ESG Now

In this episode, we dive deep into the critical role of adaptation finance in helping Asia face the escalating impacts of climate change. As the region experiences rising temperatures and extreme weather events, the demand for resilience-building solutions is greater than ever. With a growing population, rapid urbanization, and a heavy reliance on agriculture, Asia is uniquely vulnerable, but also primed for innovation and growth in climate resilience. Tune in to understand the challenges, opportunities, and investment potential in climate adaptation for Asia's future.Episode reading list: https://www.msci-institute.com/themes/climate/how-adaptation-finance-can-help-asia-withstand-a-hotter-future/Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Umar Ashfaq, MSCI Sustainability Institute

Tariffs and tangled supply chains: This week, we explore how commercial aerospace and defense companies are navigating a new wave of trade restrictions. From Boeing to Lockheed Martin, what do transparency and oversight mean when the stakes — and the sky —are high? Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

From car factories to aluminum smelters to textiles, the purported goal of the Trump administration is to 'reshore' American manufacturing. Its a goal, in part, supported by his predecessor, Joe Biden, who enacted the CHIPS act to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to America. So, let's say manufacturing does come back and companies expand their current factories to meet demand.  What climate-driven risks—water shortages, extreme heat, or flooding—will these sites face, and where will those hazards hit hardest? We'll explore the answers on this episode of Sustainability Now!Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Katie Towey, MSCI ESG Research

Newly imposed U.S. tariffs have triggered market volatility and strategic recalibrations across industries. In this episode, we explore the role of supply chain traceability in managing risk — from regulatory exposure to sustainability trade-offs. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Aura Dron, MSCI ESG Research

As I type this, we are in the midst of a market sell off. So, it's a perfect time to look at what happened to our ESG indexes during the last market sell offs. Worrisome times!Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Xinxin Wang, MSCI ESG Research

Does the defense industry have an ESG problem? Is there such a thing as an ethical bomb? These are questions emerging as the European Union ramps up investment in its defense sector as part of a broader rearmament effort. In this episode, we examine whether these concerns are well-founded or simply a dubious proposition. Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Olga Emelianova, MSCI ESG Research 

Egg prices in the US have soared, but is avian flu the only culprit? This week, we crack open the structural issues in the egg industry, from supply chain vulnerabilities to price-fixing allegations. Plus, what it all means for investors — and your breakfast. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Cole Martin, MSCI ESG Research

In February 2025, the EU Commission proposed the first Omnibus Package of sustainability rules, with the aim of simplifying and reducing EU sustainability reporting requirements. But did it work? Has the outcome been "good" or "bad"? And what are these new rules set to do to the future of sustainable finance in the EU? Listen to this episode of ESG now to find out!NOTE: The first 12:10 of this episode provides a background of what the Omnibus proposal actually proposes. If you just want our takes on the good, the bad, and the future of this proposal, skip that section!Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Simone Ruiz-Vergote, MSCI ESG Research

Banks face growing pressure from regulators to assess the risks climate change poses to their loan portfolios. Some regions, like Europe, are tightening standards, while others, like the U.S., remain hesitant. Our latest research reveals that banks with high exposure to industrials—especially in APAC—could see default risks rise by 50% over the next decade. Will global banks adapt, or are we heading toward a financial blind spot? Find out on this episode of ESG now!Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Anja Ludzuweit and Guilherme de Melo Silva, MSCI ESG Research

Oil and gas are in, renewables are out — at least, that's what the headlines say. But what's really happening in energy markets? We take a closer look at shifting U.S. policies, investor reactions, and how global energy trends might shape the future. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Mathew Lee, Chris Cote & Elchin Mammadov, MSCI ESG Research

The quest for higher returns with lower risk is a fundamental principle of successful investing. Study after study shows that investors can use sustainability data to identify more profitable, less risky companies with higher long-term returns. But what about protecting your portfolio from massive drawdowns? Or better yet, seeing which sustainability data points matter most for which industries? Well, you're in luck because that is what this episode is all about!Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Liz Houston and Xinxin Wang, MSCI ESG Research

What are climate scenarios? Can I do them myself, or do I need a supercomputer and an advanced degree to make them work? They are certainly important in this day and age, especially as once-in-a-lifetime destructive events seem to be becoming the norm. That's why we decided to do an episode demystifying the whole process of climate scenario analysis. Luckily, our guest today, James Edwards, along with his co-authors, Nathan Faigle and Wenmin Li, wrote a practical guide on the topic called How can I use climate scenarios? A practical guide (link below). Thanks to their work, we were able to gather some useful tips on how even we, the humble listener, can conduct our very own climate scenario analysis. Enjoy!Report: https://www.msci-institute.com/insights/comment/how-can-i-use-climate-scenarios-a-practical-guide/Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: James Edwards, MSCI Climate Risk Center

Fires continue to rage in Southern California, destroying homes and businesses and leaving thousands stranded. But Los Angeles and its surrounding areas are unfortunately not unique when it comes to wildfire risk. So where is the next fire likely to be? And what can investors do about it? We discuss on this week's episode of ESG now.Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Katie Towey,  MSCI Climate Risk Center

