Man Group: Perspectives Towards a Sustainable Future

What trade-offs will we need to make to achieve net zero? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Alex Grant, Equinor UK Country Manager, about the state of the energy transition, the trade-offs that we are increasingly facing between security of supply, affordability and decarbonisation; and emerging energy technologies.

How economically grounded is the UK's net zero commitment? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Sir Dieter Helm, University of Oxford, about what new forces and factors are reshaping net zero ambitions; how the UK should think about optimal climate policy; and why a realist approach is critical for navigating the political economy factors of climate action.

How have politics and geoeconomics turned rare earths and critical minerals into pressure points in the expanding global trade conflict? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Saleem Ali, University of Delaware, about what the energy transition means in the context of environmental security; how multilateral initiatives and increasingly national efforts are working to reshape supply and demand dynamics; and why it's critical we continue to rethink ways to diversify and secure global critical mineral supply chains.

What happens if access to US climate data becomes more limited? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Benjamin Horton, Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, about what the political changes in the US could mean for the international scientific community; how that impact translates into access and availability of critical climate datasets; and why some climate scientists are already thinking about substitutes plans and worst case scenarios.

How are asset owners reallocating towards sustainability? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Dan Mikulskis, People's Partnership CIO, about how the People's Partnership is doing to evolve its investment strategy; what that means functionally for in a responsible investment context; and why asset owners like People's Partnership are taking on a bigger leadership role in sustainable finance.

What does 2025 hold for sustainable investing? Jason Mitchell talks to Hortense Bioy, Morningstar Head of Research, about how sustainable investing has reshaped asset flows over the last several years; what the suspension of the net zero initiatives could mean for investors; and why sustainable investing can survive Trump 2.0.

Will investors reset, recalibrate, or retreat from net zero in 2025? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Tom Gosling, London School of Economics, about how to think about the exits among climate initiatives; what the future of net zero commitments could look like; and why, investors—despite their limitations in driving climate outcomes—are still able to have a material effect on climate policy development.

Is sustainable investing facing its own replication crisis? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Andrew King, Boston University, about what the replication crisis represents for sustainable finance; how to think about the incentive problems impacting academic research; and why academic journals and the academic-practitioner community need to be more open to the replication and challenge of existing studies.

How do neighbourhoods shape economic opportunities for children? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Stefanie Deluca, Johns Hopkins University, about why neighbourhoods matter for creating social mobility; some of the outcomes and challenges in her recent paper, “Creating Moves to Opportunity”; and what it takes to create more high-opportunity zones, so families don't have to continually uproot and move. Professor Stefanie DeLuca is the James Coleman Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the Johns Hopkins University, director of the Poverty and Inequality Research Lab, and Research Principal at Opportunity Insights at Harvard University. She is one of the foremost qualitative mixed methods researchers on housing and higher education policy. Professor DeLuca co-authored Coming of Age in the Other America, which was named an Outstanding Academic Title from the American Library Association, and won the William F. Goode Award from the American Sociological Association. Stefanie has also been awarded a National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Fellowship and a William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Award. She serves on a Federal Research Advisory Commission at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and was named Scholar of the Year by the National Alliance of Resident Services in Assisted and Affordable Housing.

What's at stake for climate and nature in the current political environment? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Paul Bodnar, Bezos Earth Fund, about the vital role of philanthropic capital; the mission of the Bezos Earth Fund; and how its thinks about funding efforts across mitigation and adaptation as well as the Global North and Global South.   Note: This episode was recorded prior to the recent US election. Paul Bodnar is the Director of Sustainable Finance, Industry, and Diplomacy at the Bezos Earth Fund. He most recently served as Global Head of Sustainable Investing at BlackRock, where he helped build the firm's $500 billion sustainable funds business. Prior to Blackrock, Paul was Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Council member at RMI (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute), where he founded the Center for Climate-Aligned Finance. Paul served in the Obama White House as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Energy and Climate Change at the National Security Council. Prior to that, Paul served at the State Department as US lead negotiator for climate finance.

