of climate COPs at stake heading into 2025: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/un-official-says-credibility-of-climate-cops-at-stake-heading-into-2025  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global  

DISCLAIMER  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.  

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

In recent episodes of the ESG Insider podcast, we’ve been hearing about takeaways from COP29, the UN climate conference that recently wrapped up in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In this episode, we hear about the rising private sector engagement at events like COP29, and how companies are collaborating across the public and private sector to find solutions to climate change.

"When I look today just at the breadth of involvement there is in the private sector…I've really seen a step change in terms of the engagement," says Sagarika Chatterjee, Climate Finance Director and Finance Lead for the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, a group that aims to drive collaboration on climate action between governments, businesses and investors. 

"The question, of course, is how good can we get at collaborating with the public sector on some very tricky areas and working fast enough so that we can reach the needs that there are of developing countries for climate finance," Sagarika tells us.

In the episode we also speak to:  

-Sherry Madera, CEO of the disclosure nonprofit CDP 

-Kristen Sullivan, Partner at audit, consulting and advisory firm Deloitte where she leads Sustainability and ESG Services 

-Naoko Ishii, Director of the Center for Global Commons, a research center at the University of Tokyo 

-Yevgeniya Bikmurzina, Head of the Innovation Ecosystem Department within Azerbaijan’s Innovation & Digital Development Agency 

Listen to our previous coverage of COP29 outcomes: 

UN official says credibility of climate COPs at stake heading into 2025: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/un-official-says-credibility-of-climate-cops-at-stake-heading-into-2025  

After COP29, what’s next for carbon markets: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/after-cop29-whats-next-for-carbon-markets/id1475521006?i=1000680181847

Listen to our interview with CDP CEO Sherry Madera at Climate Week NYC: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/cdp-ceo-talks-climate-nature-and-the-future-of-sustainability-disclosure  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global

DISCLAIMER By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

At the recent UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, countries finalized key rules and guidelines for international carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change.  

In this bonus episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we discuss these outcomes and what they mean for the future of carbon markets with Mark Kenber, Executive Director at the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative. VCMI is a nonprofit with a goal of enabling high-integrity voluntary carbon markets that contribute to the goal of the Paris Agreement, protect nature and support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

"The rules around the Paris Agreement carbon markets known as Article 6 were finally agreed, and that now gives some confidence to those who are developing projects, looking at investing in the market, developing markets at a national level and, of course, buyers, that there is now a UN imprimatur on project-based carbon markets," Mark tells us. "And with luck, that will encourage more investment." 

Listen to our previous coverage from COP29 here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/un-official-says-credibility-of-climate-cops-at-stake-heading-into-2025

Listen to our explainer podcast series on carbon markets: 

Exploring the role of carbon markets in reaching climate targets: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/exploring-the-role-of-carbon-markets-in-reaching-climate-targets  

What's next for voluntary carbon markets: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/what-s-next-for-voluntary-carbon-markets  

Learn more about the Global Carbon Markets Conference hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights: https://cilive.com/assemble/events/energy-transition/101824-global-carbon-market-conference  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global. 

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global 

DISCLAIMER 

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. 

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

The UN's big annual climate change conference known as COP29 wrapped up in November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we sit down in Baku with Marcos Neto, Assistant Secretary General and Director of the UN Development Programme’s Bureau of Policy and Programme Support.  

Among other things, the UNDP helps countries develop their Nationally Determined Contributions — plans for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement that are updated every five years. The next round of NDCs is due in February 2025. In the interview, Marcos discusses key outcomes from COP29 related to climate finance, the outlook for NDCs and National Adaptation Plans, and the work the UNDP is doing in other areas such as helping countries with their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, or NBSAPs. 

Marcos also talks about the COP process and what is at stake heading into COP30, which is slated to take place in his hometown of Belém, Brazil in November 2025 and is already garnering a lot of attention.  

“I am optimistic that history will be made in my hometown,” Marcos says. "Despite all the geopolitical troubles, despite the wars, despite everything else ... we have an opportunity in November next year to show that the UN matters, that multilateralism matters.”  

2025 will also mark one decade since the Paris Agreement was signed — an important milestone, Marcos says. “If we have an agreement that 10 years on, cannot put us on the trajectory to 1.5 degrees, is it still credible?”  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global  

DISCLAIMER  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.  

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

Throughout 2024 we've been talking with financial institutions around the world about their approach to sustainability and climate finance. Finance was also a big focus of the UN’s COP29 climate conference that just wrapped up in Baku, Azerbaijan, and in this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we talk with De Rui Wong, Senior Vice President in the Sustainability Office of GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund.  

"When it comes to sustainability, we believe that there is no one-size-fits-all approach," De Rui says. "Companies are often decarbonizing at different rates and along different trajectories, depending on the regulations, the availability of technology, as well as the market opportunities in the locations that they operate in." 