One of Australia's biggest casinos is in big trouble, plagued by money laundering investigations and a dwindling pool of domestic gamblers. We look at whether the rise of online gambling may make problems like these redundant in future, and what new risks investors may want to be on the lookout for. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: SK Kim, MSCI ESG Research

Join us as we cover the sustainability and climate trends that our team thinks will shape the year head. We talk about the energy transition opportunities that are emerging in private markets, rising social risks and the tech giants, falling data access for AI models and much more. Here's to a big, intriguing 2025!Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Liz Houston, Namita Nair & Jonathan Ponder, MSCI ESG Research

We put out the world's first price forecast for Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)! In it we analyzed the potential demand, supply and prices for credits under CORSIA, and how much the scheme could cost the airline industry in terms of higher ticket prices or lower profits. In this episode we explore the reports findings from one of its main authors, Faris Pleho. Enjoy! Report: CORSIA: Costs and Implications for the Airline Industry Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Faris Pleho, MSCI Carbon Markets

What do market participants actually think is going to happen to their assets due to climate change? And when do they expect it? And do they think we will ever abandon fossil fuels? Well to answer those questions (and any others!), you need a survey. Luckily, we've got one! We've linked it below, and created a podcast episode about it. Enjoy!Link to the survey: https://www.msci-institute.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MSI-Survey-Report-061124_2.pdfHost: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Russ Bowdrey, MSCI ESG Research

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 ResearchGuests: 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 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 ResearchGuest: 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 ResearchGuest: 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 ResearchGuest: 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/04992064034Guest: 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 ResearchGuests: 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 ResearchGuest: 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 ResearchGuest: 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 ResearchGuest: 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 ResearchGuest: 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 ResearchGuest: Liz Houston, MSCI ESG Research; Xinxin Wang, MSCI ESG & Climate Solutions Research

It's early days for sustainability-linked bonds, where issuers see their interest rates rise after missing sustainability targets. But instead of throwing in the towel after some initial setbacks, we talk about companies that have doubled down on their sustainability commitments. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Guilherme de Melo Silva, MSCI ESG Research

Good governance is foundational to effective capital markets, promoting accountability, transparency and sound decision-making aligned with investor interests. But how do those potential benefits translate into market performance? Well today, we answer that question for you! We answer the question: does governance even matter.If you want to read the blog mentioned in this podcast, it can be found here: https://www.msci.com/www/blog-posts/corporate-governance-market/04784692180Host: Mike Disabato (MSCI ESG Research)Guest: Xinxin Wang (MSCI ESG & Climate Solutions Research)

Data from over 4,000 issuers, spanning nearly a decade revealed that companies with better MSCI ESG Ratings tended to have a lower cost of capital. It's big news for investors and another step towards understanding the relationship between sustainability and financial performance. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Jakub Malich & Anett Husi, MSCI ESG Research

Our demand for electricity is growing for the first time in decades. Nuclear energy is being proffered as the answer to our veracious energy-appetites. But are investors capable of propping up an industry with so much complexity and risk? This episode provides an answer.Host: Michael Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Elchin Mammadov, MSCI ESG Research

What is impact materiality, you ask? And how is it different from financial materiality? A fine and important question, listener! In this episode we take you through all the details you need to parse through the most important sustainability-jargon out there. Including, an explanation of the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, or the CSRD, which has its first required reporting cycle due next year. Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Meggin Thwing Eastman, MSCI ESG Research

When it comes to climate altering carbon emissions, investors, like asset managers and banks, used to only measure their direct carbon emissions from their buildings and purchased electricity. But now, they are being asked by regulators, stakeholders, and clients to report on the emissions associated with their investment portfolios – a much more complicated and vital task. In this episode, guest Carrie Wang explains to host Mike Disabato why portfolio carbon footprinting is so important to the future of investing and so complicated. Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Carrie Wang, MSCI ESG Research

They may not be new, but climate funds have recently hit their stride. From managing transition risk, to targeting technology opportunities, to aligning with the Paris agreement – these funds come in all shapes and sizes and with pretty diverse objectives. On this episode we catch you up on where climate funds stand today, and how differently they're evolving in public and private markets.Host: Margarita Grabert, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Rumi Mahmood, MSCI Sustainability Institute

Maybe a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,  but that's not going to fly for sustainability funds in the EU. On this episode we break down ESMA's latest fund guidelines and discuss their place in a regulatory landscape with all kinds of moving pieces. Host: Bentley Kaplan,  MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Meggin Eastman & Simone Ruiz-Vergote, MSCI ESG Research

Airlines are part of a hard to abate industry for a reason as there is not one straightforward path to decarbonization. In this episode, we discuss the options that airlines have to reduce their direct emissions in the coming decades – and we tell you which ones are more likely to be more viable.Host: Gabriela de la Serna, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Michael Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Alcoholic beverage companies are trying to navigate through a changing world, one where tastes are evolving, and resources are getting scarcer. In this episode, delve into the significant challenges and innovative strategies the alcoholic beverage industry is employing to combat this shift in drinking trends.Host: Michael Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Cole Martin, MSCI ESG Research