What grade does the finance industry deserve in terms of pricing climate risk? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chief Scientist Dr. Sarah Kapnick, about the scope of NOAA's mission; NOAA's billion-dollar Weather and Climate Disasters dataset and what it means for weather attribution; and why NOAA itself represents a remarkable value to the US people as an argument against dismantling or privatising it. Dr. Sarah Kapnick is Chief Scientist at NOAA, which plays a critical role in understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. Bringing a unique mix of science and finance to NOAA, Dr. Kapnick's background includes serving as a senior climate scientist at JP Morgan Chase, a leadership role at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, and an early career in investment banking. Note: This episode was recorded prior to Dr. Kapnick's departure from NOAA.

Is ESG a “hopeless muddle”? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, about free markets and free minds; climate and ESG disclosures; the implications of Loper Bright on the Chevron Doctrine and agency authority; and the merits of financial innovation in crypto versus ESG. Commissioner Hester Peirce was appointed by President Donald Trump to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018. Before joining the SEC, Commissioner Peirce conducted research on the regulation of financial markets at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She was a Senior Counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where she advised Ranking Member Richard Shelby and other members of the Committee on securities issues. Commissioner Peirce served as counsel to SEC Commissioner Paul S. Atkins. She also worked as a Staff Attorney in the SEC's Division of Investment Management.

Can human capital drive portfolio returns? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Dan Ariely, Duke University, about what a human capital factor looks like; how incentives and the basic idea of “feeling valued “are fundamental drivers behind employee motivation; and why human capital can represent an overlooked source of alpha. Dan Ariely is the James B. Duke Professor of psychology and behavioural economics at Duke University. He is a serial entrepreneur, co-founding several companies implementing insights from behavioural science including BEwork, Genie, Irrational Labs, Timeful, and Irrational Capital. Dan has written many books, including three New York Times best-selling books: Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, and The Honest Truth about Dishonesty. His most recent book is Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things. Irrational Capital applies workplace behavioural science, financial acumen, and deep data science to capture the powerful connection between human capital and stock performance. It is the first firm to quantitatively capture the lift that strong corporate culture has on a company's stock price in an investable way.

What's the role of an influencer in the effort to address climate change? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Assaad Razzouk, CEO of Gurīn Energy, about what's at stake in the fight for climate action, how to think about the energy transition in the context of this year's global electoral cycle, and, of course, why we need more angry clean energy people.

How is the Loan Programs Office providing unprecedented amounts of capital for clean energy innovations? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Jigar Shah, US Department of Energy Loan Programs Office Director, his $400 billion mandate in commercialising clean energy innovations, how these technologies align with US energy security goals and climate commitments, and what the multiplier effect of LPO financing could mean for private sector investment. Jigar Shah is the Director for the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the US Department of Energy where he leads and directs the organisation's considerable loan authority within manufacturing, innovative project finance, and tribal energy. With more than 25 years of experience in clean energy, he is an expert in project finance, clean technology, and entrepreneurship, as well as a visionary leader and innovator in the field of sustainable infrastructure. Prior to joining the DOE, Jigar co-founded and served as the President of Generate Capital, the leading investment and operating platform for distributed energy storage, microgrids, fuel cells, electric vehicles, and organic waste management. He also founded SunEdison, the inventor of the modern solar-as-a-service industry, and served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson to help entrepreneurs address climate change. Jigar is the author of Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy, a book that outlines his mission to scale the transition to a global clean energy economy.

What does it mean to be an innovator and early adopter in sustainable aviation? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with David Morgan, easyJet COO, about how aviation is undergoing its own energy transition; the factors driving easyJet's decarbonisation ambitions; and why it's vital that airlines like easyJet keep pushing the envelope on technological innovation.