GIC's approach includes a focus on the physical risks of climate change.  

"Climate change has moved from threat to reality," De Rui says. "It is creating a new environmental norm, a new economic paradigm, that we need to understand how to navigate."  

You can read a report published by GIC and S&P Global Sustainable1 on integrating climate adaptation into physical risk models here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/blog/integrating-climate-adaptation-into-physical-risk-models  

Listen to our interview with Mastercard's Chief Sustainability Officer here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/mastercard-chief-sustainability-officer-talks-cop-climate-and-the-road-ahead  

Listen to our interview with Norges Bank Investment Management, the world's largest asset owner, here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/why-the-world-s-largest-asset-owner-is-leaning-into-esg  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global  

DISCLAIMER  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.  

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we’re talking to Mastercard Chief Sustainability Officer Ellen Jackowski, who was just named to the TIME100 Climate list of the 100 most influential climate leaders in business for 2024. Ellen was on the ground in Cali, Colombia, for the UN’s recent COP16 biodiversity conference and in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the UN’s COP29 climate conference that wraps up today.  

Mastercard is one of the world’s largest payments networks with more than 3 billion cards in circulation. In the interview, Ellen explains the company’s approach to balancing economic growth with sustainable consumption and inclusive climate action — a focus she says will continue following the recent US election results.  

“[W]e can feel the societal pressure around climate change — but this is absolutely good business as well,” Ellen says. "This is a megatrend that's only growing, no matter what is going on in the political atmosphere of the United States.” 

Ellen also discusses Mastercard’s 2040 net-zero goal, including how the company manages its Scope 3 emissions and how it balances AI’s opportunities with its potential climate impacts.  

Listen to our recent podcast episode featuring key takeaways from COP16: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/cop16-shows-why-companies-and-countries-have-biodiversity-on-the-agenda  

Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1, Can AI become net positive for net-zero? https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/can-ai-become-net-positive-for-net-zero  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global  

DISCLAIMER  

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.  

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we’re covering key takeaways from COP16, the UN’s major biodiversity conference that just wrapped up in Cali, Colombia.  

The conference convened countries from around the world, and we hear about key outcomes of government negotiations in an interview with Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.  

We also hear about the large private sector presence at COP16, which reflects companies’ growing understanding of the links between nature loss and climate change. We also hear about rising private sector recognition of the importance of including Indigenous peoples and local communities in decisions about nature.

To learn more, we discuss the outlook for nature disclosure and standards with Andrea Pradilla, who is Latin America Director of the sustainability standards organization Global Reporting Initiative, or GRI.

We learn about the landscape for financing for nature — including through biodiversity credits — in a conversation with Sébastien Soleille, Global Head of Energy Transition and Environment at big French bank BNP Paribas.

To understand the data challenges companies face when measuring and managing their nature risks and dependencies, we talk to Divya Mankikar, Global Head of Strategy for the Corporate Ecosystem at S&P Global Sustainable1.

And we look ahead to another big UN gathering taking place in Latin America — the climate-focused COP30 that Brazil will host in 2025. We talk to Eron Bloomgarden, Founder and CEO of Emergent, a nonprofit involved in a recently announced $180 million deal the Brazilian state of Pará signed to support its efforts to combat deforestation. 

Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1, Corporate nature commitments remain rare, here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/ahead-of-cop16-corporate-nature-commitments-remain-rare  

Listen to our previous podcast episode, ISSB Vice Chair Sue Lloyd talks aligning sustainability standards across jurisdictions, here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/issb-vice-chair-sue-lloyd-talks-aligning-sustainability-standards-across-jurisdictions  

Listen to our previous podcast episode, CDP CEO talks climate, nature and the future of sustainability disclosure, here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/cdp-ceo-talks-climate-nature-and-the-future-of-sustainability-disclosure  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global   

DISCLAIMER   

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.  

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we explore the role artificial intelligence can play in advancing sustainability outcomes — and how the energy demands from generative AI programs could change over time. 

We talk with Hussein Shel, Chief Technologist and Head of Upstream Digital Transformation, Energy and Utility at Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud-computing and technology services company and a subsidiary of Amazon. 

AI has been a major focus at sustainability events throughout 2024 and will be a topic at the UN’s COP29 climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, which begins Nov. 11.  

In the interview, Hussein explains how AWS is leveraging AI, machine learning and more efficient computing hardware to address sustainability challenges, particularly in optimizing energy usage and integrating renewables onto the grid.  

"Most of these models are getting more and more optimized,” Hussein says. “They're becoming more and more intelligent ... reducing potentially the consumption of energy needed to retrain." 

This interview took place on the sidelines of The Nest Climate Campus, where ESG Insider was an official podcast during Climate Week NYC. 

Listen to our interview with the head of the Electric Power Research Institute on how AI is driving up electricity demand: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/ceraweek-how-energy-transition-discussions-are-shifting  

This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

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