Everyone is talking about AI, but on today's episode we focus on the technology's potential to disrupt health care. Then, we switch things up to look at how wildfires are exacerbating physical, legal and financial risks for electric utilities in the U.S. Host: Gabriela de la Serna, MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Namita Nair & Mathew Lee, MSCI ESG Research

Coal still makes up a big cut of China's energy mix. But the country's growth in renewables is undeniable. As climate targets are laid down and climate change accelerates, figuring out China's emissions trajectory is tricky. And that's OK – we love a tricky discussion. Host: SK Kim, MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Cody Dong & Siyao He, MSCI ESG Research

For some investors, having a climate-savvy director on a company's board may seem like a non-negotiable. But data from some of the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters shows that successful climate governance is complex and may require more than pinning all your hopes on a climate superstar. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Florian Sommer, MSCI ESG Research

This week we provide an update to our March 2022 episode titled Children in the Cocoa Field that explored the growing problem of child labor in cocoa harvesting. And the attempt by Nestlé to use money and enhanced mapping technology to combat its prevalence. It sounds bleak, but it was a great story about how technology is allowing for better transparency in our world's supply chain. Host: Michael Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Cole Martin, MSCI ESG Research

Plastic is an inescapable reality of the modern world. But trading off its convenience and versatility for environmental and health impacts is getting harder. Companies that make or rely on plastic are being pushed to improve recyclability and reuse. And as tempting as it is to believe everything you read on a label, it looks like the road to a genuine circular economy is still going to be a little bumpy.Host: Margarita Grabert, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Sam Block, MSCI ESG Research

The SEC's climate disclosure rule is finally here. It's been a journey, one akin to a film drama full of plot twists, cliff hangers and edge of the seat moments. So in honor of the drama, this week we do a film review of sorts on this wide reaching regulation - going into the plot, the actors involved, and how the industry is likely to be effected by it.  Host: Michael Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Zohir Uddin, MSCI Government and Regulatory Affairs; Mathew Lee, MSCI ESG Research

We have been reporting on board's gender diversity since 2009, and while progress has undoubtedly been made, the road ahead is still long. Linda-Eling Lee from MSCI's Sustainability Institute tells us why we started compiling this report in the first place, and how it has managed to remain relevant in 2024. Then, our colleague Christina Milhomem tells us what the numbers say- what has or hasn't changed, which regulations are coming our way- and why investors should think of diversity as an indicator of management oversight.  Host: Gabriela de la Serna, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Linda-Eling Lee, MSCI Sustainability Institute; Christina Milhomem, MSCI ESG Research

ExxonMobil filed a legal complaint against two of its own shareholders, who were hoping to put a climate-related proposal to a vote at the company's upcoming AGM. We discuss why it's a decision that could have consequences for the wider shareholder community and the companies they invest in.  Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Harlan Tufford, MSCI ESG Research

Valentines day is replete with marketing by luxury brands attempting to capture the eyes of anxious lovers wanting to do right by their partners during the holiday. But what can you know about the product you're buying from a luxury company? Can you know where its raw materials are sourced? Or where that material is produced? And who're running these luxurious companies? We discuss all this and more on this week's episode of ESG now.Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Liz Houston, MSCI ESG Research

The stakes on data protection and privacy are only getting higher. Hacks, breaches and data leaks are becoming bugbears of the modern corporate world. Insurers offer products for cyber-related incidents, but in a complex, evolving risk landscape, there are a lot of asterisks. We take a look at the current cyber insurance market, and how insurers are de-risking their positions through cyber catastrophe bonds. Host: Margarita Grabert, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Federico Darakdjian, MSCI ESG Research

Audit firms have been under scrutiny lately after scandal and concern have led some to worry the vital industry is in trouble. But to understand whether fears around an auditor are credible, one must understand how to assess auditor quality. In this episode, we teach you how to assess an audit firm, and answer the question that some are posing: is there a crisis in the audit industry?Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Jon Ponder, MSCI Carbon Markets

One door plug blowout, one emergency landing and zero injuries. For Boeing, quality checks and tailored governance structures aren't adding up to a great safety record. But looking at the underlying ESG data might shed light on where things might be going wrong. Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG ResearchGuests: Mike Disabato & Harlan Tufford, MSCI ESG Research

Biodiversity is everywhere from food production to pharmaceutical drugs, so the biodiversity crisis puts both society and the global economy at risk. And while it is like the climate crisis in its cause, there are complexities and measurement difficulties that make the biodiversity crisis a distinct problem for investors to address compared to the climate crisis. On this episode we sat down with our colleague Arne Klug to understand where this complexity comes from and how can investors go about it when trying to include biodiversity in their investment practices.  Host: Gabriela de la Serna, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Arne Klug, MSCI ESG Research