Where are the tensions in the climate science community driving research and real-world policy impact? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Adam Sobel, Columbia University, about what the tropics and wet bulb temperature mean in the context of climate change; how to think about the trade-offs between the applied and theoretical sides of science; and why we need to rethink the social responsibility of climate scientists. Adam Sobel is Professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Engineering School. He studies the dynamics of climate and weather phenomena, particularly in the tropics. In recent years he has become particularly interested in understanding the risks to human society from extreme weather events and climate change. He is author or co-author of over 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles; Storm Surge, a book about Hurricane Sandy; and numerous op-eds. He is also host of the Deep Convection podcast.

What will the upcoming EU elections mean for sustainable investors? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Henry Foy, the FT's Brussels Bureau Chief, about June's EU elections, why the policy agenda will likely pivot towards defence an away from the Green Deal, and how EU policymakers may try to reframe defence and security for sustainable investors. Henry Foy is the FT's Brussels Bureau Chief, leading coverage of EU affairs and managing a team of correspondents that reports on European politics and policy. He is also the lead writer of Europe Express, the FT's agenda-setting weekday newsletter on European affairs. Previously, Henry was Moscow Bureau Chief, where he interviewed Vladimir Putin and charted his regime's descent into repression. He has also been posted in Warsaw and London. He joined the FT in 2013 from Reuters, where he was a correspondent in India.

How prevalent are psychological biases like confirmation bias and black-and-white in your thinking? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Alex Edmans, London Business School, about why misinformation is a problem that affects us all; how we can counter it through more critical, rigorous analysis; and what it means for the world of sustainable investing. Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School. Alex serves as non-executive director of the Investor Forum, on the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Responsible Investing, on Royal London Asset Management's Responsible Investment Advisory Committee, and on Novo Nordisk's Sustainability Advisory Council. Alex's book, Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit, was a Financial Times Book of the Year and has been translated into nine languages, and he is a co-author of Principles of Corporate Finance (with Brealey, Myers, and Allen). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. His latest book, May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – And What We Can Do About It comes out in April 2024.

Why is the world's largest single waste stream—demolition concrete—one of the secrets to carbon dioxide removal? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Neustark Head of Carbon Dioxide Removal, Lisa Braune, about what the world's largest waste stream—demolition concrete—means as a carbon sink; how the private sector and governments are working to support and embed CDR technologies; and why CDR certification is so important in the wake of the recent carbon offsets scrutiny.

To what degree can investors control climate outcomes? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Madison Condon, Boston University School of Law, about what universal ownership theory represents in the context of climate change and how this has recently changed. In addition, this far-reaching conversation highlights how private sector ownership of climate models has created a ‘climate intelligence arms race' that has serious oversight implications. Madison Condon is an Associate Professor at Boston University School of Law where she teaches Environmental Law and Corporations. Her research focuses on climate change and its relationship to corporate governance, market risk, and financial regulators. She was first a Legal Fellow, and then an Attorney, at the Institute for Policy Integrity from 2017-2020. Before that, she clerked for Judge Jane Kelly of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and was a fellow with the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

Why is a multi-disciplinary approach key to addressing biodiversity loss? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Simon Levin, Princeton University, about what's at stake in the effort to preserve biodiversity loss; how his work has expanded into the sociological, political economy and policy space; and why a common language — a grammar for economic reasoning — is vital for bringing together different disciplines to understand nature. Professor Simon Levin is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University and the Director of the Center for BioComplexity in the High Meadows Environmental Institute. His research examines the structure and functioning of ecosystems, the dynamics of disease, and the coupling of ecological and socioeconomic systems. Simon is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and a Foreign Member of the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, and the Istituto Lombardo. He has over 500 publications and is the editor of the Encyclopedia of Biodiversity and the Princeton Guide to Ecology. Simon's awards include: the Heineken Prize for Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences, the Ecological Society of America's MacArthur and Eminent Ecologist Awards, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, and the National Medal of Science.

How is the FCA's SDR framework a powerful example of second mover advantage? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Sara Woodroffe, Manager of the FCA's ESG Policy & Advisory Team, about what the FCA's new SDR framework means for investors, how it aims to provide anti-greenwashing protections per its mandate of consumer protection, and why a sustainable finance investment labelling regime could well be the antidote to one purely focused on disclosure.

What is the outlook for UK climate policy in 2024? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Chris Stark, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, about how the implications of COP28 could reshape the UK's global climate leadership; what the Climate Change Committee is doing to advise the UK government on its climate action and adaptation strategy; and why it's vital we find more powerful ways to drive the net zero transmission into the real economy into the next carbon budget. Chris Stark is Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee, and previously Director of Energy and Climate Change in the Scottish Government where he led the development of Scotland's approach to emissions reduction and the energy system transition. The Climate Change Committee, which was established under the UK's Climate Change Act in 2008, is an independent, statutory body sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and NetZero that advises both the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets and on progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.  

To what degree can investors control climate outcomes? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Dr. Tom Gosling, London Business School, why investors may need to rethink their net zero commitments; what universal ownership theory represents in the context of climate change; and how engagement at different levels plays a fundamental role in terms of investor influence. Dr. Tom Gosling is an Executive Fellow in the Department of Finance at the London Business School and an Executive Fellow at the European Corporate Governance Institute where he contributes to the evidence-based practice of responsible business by connecting academic research, public policy, and corporate action. His projects at LBS have included a collaboration with PwC on whether and how executive pay should be linked to ESG targets and a collaboration with The Investor Forum on What does stakeholder capitalism mean for investors? Tom is also on the ESG Advisory Committee at the Financial Conduct Authority and on the Advisory Panel of the Financial Reporting Council.

Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Andrew Strait, Ada Lovelace Institute, about how to think through the typology of AI harms, what to make of the different national and supranational efforts to regulate AI, and why the development of strong AI governance systems is in everyone's interest. Andrew Strait is an Associate Director at the Ada Lovelace Institute where he is responsible for Ada's work addressing emerging technology and industry practice. He's spent the last decade working at the intersection of technology, law and society. Prior to joining Ada, he was an Ethics & Policy Researcher at DeepMind, where he managed internal AI ethics initiatives and oversaw the company's network of external partnerships. Previously, Andrew worked as a Legal Operations Specialist at Google where he developed and implemented platform moderation policies on areas such as data protection, hate speech, terrorist content and child safety.

How are national policymakers driving transition finance into the real economy? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Dr. Esther Wandel, German Federal Ministry of Finance, how the German Federal Ministry of Finance is evolving its Sustainable Finance Strategy and what ‘harmonisation' holds for sustainable regulations and standards. Dr. Esther Wandel is head of division for Investment Funds and Sustainable Finance at the German Federal Ministry of Finance. She focuses on the international, European and national Agenda on sustainable finance and asset management topics. Esther led the financial services team of the Permanent Representation of Germany in Brussels for two years where she led and coordinated work on financial services during the German EU presidency. She worked for the European Commission for seven years as well as Financial Conduct Authority in London for three years.

When can sustainable investing be counterproductive? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Kelly Shue, Yale University School of Management, why brown firms—not green firms—will drive the greatest emissions savings, how the cost of capital can be a powerful lever for behaviour change, and why it's vital that sustainable investors move more towards energy transition-type strategies. Kelly Shue serves as a Professor of Finance at the Yale University School of Management. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of behavioural economics and empirical corporate finance. Her research has explored the Peter Principle, compensation and promotions, gender and negotiations, the gambler's fallacy, contrast effects and non-proportional thinking in asset pricing, and executive social networks. Her research has been featured in numerous news outlets including CNN, NPR, and the Wall Street Journal, and has been awarded the AQR Insight Award, the Wharton School-WRDS Award for Best Empirical Finance Paper, and the UBS Global Asset Management Award for Research in Investments. She serves as an associate editor at the Journal of Finance and Journal of Financial Economics, and previously served as an editor at the Review of Finance.  Her latest paper is Counterproductive Sustainable Investing: The Impact Elasticity of Brown and Green Firms

In a world of artificially generated content and ideas, where is the comparative advantage for humans? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Anton Korinek, University of Virginia, about how to think through the economic—and specifically labour productivity—implications of generative AI, what AI could potentially mean for the last 40 years of wage inequality, and why it's critical we rethink traditional forms of learning given the impact that AI could have on education.

What's at stake in the next general election for UK climate policy? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Rt. Hon. Chris Skidmore MP, former Minister and Chair of the UK Net Zero Review, about why it's critical that the UK maintain its international climate leadership; what should the UK do about domestic oil and gas production in another energy security crisis; and how the UK can respond to the US and EU clean energy stimulus programmes. The Right Honourable Chris Skidmore is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Kingswood. He was the UK's former Energy and Clean Growth Minister attending cabinet who signed the UK's net zero commitment into law in June 2019, and also served as Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation twice between 2018 and 2020. In September 2022 he was appointed Chair of the Net Zero Review, an independent review into the delivery of UK net zero climate commitments. The report of the review, Mission Zero, was published in January 2023.

Is AI your co-worker or your job replacement? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Dr. Mike Kollo, CEO of Evolved Reasoning, about how to think through the implications of generative AI, what large language models like ChatGPT mean for the workplace, and why our focus needs to shift towards understanding the new areas of growth, industry and expertise that these systems open up.

Does Europe face a climate protection insurance gap? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Margherita Giuzio, European Central Bank, about what's at stake from a financial stability and macroeconomic perspective; how the ECB is proposing a ladder of approaches; and why public-private sector solutions like impact underwriting are vital to reducing moral hazard risks. Margherita is a Team Lead in the Market-Based Finance division of the Macroprudential Policy and Financial Stability Directorate at the European Central Bank. Her research interests include non-bank financial intermediation, climate-related risks to financial stability and sustainable finance. She has co-authored a number of papers examining the intersection of sustainability and financial markets including “What to Do About Europe's Climate Insurance Gap”, “The Low-Carbon Transition, Climate Commitments and Firm Credit Risk”, and “Are Ethical and Green Investment Funds More Resilient?”

What does science reveal about a potential collapse of the Earth system? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Tim Lenton, University of Exeter, about what's at stake when we talk about planetary boundaries, early warning systems and climate tipping points; how the supporting science and empirical evidence have expanded over the last decade; and why GAIA 2.0 represents a powerful framework to reinforce global sustainability.

How are the courts reshaping client action? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Amy Rose, Global Director of Litigation, Governance and Legal Services for ClientEarth, about what strategic impact litigation represents; how constitutional and human rights theories are providing a framework for climate legal action; and why the courts, not policymakers, may well end up reshaping definitions of ESG and greenwashing. Amy Rose is Global Director of Litigation, Governance and Legal Services for ClientEarth. She specialises in strategic impact litigation and oversees the strategy and management of ClientEarth's diverse and growing litigation portfolio. Amy headed the ClientEarth Strategic Litigation Programme which laid the groundwork for bringing litigation at scale across Europe. She focuses on supporting our legal teams to bring a wide range of climate and environmental cases across Europe and around the world. Amy also manages ClientEarth's organisational Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework, and sits on the Risk and Compliance Committee, ensuring compliance with ethical and practice of the law obligations of ClientEarth lawyers licensed in over 15 countries. 

How is climate change redefining security narratives? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with General Tom Middendorp, former Chief of Defence for the Netherlands and author of Climate General, about what's at stake when we talk about climate security; how the defence sector is evolving to address climate risk, from net zero paths to disaster relief missions; and why the military's level of readiness, resilience and redundancy offers compelling lessons for how to tackle climate change. General (Ret.) Tom Middendorp General (Ret.) Tom Middendorp was the Chief of Defence for the Netherlands from 2012 to 2017 in a military career spanning 38 years, and the author of a new book, Climate General. He commanded soldiers on all levels, led a large multinational taskforce in the south of Afghanistan and was involved in over twenty different military missions as the Director of Operations. As the Chief of Defence for the Netherlands, General Middendorp led the Defence organisation through an intense period of transition and international cooperation. He joined the Clingendael Institute as a Senior Research Associate and is Chairman of the International Military Council on Climate and Security. He is also the Netherlands' Special Envoy on European Defence Cooperation and a Senior Advisor in the areas of security, defence and strategic leadership. 

After the energy crisis, what comes next? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Tim Gould, IEA Chief Energy Economist, the IEA's latest World Energy Outlook report, the implications of the energy crisis, and policymakers' efforts to balance decarbonisation, energy security and price affordability. Tim Gould is the International Energy Agency's Chief Energy Economist. He provides strategic advice on energy economics across a wide range of IEA activities and analysis. Tim, is also Head of the Division for Energy Supply and Investment Outlooks, in which capacity he co-leads the World Energy Outlook, the IEA's flagship publication, and oversees the Agency's work on investment and finance, including the World Energy Investment report. Tim joined the IEA in 2008, initially as a specialist on Russian and Caspian energy, and in recent years has designed and directed the World Energy Outlook together with the IEA's Chief Energy Modeller. Prior to joining the IEA, Mr Gould was Senior Advisor to the Secretary General of the Energy Charter and has ten years of experience in Eastern Europe, primarily in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes someone an ESG expert? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Kim Schumacher at Kyushu University, about what competence greenwashing represents; how to capacity plan and build around subject matter expertise in the natural sciences; and why we need to consider an ESG Skills Materiality framework towards this effort. Professor Kim Schumacher is an Associate Professor in Sustainable Finance and ESG at Kyushu University in Japan. He's also a Visiting Lecturer at the Tokyo Institute of Technology Japan and an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on ESG data and impact metrics, sustainability reporting, greenwashing, green bonds, natural capital, nature-based carbon offsets, biodiversity and ecosystem services, renewable energy project development, and TCFD/TNFD disclosures. He is also a Lead Author for the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, a member of the Technical Working Groups of the Climate Disclosure Standards Board, the Climate Bonds Initiative, and the Green Finance Network Japan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the data say about our net zero ambitions? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Vaclav Smil, academic and author of the New York Times bestseller How the World Really Works, what the energy transition by 2050 realistically means; how energy transitions have evolved historically; and what are the real implications when people talk of a climate ‘earthshot'. Vaclav Smil Vaclav is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba. Regarded as being among the most important thought leaders of our time, he's the author of forty-five books and over 500 papers, including the New York Times bestsellers How the World Really Works and Energy and Civilization: A History. One of Bill Gates' favourite authors, Vaclav has spent his career exploring new ground in the fields of energy, environmental and population change, food production and nutrition, technical innovation, risk assessment and public policy. He's been named by Foreign Policy as one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is the UK FCA driving the next evolution of sustainability regulation? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Sacha Sadan, FCA Director of ESG, what the FCA's new SDR framework means for investors; how it aims to provide anti-greenwashing protections; and why we need to work towards greater harmonisation across the multitude of global sustainability standards. Sacha Sadan Sacha Sadan is the Director of ESG at the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) where he oversees ESG across the wide spectrum of regulatory activities and reports to the CEO. Prior to the FCA, Sacha was Director of Investment Stewardship and on the board at Legal and General Investment Management where he had responsibility for investment stewardship, collaborating with other investors, governments and regulators. Sacha was previously a UK equity manager at Gartmore where he co-managed a range of UK equity hedge, retail and institutional funds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can the fashion industry become truly sustainable? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Janice Wang, Alvanon CEO, what sustainability means in a fashion context, how to adapt to shifting demographics and changing body types, and why efficiencies like 3D and digital technologies are already revolutionising the market. Janice Wang, CEO Janice Wang is CEO of Alvanon and Chairwoman of the Board at MOTIF, the online professional development platform for the apparel industry. She is a Member of the Board of The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited, a Member of the Advisory Board for The Mills Fabrica, and Director of the Board, Hong Kong Chapter, for the International Women's Forum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is COP27 set to accomplish? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Quamrul Chowdury, COP27 Lead Climate Negotiator, about what to expect going into COP27, how G-77 and LDC negotiating positions are taking shape, and what's at stake for the most climate-vulnerable countries. Quamrul Chowdury has been a climate negotiator for over thirty years. He serves as a Lead Climate and Sustainable Development Negotiator of the 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and 134 G-77 Developing Countries at UN bodies including UNFCCC and UNCBD. He's also a part of the Bangladesh climate negotiation team. He served as Chair of UN Kyoto Protocol Joint Implementation Committee and was a member of UN Climate Adaptation Committee as a nominee of the developing countries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the criticism of ESG well-founded or political posturing? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Ioannis Ioannou, London Business School, about what is at stake in the backlash to ESG, how to think about the factors driving its politicisation, and why we need to work harder towards finding ways to turn down the heat in this increasingly partisan debate. Prof. Ioannis Ioannou Ioannis Ioannou is a professor at London Business School, and strategy scholar whose research focuses on Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. He consults on and researches how environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) strategies are adopted, embedded and successfully implemented by organizations globally. His work has been published in top academic journals, including the Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science and the Journal of International Business Studies. He is the co-Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Panel of Merck KGaA and a member of the ESG Advisory Board of the DWS Group. Ioannis also recently served on the Stakeholder Working Group of the UK Treasury's Asset Management Taskforce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How are multilateral institutions like the IMF helping close the gender gap? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Dr. Ratna Sahay, IMF Senior Advisor on Gender, about what's at stake when we talk about gender disparities, how the IMF's first Strategy Toward Mainstreaming Gender advances this effort and why it's vital that we focus on the multiplier effects to drive great, more inclusive economic growth. Dr. Ratna Sahay is Senior Advisor on Gender in the Office of the Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund. She is responsible for mainstreaming gender in the Fund's core activities-surveillance, programs, and capacity development. Prior to this role, she was a Deputy Director in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department. She has worked in several regional departments in the IMF and has previously served as Advisor to Stanley Fischer (First Deputy Managing Director) and Michael Mussa and Kenneth Rogoff (both Economic Counselors at the IMF). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the carbon offset market is falling short, how do we fix it? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Professor Thomas Hale, Oxford University, about what's at stake in net zero commitments, how to think about potential policy solutions and why it's vital that we work towards a more robust regulatory system to oversee carbon offsets markets. Find the full transcript of this episode and the latest responsible investment insights from Man Institute here: https://www.man.com/maninstitute/responsible-investment Biography Thomas Hale is a professor at the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government. His research explores how we can manage transnational problems effectively and fairly, and to explain how political institutions evolve to face the challenges raised by globalisation and interdependence, with a particular emphasis on environmental, economic and health issues. He also leads the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. His books include Beyond Gridlock; Between Interests and Law: The Politics of Transnational Commercial Disputes; Transnational Climate Change Governance; and Gridlock: Why Global Cooperation Is Failing when We Need It Most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's at stake for hedge funds in the path to net zero? Jason Mitchell talks to Keith Guthrie, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Cardano, about the role of short selling in sustainable investing, how to incorporate hedge funds and derivatives into net zero strategies, and why it's vital we distinguish economic risk materiality from real world impact. Keith Guthrie is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Cardano and a member of its Sustainability Steering Committee and Investment Committee. Keith is also co-lead of the IIGCC Derivatives and Hedge Fund Working Group where he oversaw the Derivatives and Hedge Funds Discussion Paper. Keith's primary focus at Cardano is on Investment Philosophy and Frameworks, and Sustainable Investing, with oversight of the Manager Research and LDI teams. Prior to joining Cardano, Keith worked at GAM managing a variety of multi-asset and hedge fund portfolios.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is market-driven short termism a convenient scapegoat? Jason Mitchell talks to Professor Mark J. Roe, Harvard Law School, about why short-termism may not be the problem it's purported to be, how the narrative around short-termism has evolved over the past 30 years, and the potential policy solutions. Biography Mark J. Roe is a professor at Harvard Law School, where he teaches corporate law and corporate bankruptcy. He is the author of Missing the Target: Why Stock Market Short-Termism Is Not the Problem (Oxford, 2022), and one of the most prominent voices in the short-termism debate. He's also author of Strong Managers, Weak Owners: The Political Roots of American Corporate Finance (Princeton, 1994), Political Determinants of Corporate Governance (Oxford, 2003) and Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization (Foundation, 2014). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will the energy transition — now complicated by the drive to diversify energy sources away from Russia — lead to a full-blown energy crisis? Listen to Jason Mitchell talk to Rob West, CEO of Thunder Said Energy, about what's at stake for the energy complex as we begin this diversification, the first and second order impacts of the conflict, and the trade-offs that we may face between energy security, decarbonisation and price affordability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does sustainable finance regulation represent a sea change for investors? Listen to Jason Mitchell talk to Alain Deckers, European Commission Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), about greenwashing, enforcement, materiality, regulatory harmonisation and how the European Commission's Sustainable Finance Strategy is bringing transparency to the ESG space. Alain Deckers is the newly-appointed Head of the Asset Management Unit within the European Commission's Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union or DG-FISMA. He was the Vice-Chairman of the EFRAG European Lab Steering Group. With over 20 years of experience at the European Commission, Alain has been responsible for policy reviews and policy development in areas including trade in goods, environmental policy, public procurement and financial services regulation.   * The views set out in this podcast are those of Alain and not the official position of the European Commission, nor the views of individual Commissioners or other officials of the European Commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is extreme heat the “silent killer” in climate change? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Dr. Eleni Myrivili, Chief Heat Officer for the city of Athens, Greece, about what the impact of heat stress means; how cities around the world are addressing it from a policy perspective and why it's likely we'll see more of these positions and more intervention going forward. Dr. Eleni Myrivili is the Chief Heat Officer for the city of Athens, Greece. She designs, leads, and promotes heat adaptation programs that protect people at risk while building better urban environments, in Athens and beyond. From 2014 to 2019, she served as Athens' Deputy Mayor for Urban Nature and Climate Resilience pioneering multimillion-euro programs in equitable blue and green infrastructure development. She is also senior advisor and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Arsht-Rockefeller Resilience Center which she joined in the summer of 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How are multilateral development banks leaning into sustainable finance? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Heike Reichelt, Head of Investor Relations and Sustainable Finance at the World Bank Treasury, about what the World Bank is doing to drive socio-environmental impact; how multilateral development banks are reshaping their climate-related investments post-COP 26; and why it's vital that programmes like the World Bank and IDA exist to support the development goals of middle- and lower-income countries. Find the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.man.com/maninstitute/a-sustainable-future-podcast Heike Reichelt is Head of Investor Relations and Sustainable Finance at the World Bank Treasury. Heike is responsible for managing relationships with bond investors, rating agencies and the financial media, and developing new bond products. She has more than 20 years of experience in finance – including with the World Bank Treasury's Reserves Advisory Management Program and at KfW, the German development bank. Heike was recognized for her role in building sustainable capital markets as the 2017 recipient of the prestigious Joan Bavaria Award. The World Bank Treasury manages the funding programs for the World Bank--otherwise known as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or IBRD--and the International Development Association or IDA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is this latest energy shock a one-off event or a harbinger of more energy crises to come? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Alex Grant, Equinor's Senior Vice President of Business Development and UK Country Manager, the energy transition; the trade-offs that we may face between security of supply, price volatility and affordability; and the emerging energy technologies like blue and green hydrogen. Alex Grant is Equinor's Senior Vice President of Business Development Origination and Execution as well as its UK Country Manager. Alex joined Equinor from Jefferies in 2017. His background is in investment banking where he worked on M&A and financing transactions over the past 20 years in the energy sector.  Find the full transcript of this episode here: www.man.com/maninstitute/a-sustainable-future-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices