Risk resulting from climate change and affecting natural and human systems and regions
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Jeremy Porter, chief economist at First Street, joined the REIT Report podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of climate risk and its significant impact on corporate operations and financial performance. Porter explained how physical climate risk now propagates through assets, suppliers, commodities, customers, and transportation networks. “Prior to this, we were thinking about all of these independently, or we were thinking about a supply chain independent of physical climate risk, and the ability to sort of pull all of those things together really helps to price in the downside and to protect facilities through adaptation and mitigation in a way that we weren't thinking about previously,” he said.Porter shared how corporate attitudes towards climate risk have shifted from it being a peripheral concern to a core financial risk indicator. The conversation highlighted the quantifiable effects of climate risk on corporate revenues, the investment community's response, and the challenges posed by rising insurance costs.
In this episode, Toby Belsom, Director of Guidance and Reporting at the PRI, is joined by James Alexander, CEO of UKSIF and Chair of the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, and Mette Charles, ESG Research Lead at Aon Investment Consultants.Drawing on insights from the latest PRI reporting cycle, the largest ever, with over 4,200 signatories participating, the conversation explores what the data reveals about investor commitments, implementation challenges and emerging priorities across the responsible investment landscape.Together, they unpack how investors are navigating geopolitical shifts, regulatory divergence and systemic risks while translating sustainability commitments into meaningful action.OverviewThe latest PRI reporting data highlights five key themes:Reporting still matters, even amid political turbulenceClimate remains the dominant focus across signatoriesGlobal agreements such as the Paris Agreement continue to shape frameworksTranslating commitments into action remains challenging“Value creation” is increasingly used to justify sustainability activityThe discussion reflects on how these trends are playing out across regions and what they mean for asset owners and managers.Detailed coverageClimate remains kingClimate continues to dominate investor priorities, driven by financial materiality and systemic risk. Progress is uneven, and asset owners face constraints linked to policy uncertainty and limited investable opportunities.Global agreements and policy divergenceWhile some governments are stepping back from global commitments, many investors remain anchored to frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and standards like the ISSB. The episode explores tensions created by fragmented regulation.From commitments to meaningful actionMoving from commitments to real-world impact remains difficult. Barriers include data gaps, short-term incentives, regulatory inconsistency and limited scalable opportunities.Emerging themes: nature, AI and physical riskNature-related risk is rising up the agenda, though methodologies remain complex. The discussion also touches on AI-related ESG risks and growing physical climate risk.Human rights and social riskModern slavery, working conditions and gig economy risks remain key issues, with supply chain transparency a continuing challenge.Regional contrastsEurope is reassessing regulation, the US is navigating political shifts, while Japan and Australia are advancing disclosure and fiduciary guidance.Asset owner powerAsset owners, as long-term capital providers exposed to systemic risks, are positioned to shape markets and align sustainability with value creation.To find out more about PRI reporting data, visit our blog.Chapters00:00 – Introduction: insights from PRI reporting data01:25 – Five key themes from the latest reporting cycle06:26 – Global agreements, geopolitics and investor confidence10:07 – Climate leadership, ambition and data challenges13:13 – Nature, AI and emerging ESG priorities15:52 – Barriers to turning commitments into action20:28 – Regional divergence and regulatory shifts25:09 – Asset owners vs managers: alignment and tension26:51 – Human rights, modern slavery and social risk29:44 – Reflections and hopes for 2026DisclaimerThis podcast and material referenced herein is provided for information only. It is not intended to be investment, legal, tax or other advice, nor is it intended to be relied upon in making an investment or other decision. PRI Association is not responsible for any decision made or action taken based on information on this podcast. Listeners retain sole discretion over whether and how to use the information contained herein. PRI Association is not responsible for and does not endorse third parties featured on in this podcast or any third-party comments, content or other resources that may be included or referenced herein. Unless otherwise stated, podcast content does not necessarily represent the views of signatories to the Principles for Responsible Investment. All information is provided “as is” with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy or timeliness, or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. PRI Association is committed to compliance with all applicable laws. Copyright © PRI Association 2025. All rights reserved. This content may not be reproduced, or used for any other purpose, without the prior written consent of PRI Association.
While the corporate world remains laser-focused on decarbonisation and Net Zero targets, a critical component of climate strategy is being overlooked: Adaptation. In this episode, we sit down with Mekala Krishnan, partner at McKinsey Global Institute, to discuss why the world needs to simultaneously "walk and chew gum", managing the transition to a low-carbon economy while urgently preparing for the physical risks already locked into the system.Mekala breaks down the staggering economics of adaptation, estimating that the world will need to spend $1.2 trillion annually by 2050, mostly to protect against heat and drought. However, the business case is undeniable: for every $1 invested in adaptation measures, there is an average return of $3 in avoided damages.We dive deep into the specific challenges facing sustainability leaders today, including the psychological barrier that "no one gets paid for a disaster that didn't happen". Mekala also exposes a critical vulnerability in Fortune 500 companies: while their direct operations are often designed for "1 in 10,000 year events," their indirect supply chains remain dangerously exposed to climate disruption.Key Takeaways for Sustainability Professionals:• The "Walk and Chew Gum" Strategy: Why planning large CAPEX buildouts without accounting for higher warming levels is a failure of risk management.• The Fortune 500 Blindspot: Why corporate HQs are resilient, but their supply chains and distribution channels face massive resiliency gaps.• The Heat Penalty: How chronic heat stress will impact worker productivity and agricultural yields, shifting from acute events to chronic conditions.• The Innovation Opportunity: Why cooling solutions and agricultural resilience represent the next frontier for R&D and investment.• Building the Business Case: How to frame adaptation to the C-Suite by moving from "invisible benefits" to tangible ROI.Read the full report here.Contact Saif directly via email: saif@altruistiq.comReady to transform your sustainability reporting? Start your journey at Altruistiq.comThis podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.
SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing
Most climate investment still flows toward mitigation, technologies designed to reduce future emissions. Far less capital is directed toward climate adaptation, despite the fact that many regions are already living with the physical, economic, and social consequences of climate change.This imbalance is especially visible in emerging markets, where climate risk, rapid economic growth, and limited institutional infrastructure collide.In this episode of SRI360, I'm joined by Alina Truhina, Founder and Managing Partner of Radical Fund and Utopia Capital Management. Alina has spent her career building and backing early-stage companies across Southeast Asia and Africa, with a focus on climate adaptation, venture capital, and how businesses actually get built in emerging markets.We discuss why traditional venture capital models often fail in emerging markets, why climate adaptation is harder to measure (but no less urgent) than mitigation, and why supporting founders in these environments requires far more than simply writing a check.Tune in to learn more about:Why climate adaptation remains underfunded compared to mitigationHow measurement and incentives shape where climate capital flowsWhy traditional venture capital models struggle in emerging marketsWhat founders in climate-exposed regions need beyond just fundingHow capital design influences risk, resilience, and long-term outcomesFeatured guest: Alina Truhina, CEO and Managing Partner of The Radical Fund and a Partner at the multi-regional investment platform Utopia Capital Management Listen Next: Conversation with Nick Hurd: How Paying for Outcomes Unlocks Impact Investing ReturnsDiscover More from SRI360°:Explore all episodes of the SRI360° Podcast Sign up for the free weekly email update
Hear from Julie Calkins, Director of Sustainability Strategy at Generation Investment Management, as we explore how interconnected risks spanning climate, nature, inequality and AI challenge traditional approaches to risk and return. In investing, we spend a lot of time debating alpha — what gives one portfolio an edge over another. But increasingly, the bigger question is about beta, and the underlying conditions that make any returns possible in the first place. And here we can think about a stable climate, nature as infrastructure and even social cohesion and functioning institutions. Because when those foundations erode, risk stops looking like a set of isolated exposures, and starts to look like something deeper – perhaps systemic instability, cascading impacts, and rising uncertainty that no single firm can diversify away. That's why in this episode we explore: · Why some investors are starting to think more seriously about "protecting the beta", and what that means for portfolio risk and long-term resilience; · How nature risk, climate risk, and inequality interact — with inequality not only as an outcome of shocks, but as a potential driver of fragility and political instability; · And the tools that can help risk professionals make complex, interconnected risks more legible from scenario modelling to frameworks that build a shared language inside organisations. ---------------- To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Centre: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: climateriskpodcast@garp.com ------------------ Speaker's Bio Julie Calkins, Director of Sustainability Strategy at Generation Investment Management Julie Calkins serves as the Director of Sustainability Strategy at Generation Investment Management since April 2022. Previously, Calkins operated as an Advisor for an independent consultancy firm, CDAX, managing projects for notable clients including the US Climate Alliance Partnership and OECD Global Science Forum from January 2017 to April 2022. Prior roles include Head of Climate Risk and Adaptation at Climate-KIC, a Research and Policy Fellow at Wellcome Trust, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Leeds/National Centre for Atmospheric Science. Calkins has also worked as a Monitoring Scientist for NOAA and an Antarctic Scientist for the US Antarctic Program. Academic credentials include a PhD in Environmental Science and Health from the University of York and an MS in Geochemistry from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. With a background spanning environmental science, disaster risk, and global policy, Julie brings a rare systems-level perspective to sustainable investing.
Real Estate Expert & Best-Selling Author, Gerald Lucas discusses how climate risk scores affect home prices.
Are you interested in how preparing your house to resilience can increase its value? Debate of the article titled Adaptation infrastructure and its effects on property values in the face of climate risk from 2022, by David L. Kelly and Renato Molina, published in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and resource Economists.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Ben Gilliland in episode 402 talking about the opportunities in adapting our houses to climate change. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how investments in climate adaptation infrastructure influence real estate prices. This article shows that homebuyers and sellers need to recognise that preparing infrastructure not only increases its value, decreases its premium in insurance, but also successfully alleviate potential environmental threats.Find the article through this link.Abstract: We evaluate the effect of climate adaptation infrastructure investments on property transaction prices, using data on over 400,000 property transactions and 162 infrastructure projects in Miami-Dade County, an area that is highly vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise due to climate change. Exploiting the timing and siting of different adaptation projects in Miami-Dade, we are able to identify significant gains in property values after completion of adaptation infrastructure projects. These gains are concentrated in areas close to the project and for projects that are visually identifiable. Our results suggest an aggregate mean benefit, net of adaptation cost, of about $0.68 million per project and almost $300 million in aggregate net benefits for all projects in our sample. Most projects generated positive net benefits, indicating that the vast majority of adaptation efforts are being placed in areas passing a benefit-cost test.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.281R - Misfortunes never come singly. A holistic approach to urban resilience and sustainability challengesNo.282 - Interview with Keygan Huckleberry about disaster resilienceYou can find the transcript through this linkWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also availableI hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning inEpisode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link)Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing
What happens when sustainability strategies fail to address real climate risk and long-term investment outcomes?In this episode of SRI360, I am speaking with Laura Ortiz Montemayor about impact investing, climate risk, and regenerative finance, and why sustainability alone may no longer be enough for investors focused on long-term value creation.Drawing from Laura's experience in traditional finance and her work building regenerative investment strategies in Latin America, the conversation explores how capital allocation shapes systems, and why rethinking how capital is deployed matters as much as where it flows.The conversation is especially relevant for investors navigating climate finance, nature risk, and sustainable investing in emerging markets.We talk about:the difference between sustainability and regeneration in impact investingwhy changing what we invest in isn't enough without changing how capital is deployedhow capital shapes systems, and risk, over timewhat regenerative finance looks like for investors focused on long-term outcomesFeatured guest: Laura Ortiz Montemayor, founder of SVX México and Managing Partner of Regenera VenturesListen Next: Conversation with Helen Avery, Director of Nature Programs at the Green Finance Institute (GFI)Discover More from SRI360°:Explore all episodes of the SRI360° Podcast Sign up for the free weekly email update
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, the authors and reviewers of new research on climate risk and real estate discuss how to use quantified climate-risk insights to prioritize assets for investment, build the business case for adaptation, and treat resiliency not just as an aspiration, but as an investable strategy. Angela Adduci, Senior Advisor from the BMO Climate Institute, joins a panel moderated by Mike Williams (President and Co-Founder of ClimateFirst Building Solutions), including Kathleen Beaumont (Investment Management Corporation of Ontario), Natalia Moudrak (Aon), Holly Neber (AEI Consultants), and Olivia Pink (ClimateFirst). Learn more about the case study discussed in this podcast: Investing in Resilience: Making Physical Climate Risk a Financial Priority for Real Estate • ClimateFirst Building Solutions Inc.
In this episode, Holly, Xander, and Sophie discuss the climate risks facing the industrials sector. They delve into the strategies that the automotive and mining industries can use to stay resilient against climate change. Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globaldatastrategicintelligence/ To find out more about Strategic Intelligence: https://globaldata-26632421.hs-sites-eu1.com/themes Host: Martina Raveni (Senior Analyst, Strategic Intelligence)Guests: Holly Anness-Bradshaw (Analyst, Strategic Intelligence), Xander Hartley (Associate Analyst, Strategic Intelligence) and Sophie Gallagher (Associate Analyst, Strategic Intelligence)
Climate-driven shocks are rippling across sectors, from rising insurance premiums to lower property prices and tax revenue. With the costs of severe weather rising, Moody's experts share their insights into key themes and possible solutions. Learn more at https://www.moodys.com/outlooks Explore our outlook: https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/insights/credit-risk/outlooks/global-sustainable-finance.html Want to know more on the sustainable finance trends in 2026? Join us:EMEA/US: https://events.moodys.com/2026-mie26362-sustainable-finance-outlook-emea-usaAPAC: https://events.moodys.com/2026-mip26493-sustainable-finance-outlook-apac Host: Chandra Ghosal, Vice President, Senior Credit Officer, Moody's Ratings Guests: Jennifer Chang, Vice President, Senior Credit Officer, Moody's Ratings; Sarah Hibler, Associate Managing Director, Moody's Ratings Related Research: Sustainable Finance – Global – 2026 Outlook – Transition shifts, extreme weather and AI boom drive credit risks 13 Jan 2026Emerging economies are most exposed to the credit effects of severe weather 30 Oct 2025US Public Finance – Florida – Miami Cat-5 storm would test economy and insurance market even with federal aid 24 Sep 2025Environmental Risk – Global – Adaptation can support credit strength, but faces race to keep up with climate risks 22 Sept 2025 © 2025 Moody's Corporation and/or its licensors and affiliates. All rights reserved. Go to www.moodys.com/pages/globaldisclaimer.aspx for complete legal terms and conditions governing use of Moody's information made available in this video. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What factors determine the viability and vulnerability of Arctic opportunities? And how should these considerations shape investments, planning, and operations in the region?Joining the conversation are:Niels Clemensen, CEO of Royal Arctic LineSeong-Yeob Jeong, Principal Researcher at the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO)Margaret D. Williams, Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic InitiativeJames Davies, CEO of Davie ShipbuildingModerating was James Gamble, Senior Director of the Arctic Program at Pacific Environment, USA.This Session was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Business Forum, held October 16th to 17th, during the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, in Reykjavík, Iceland.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org
Send me a messageAI won't fix broken decisions. Capital markets are driving sustainability. And climate risk is already a safety issue.So why are EHS and sustainability still treated as separate systems?In this episode of the Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, I'm joined by Catryna Jackson, Global Environmental Health and Safety and Sustainability Advisor at Evotix, and Monique Parker, Chief Sustainability Officer at Elevra Lithium. Between them, they bring decades of frontline experience across EHS, sustainability, data, and operations. This matters now because climate disruption, regulatory pressure, and supply chain shocks are collapsing the gap between “operational risk” and “sustainability risk” whether companies are ready or not.In our conversation, you'll hear how sustainability momentum in the US has been driven less by regulation and more by investors and insurers. We break down why climate impacts like heat stress, flooding, and wildfires are no longer future scenarios but immediate safety and continuity risks. And you might be surprised to learn why throwing AI at messy ESG data only makes bad decisions faster.We also get practical. We talk about why EHS teams sit on a goldmine of data, how integrating safety and sustainability changes risk visibility at board level, and where most organisations go wrong when they try to “just start reporting”. From CSRD data overload to supply chain engagement failures, this episode cuts through the noise and focuses on decision architecture, not hype.
This episode drops in January, traditionally the month when people quit their jobs or evaluate whether what they are doing is the right thing for them.As an independent career coach alongside working as head of Change Agents UK's People and Placements team, Elspeth Yates helps people find their purpose in green careers.She encourages them to look at their existing skills and examine how they might use them in a company more in line with their values, or enables them to bring their values to the workplace they're already in.In this episode, Elspeth talks about the importance of not ignoring those values, because we spend so much of our time working and deserve to be happy there. She remembers how a chance meeting at a careers fair boosted her own start in working life when she was fresh out of university and her surprising path to a role that now does so much for sustainability professionals.Elspeth reveals how her own happy nature and positive outlook were labelled a negative because it made her look less professional and why she's an optimist.Find out how Elspeth came to recognise the new opportunities she could bring to other people by delivering talks, and combining working at Change Agents with one-to-one coaching and business workshops.Passionate about the environment and sustainability, Elspeth shares how she maintains her own energy when she's juggling all her different roles and whizzing around the country and internationally. Listen out for key tips for finding your way if you're looking for a change of direction and job. Even if you're not seeking change, there's plenty in Elspeth's experience to leave you feeling uplifted and positive about making a difference, however small.Mentioned in this podcastElspeth Yates Coaching Happy HumansChange Agents UKUniversity of Leicester GeologyTime TeamSimon Sinek – Start with Why Group GTI graduate careers hubYou might also like to listen to:Shaheer Hafeez, ACA, Director of ESG and Climate Risk, KPMG S3 E2Sarah Flynn, psychologist, author and human sustainability coach S5 E8Matteo Menapace, serious ethical games designer S5 E7Glen Burrows, photographer, disrupter, regenerative food entrepreneur S2 E5Duncan Goose, founder of Global Ethics and One Water S1 E10About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Fraser discusses pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities with her guests and asks for their real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to their purposeful life.Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastLinkedIn: ProGRESS, the green, values-led careers podcastOriginal content © Sandra FraserOriginal music © Lyze KessellEmail: hello [@] mypro-gress.comExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alex Hindson, partner and head of sustainability, Crowe UK, said models for transition and litigation risks don't exist, forcing reliance on scenario analysis. Hindson spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.
Domenico del Re, director, sustainability, PwC United Kingdom, said climate impacts will extend across food systems, health care and water scarcity. He spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.
Send me a messageIndustrial heat powers half of manufacturing - and almost no one is talking about it.What if one of the biggest supply chain emissions problems has been hiding in the boiler room all along?In this episode, I'm joined by Addison Stark, CEO and co-founder of AtmosZero, to tackle one of the most overlooked risks in industrial sustainability: steam. A 160-year-old technology that still delivers roughly half of all industrial heat, quietly underpinning food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, brewing, and more.We explore why industrial heat is routinely labelled “hard to abate” and why that label may be more habit than reality. You'll hear how electrified, drop-in steam boilers can replace combustion without forcing factories to redesign their operations, and why productised solutions matter more than bespoke decarbonisation projects if we want scale.We break down why heat pumps can outperform resistive electric boilers by a factor of two, how ignoring waste heat can actually accelerate deployment, and why engineers and plant managers, not press releases, ultimately decide what technologies make it into supply chains. You might be surprised to learn how Europe's energy volatility and policy certainty are reshaping the economics of industrial heat, and why steam decarbonisation could follow a very different curve from solar or EVs.This is a conversation about resilience, risk, and the unglamorous infrastructure that keeps global supply chains moving. Hidden systems. Real impact. No hype.
How do you land a job at a bank that creates positive social, environmental and cultural change? And how do you get to hear about banks like Triodos in the first place?Whitni Thomas, the daughter of missionaries (her father is a vicar), says that she never meant to go into banking.Yet she landed a plum (and highly sought-after) graduate role at JP Morgan, despite telling her careers advisor at university that she did not want a corporate career and she didn't want to work in New York.But one day, stopping and pausing, she realised her job wasn't fulfilling and Whitni set about finding something that aligned with her values - the values she was brought up with.She pivoted, thinking her future lay in development work, took on a role in Mexico with two grassroots organisations that provided microcredit to marginalised women and from there went on to work with fair trade organisations.From there, she went to study for a masters in development studies at London School of Economics and Political Science, gaining a distinction.So what's different about Triodos and why has Whitni been there for two decades?At the time, it was a small organisation, based in the Netherlands. Though it's still not a mainstream name in the UK, it is well-known as a 'green' bank there, offering complete transparency so there are no nasty surprises if you're an investor or choose to bank with the organisation. Now there are 100,000 customers who want to put their money into an organisation with values-led guiding principles.On top of her day job, Whitni believes in putting something back into society, locally and further afield and says she has learned so much from being a trustee at several foundations, including those with Quaker-based principles such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Whitni says it is difficult to give advice to young people who want to find careers with genuine, authentic values, because the job market has changed so much recently. But she says challenging oneself, and challenging organisations from within is key and considers B Corps which don't just pay lip service to 'green' values to be a good place to start.Triodos Bank UKBetter Society CapitalThe Joseph Rowntree FoundationPaces Sheffield London School of Economics and Political SciencesYou might also like to listen to:David Kohnstamm, Chief sustainability officer, Leafcloud S4 E3Justin Kelly, CEO of Glass Futures, chair of Sustainable Ventures S4 E1Shaheer Hafeez, ACA, Director of ESG and Climate Risk, KPMG S3 E2Sarah Daly, sustainability consultant and climate champion S3 E1About ProGRESS:Host Sandra Fraser invites guests to discuss their pro- Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially responsible jobs, courses or activities and asks for real-world insights into the pathways and careers that led to them.Instagram: @progress_green_careers_podcastLinkedIn: ProGRESS, the green, values-led careers podcastOriginal content © Sandra FraserOriginal music © Lyze KessellEmail: hello [@] mypro-gress.comExpect revelations, lightbulb moments and an informative listen on ProGRESS, with plenty of insights as guests explain how and why got into their Green, Ethical, Sustainable and Socially Responsible career or course (the GRESS of ProGRESS) with plenty of tips if you want to do the same. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Send me a messageCan your pension quietly sabotage your climate and supply chain goals without you ever knowing?What if one of the biggest risks to resilience isn't logistics or energy, but where your money sleeps at night?In this episode, I'm joined by Scott Ryan, founder and CEO of Investature, to unpack a part of the sustainability conversation that's usually ignored. Finance. Specifically, the financial supply chain hidden inside pensions, retirement plans, and long-term investments. And why it matters now, when climate risk, stranded assets, and resilience are colliding.We dig into why pensions, with their 20–30 year horizons, are paradoxically funding the very risks they're meant to protect against. You'll hear how financial supply chains can dwarf Scope 1, 2, and even Scope 3 emissions, and why most sustainability strategies still fail to account for them. We break down why reallocating even 1% of global capital could materially close the climate finance gap, without sacrificing returns or fiduciary responsibility.You might be surprised to learn why bonds, not equities, may be the most powerful lever for climate action, how “double bottom line” investing actually works in practice, and why education and incentives matter more than regulation alone. Scott also explains why ESG has become a distraction, and how clearer, data-driven financial choices can drive real behaviour change across organisations and supply chains.If you care about supply chain resilience, sustainability, risk, and visibility, this conversation connects dots most people never see. Quietly. Uncomfortably. Usefully.
This week, Matt Matern speaks with Nick Wise about how satellite technology and artificial intelligence are transforming ocean protection and climate accountability. Wise shares his personal journey from ocean exploration to founding OceanMind and co-founding Climate TRACE, explaining how space-based data can detect illegal fishing, monitor shipping emissions, and support enforcement of existing regulations. Nick also highlights how better transparency and data can accelerate ocean conservation, decarbonization, and global climate action. To learn more about NIck Wise's work, visit www.oceanmind.global and www.climatetrace.org Want to boast to your friends about trees named after you? Help us plant 30k trees? Only a few trees left! Visit aclimatechange.com/trees to learn more Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Guest Bio: Nick Wise is the founder and CEO of OceanMind and a co-founder of Climate TRACE. He is a climate and ocean technology leader using satellites, AI, and data transparency to combat illegal fishing, track global emissions, and strengthen enforcement of environmental regulations worldwide. Episode Resources Oceanmind website: http://www.oceanmind.global Climate TRACE: website: https://www.climatetrace.org Matt Matern on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ACClinkedin A Climate Change on Apple: https://bit.ly/accapplepodcast A Climate Change on Spotify: https://bit.ly/accspotifypodcast A Climate Change on YouTube: https://bit.ly/ACCvids YouTube Chapters: 00:00 Why Satellites Are Changing Climate Accountability 01:00 Nick Wise's Journey From Ocean Lover to Climate Tech Leader 03:30 How Satellites and AI Detect Illegal Fishing 06:00 What OceanMind Does and Why Enforcement Matters 09:00 Real Wins Protecting Oceans and Supply Chains 12:00 Climate TRACE and Tracking Global Emissions 16:00 Turning Emissions Data Into Real Reductions 19:30 Can Polluters Be Held Legally Accountable 24:00 How AI and Data Actually Power Enforcement 29:00 Why Fisheries and Oceans Are Still at Risk 34:30 What Coral Bleaching and Ocean Warming Look Like Up Close 38:00 Climate Risk, Shipping, and the Insurance Wake-Up Call 44:30 Why We Don't Need New Tech—Just Action 49:00 How You Can Use Climate Data to Make Change 55:00 Final Thoughts on Power, Policy, and the Path Forward More About A Climate Change with Matt Matern A Climate Change with Matt Matern is a podcast dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of climate change while inspiring action and fostering a sustainable future. Each episode dives deep into the environmental challenges of our time, rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and resource degradation, breaking down complex topics into digestible insights. The podcast goes beyond merely raising awareness. It serves as a trusted resource for practical, actionable solutions that empower listeners to reduce their carbon footprint and drive change in their communities. With a strong focus on environmental science and expert perspectives, host Matt Matern brings influential voices to the forefront, highlighting innovative ideas and collaborative efforts shaping global sustainability initiatives. More than just a source of information, A Climate Change is a movement. It builds a coalition of like-minded individuals committed to preserving the planet for future generations. Listeners are invited to participate actively in creating a legacy of positive environmental impact through informed decision-making and collective action. The podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, provides a platform for science-backed discussions, global perspectives, and community building. Whether you want to learn about renewable energy, sustainable living practices, or climate policy, A Climate Change with Matt Matern equips you with the tools and knowledge to make a tangible difference. Tune in, take action, and join the fight for a brighter, greener future.
Assessing Climate RisksAs climate change accelerates, climate risks are beginning to impact every aspect of society from infrastructure and transportation to health, biodiversity, and air and water quality. A climate risk is the potential for climate change to have adverse consequences for a human or ecological system. Climate risks have implications for property and infrastructure, posing a threat to the global financial system at large. The rate at which climate change and its associated risks are increasing can be reduced through mitigation and adaptation actions such as investing in green infrastructure and implementing energy efficiency standards. The assessment of climate risk involves the identification and quantification of the potential impacts of climate change on an organization, region, or community. Many organizations utilize climate risk assessments, which involve evaluating current and future vulnerabilities to climate-related hazards, taking into account factors such as infrastructure resilience, economic stability, and social vulnerability. To quantify those impacts, assessments typically estimate the level of damage in financial terms. In order to streamline this process and make it easier for companies to identify their potential risk, riskthinking.AI has developed a platform to leverage climate change risks and impacts through AI software.Integrating AI technology into climate risk assessmentsRiskthinking.Ai integrates AI technology with climate change data to evaluate financial risk management through their development of the ClimateEarthDigitalTwin (CDT). The CDT integrates physical asset data with the latest climate projections like extreme weather and temperature shifts. Rather than using deterministic forecasts, CDT relies on probabilistic distributions to simulate a range of future scenarios and project changes in an asset's value over time. The CDT platform quantifies exposure and impacts from climate change. Riskthinking.Ai identifies which specific risk factors, such as extreme heat and floods, contribute to overall exposure. This approach can guide decision-making and help assess the complex risks posed by climate change and inform future infrastructure investments, risk mitigation, and climate adaptation strategies.Upsides to AI assessment Riskthinking.Ai enables organizations to evaluate future financial impacts of climate change, integrating climate risks into business decisions. Countries especially vulnerable to climate change may benefit from this algorithm, as it allows for a better understanding of the threats they face due to a changing climate. By providing countries, governments, and corporations with a better understanding of how they may be at risk due to their geographical location and respective climate vulnerability, AI technology can guide decision-making to inform proper adaptation and mitigation into the future. Downsides to AI assessment Although Riskthinking.Ai provides a tangible strategy in informing proper adaptation and mitigation, many argue that the use of AI technology to address environmental crises is counterintuitive due to AI's negative impacts on the environment. By 2040, it is predicted that the emissions from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry will amount to 14% of global emissions, with the majority being driven through ICT infrastructure, specifically data centers and communication networks which AI relies upon to operate. In addition to the significant energy consumption required to power AI technology, a large amount of water is needed for cooling data centers. Further, AI relies on critical minerals and rare elements which are mined for unsustainability and the rapidly increasing data centers contribute to the growing body of electronic waste. However, as AI becomes increasingly applied to environmental problems, it can prove to be a valuable tool in combating climate change. Thus, working to reduce the environmental impact of AI technology will not only be vital in its application for climate risk assessments, but in mitigating the harmful effects brought about by its rapidly increasing societal demand.About our GuestDr. Ron Dembo, founder and CEO of Riskthinking.Ai, has utilized his multi-factor scenario modeling expertise to create a data platform and analytics engine for measuring and managing climate financial risk. Dr. Ron Dembo has been an Associate Professor at Yale, visiting professor at MIT, and has received many awards for his work in risk management, optimization, and climate change.ResourcesEarth Scan, What is climate risk and what does it mean for your organizationIBM, What is climate risk?NOAA, Climate Change ImpactsRiskthinking.AI, Climate Data & Analytics that Power Enterprise Risk, Research and ReportingEarth.Org, The Green Dilemma: Can AI Fulfil Its Potential Without Harming the Environment?Further ReadingMIT News, Explained: Generative AI's environmental impactNASA, The Effects of Climate ChangeUN, AI has an environmental problem. Here's what the world can do about that.For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-ai-for-climate-risk-assessment-with-dr-ron-dembo/.
How efficient are markets at pricing climate risk? Bob Litterman, Kepos Capital, explores advances in climate risk thinking, evolving market and policy signals, the true cost of climate uncertainty, and why reduced regulation and net zero pullbacks may drive a sharper focus on understanding rather than reporting climate risk.
This week we talk about floods, wildfires, and reinsurance companies.We also discuss the COP meetings, government capture, and air pollution.Recommended Book: If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies by Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares TranscriptThe urban area that contains India's capital city, New Delhi, called the National Capital Territory of Delhi, has a population of around 34.7 million people. That makes it the most populous city in the country, and one of the most populous cities in the world.Despite the many leaps India has made over the past few decades, in terms of economic growth and overall quality of life for residents, New Delhi continues to have absolutely abysmal air quality—experts at India's top research hospital have called New Delhi's air “severe and life-threatening,” and the level of toxic pollutants in the air, from cars and factories and from the crop-waste burning conducted by nearby farmers, can reach 20-times the recommended level for safe breathing.In mid-November 2025, the problem became so bad that the government told half its workers to work from home, because of the dangers represented by the air, and in the hope that doing so would remove some of the cars on the road and, thus, some of the pollution being generated in the area.Trucks spraying mist, using what are called anti-smog guns, along busy roads and pedestrian centers help—the mist keeping some of the pollution from cars from billowing into the air and becoming part of the regional problem, rather than an ultra-localized one, and pushing the pollutants that would otherwise get into people's lungs down to the ground—though the use of these mist-sprayers has been controversial, as there are accusations that they're primarily deployed near air-quality monitoring stations, and that those in charge put them there to make it seem like the overall air-quality is lower than it is, manipulating the stats so that their failure to improve practical air-quality isn't as evident.And in other regional news, just southeast across the Bay of Bengal, the Indonesian government, as of the day I'm recording this, is searching for the hundreds of people who are still missing following a period of unusually heavy rains. These rains have sparked floods and triggered mudslides that have blocked roads, damaged bridges, and forced the evacuation of entire villages. More than 300,000 people have been evacuated as of last weekend, and more rain is forecast for the coming days.The death toll of this round of heavy rainfall—the heaviest in the region in years—has already surpassed 440 people in Indonesia, with another 160 and 90 in Thailand and Vietnam, respectively, being reported by those countries' governments, from the same weather system.In Thailand, more than two million people were displaced by flooding, and the government had to deploy military assets, including helicopters launched from an aircraft carrier, to help rescue people from the roofs of buildings across nine provinces.In neighboring Malaysia, tens of thousands of people were forced into shelters as the same storm system barreled through, and Sri Lanka was hit with a cyclone that left at least 193 dead and more than 200 missing, marking one of the country's worst weather disasters in recent years.What I'd like to talk about today is the climatic moment we're at, as weather patterns change and in many cases, amplify, and how these sorts of extreme disasters are also causing untold, less reported upon but perhaps even more vital, for future policy shifts, at least, economic impacts.—The UN Conference of the Parties, or COP meetings, are high-level climate change conferences that have typically been attended by representatives from most governments each year, and where these representatives angle for various climate-related rules and policies, while also bragging about individual nations' climate-related accomplishments.In recent years, such policies have been less ambitious than in previous ones, in part because the initial surge of interest in preventing a 1.5 degrees C increase in average global temperatures is almost certainly no longer an option; climate models were somewhat accurate, but as with many things climate-related, seem to have actually been a little too optimistic—things got worse faster than anticipated, and now the general consensus is that we'll continue to shoot past 1.5 degrees C over the baseline level semi-regularly, and within a few years or a decade, that'll become our new normal.The ambition of the 2015 Paris Agreement is thus no longer an option. We don't yet have a new, generally acceptable—by all those governments and their respective interests—rallying cry, and one of the world's biggest emitters, the United States, is more or less absent at new climate-related meetings, except to periodically show up and lobby for lower renewables goals and an increase in subsidies for and policies that favor the fossil fuel industry.The increase in both number and potency of climate-influenced natural disasters is partly the result of this failure to act, and act forcefully and rapidly enough, by governments and by all the emitting industries they're meant to regulate.The cost of such disasters is skyrocketing—there are expected to be around $145 billion in insured losses, alone, in 2025, which is 6% higher than in 2024—and their human impact is booming as well, including deaths and injuries, but also the number of people being displaced, in some cases permanently, by these disasters.But none of that seems to move the needle much in some areas, in the face of entrenched interests, like the aforementioned fossil fuel industry, and the seeming inability of politicians in some nations to think and act beyond the needs of their next election cycle.That said, progress is still being made on many of these issues; it's just slower than it needs to be to reach previously set goals, like that now-defunct 1.5 degrees C ceiling.Most nations, beyond petro-states like Russia and those with fossil fuel industry-captured governments like the current US administration, have been deploying renewables, especially solar panels, at extraordinary rates. This is primarily the result of China's breakneck deployment of solar, which has offset a lot of energy growth that would have otherwise come from dirty sources like coal in the country, and which has led to a booming overproduction of panels that's allowed them to sell said panels cheap, overseas.Consequently, many nations, like Pakistan and a growing number of countries across Sub-Saharan African, have been buying as many cheap panels as they can afford and bypassing otherwise dirty and unreliable energy grids, creating arrays of microgrids, instead.Despite those notable absences, then, solar energy infrastructure installations have been increasing at staggering rates, and the first half of 2025 has seen the highest rate of capacity additions, yet—though China is still installing twice as much solar as the rest of the world, combined, at this point. Which is still valuable, as they still have a lot of dirty energy generation to offset as their energy needs increase, but more widely disseminated growth is generally seen to be better in the long-term—so the expansion into other parts of the world is arguably the bigger win, here.The economics of renewables may, at some point, convince even the skeptics and those who are politically opposed to the concept of renewables, rather than practically opposed to them, that it's time to change teams. Already, conservative parts of the US, like Texas, are becoming renewables boom-towns, quietly deploying wind and solar because they're often the best, cheapest, most resilient options, even as their politicians rail against them in public and vote for more fossil fuel subsidies.And it may be economics that eventually serve as the next nudge, or forceful shove on this movement toward renewables, as we're reaching a point at which real estate and the global construction industry, not to mention the larger financial system that underpins them and pretty much all other large-scale economic activities, are being not just impacted, but rattled at their roots, by climate change.In early November 2025, real estate listing company Zillow, the biggest such company in the US, stopped showing extreme weather risks for more than a million home sale listings on its site.It started showing these risk ratings in 2024, using data from a risk-modeling company called First Street, and the idea was to give potential buyers a sense of how at-risk a property they were considering buying might be when it comes to wildfires, floods, poor air quality, and other climate and pollution-related issues.Real estate agents hated these ratings, though, in part because there was no way to protest and change them, but also because, well, they might have an expensive coastal property listed that now showed potential buyers it was flood prone, if not today, in a couple of years. It might also show a beautiful mountain property that's uninsurable because of the risk of wildfire damage.A good heuristic for understanding the impact of global climate change is not to think in terms of warming, though that's often part of it, but rather thinking in terms of more radical temperature and weather swings.That means areas that were previously at little or no risk of flooding might suddenly be very at risk of absolutely devastating floods. And the same is true of storms, wildfires, and heat so intense people die just from being outside for an hour, and in which components of one's house might fry or melt.This move by Zillow, the appearance and removal of these risk scores, happened at the same time global insurers are warning that they may have to pull out of more areas, because it's simply no longer possible for them to do business in places where these sorts devastating weather events are happening so regularly, but often unpredictably, and with such intensity—and where the landscapes, ecologies, and homes are not made to withstand such things; all that stuff came of age or was built in another climate reality, so many such assets are simply not made for what's happening now, and what's coming.This is of course an issue for those who already own such assets—homes in newly flood-prone areas, for instance—because it means if there's a flood and a home owner loses their home, they may not be able to rebuild or get a payout that allows them to buy another home elsewhere. That leaves some of these assets stranded, and it leaves a lot of people with a huge chunk of their total resources permanently at risk, unable to move them, or unable to recoup most of their investment, shifting that money elsewhere. It also means entires industries could be at risk, especially banks and other financial institutions that provide loans for those who have purchased homes and other assets in such regions.An inability to get private insurance also means governments will be increasingly on the hook for issuing insurance of last resort to customers, which often costs more, but also, as we've seen with flood insurance in the US, means the government tends to lose a lot of money when increasingly common, major disasters occur on their soil.This isn't just a US thing, though; far from it. Global reinsurers, companies that provide insurance for insurance companies, and whose presence and participation in the market allow the insurance world to function, Swiss Re and Munich Re, recently said that uninsurable areas are growing around the world right now, and lacking some kind of fundamental change to address the climate paradigm shift, we could see a period of devastation in which rebuilding is unlikely or impossible, and a resultant period in which there's little or no new construction because no one wants to own a home or factory or other asset that cannot be insured—it's just not a smart investment.This isn't just a threat to individual home owners, then, it's potentially a threat to the whole of the global financial system, and every person and business attached to it, which in turn is a threat to global governance and the way property and economics work.There's a chance the worst-possible outcomes here can still be avoided, but with each new increase in global average temperature, the impacts become worse and less predictable, and the economics of simply making, protecting, and owning things become less and less favorable.Show Noteshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/climate/zillow-climate-risk-scores-homes.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/climate/climate-change-disinformation.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/world/asia/india-delhi-pollution.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/world/asia/flooding-indonesia-thailand-southeast-asia.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y9ejley9dohttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/22/cop30-deal-inches-closer-to-end-of-fossil-fuel-era-after-bitter-standoffhttps://theconversation.com/the-world-lost-the-climate-gamble-now-it-faces-a-dangerous-new-reality-270392https://theconversation.com/earth-is-already-shooting-through-the-1-5-c-global-warming-limit-two-major-studies-show-249133https://www.404media.co/americas-polarization-has-become-the-worlds-side-hustle/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/08/climate-insurers-are-worried-the-world-could-soon-become-uninsurable-.htmlhttps://www.imd.org/ibyimd/sustainability/climate-change-the-emergence-of-uninsurable-areas-businesses-must-act-now-or-pay-later/https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/democrats/2024/12/climate-risks-present-a-significant-threat-to-the-u-s-insurance-and-housing-marketshttps://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/04/financial-system-warning-climate-nature-stories-this-week/https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/05/costs-climate-disasters-145-billion-nature-climate-news/https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/solars-growth-in-us-almost-enough-to-offset-rising-energy-use/https://ember-energy.org/latest-updates/global-solar-installations-surge-64-in-first-half-of-2025/ This is a public episode. 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Climate risks continue to increase in complexity, underscoring the urgent need to address their impacts through a strong focus on adaptation and resilience. At the same time, innovative insurance products and financing are helping climate and resilience investments become more accessible and viable. Last month's COP30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, underscored the importance of accelerating adaptation and resilience efforts, given recognition of climate change as a present reality demanding immediate solutions. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Graeme Riddell, Nick Faull, and Rodrigo Suárez, and Marsh McLennan's Swenja Surminski discuss key takeaways from COP30, focusing on the implications and opportunities for risk managers navigating the complex challenges of climate adaptation and resilience. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Listen to our recent podcast, Unpacking water-related economic risks and solutions. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.
SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing
My guest is Mark Kahn, Managing Partner at Omnivore, a $295 million venture capital firm investing in startups across agriculture, food, and the rural economy in India, focused on climate risk resilience.In this episode, we talk about how venture capital can be redesigned to fund climate adaptation in the real economy, and still deliver real returns.Mark shares what he's learned from over a decade investing in agritech and climate adaptation in India, and why institutional investors continue to underestimate the opportunity in emerging markets.We also discuss:how Omnivore balances financial returns with measurable impactwhy fintech for inclusion is key to rural transformationwhy fund managers need to build for climate resilience, not just growthTune in to hear why India may be the most logical and overlooked bet in climate-smart venture capital. And why it's time to fund adaptation before it's too late.—Intro (00:00)Childhood shaped by global curiosity and diversity (03:57)Disappointment with Penn's pre-professional culture (10:51)Burned out from early political consulting career (13:07)Harvard project with ITC ignites India focus (18:40)Omnivore's origin and spinout from Godrej Agrovet (27:26)Omnivore - high-level overview (35:09)Climate adaptation over mitigation in India (41:35)Investment strategy organized around four business models (43:24)Impact measurement - standardized IMM and field surveys (51:29)Agritech startups must mature into agribusinesses (58:21)Global capital still overlooks India's VC opportunities (01:02:20)India's life sciences sector limited by talent shortages (01:06:06)Alternative protein is culturally irrelevant for India (01:10:41)Agricultural subsidies need replacing with direct transfers (01:14:17)Rapid-fire questions (01:19:58)Contact info (01:23:31)— Discover More from SRI360°:Explore all episodes of the SRI360° Podcast Sign up for the free weekly email update —Additional Resources:Mark Kahn LinkedIn Omnivore Website
Sponsored by: EDF power solutions -- Info@EDF-re.comThis episode marks the turn of one of the most popular guests we've ever had on this show: Larry Lawrence, Vice President of Sustainable Finance Data at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). When we had him on the show back in 2023, our conversation veered into the various ways data was evolving to drive innovation in sustainable finance. Well, it's 2025 and it's safe to say … things have changed. The very word sustainable is now taboo in some spaces, but Larry and the team at ICE don't get caught up in all that. They don't let semantics get in the way of the data. And when it comes to climate risk data, the financial services industry is listening to what the data says. Asset managers are listening. Investors in mortgage-backed securities are listening. And perhaps most importantly, insurers are listening. Natural disasters like wildfires, floods and hurricanes have reshaped insurance markets. So much so that, as the team at ICE shared in a recent report, climate risks are creating affordability risks that can ultimately lead to default risks. More resourcesICE Report: How are home insurance costs changing across the United States?Key highlightsImportance of clarity in climate risk data - (4:27)Natural disasters and 'on the ground' data - (6:27)Innovative ways investors are using climate risk data - (13:10)Impact of climate risk on home insurance costs - (18:38)Can the insurance affordability problem be solved? - (20:55)A shift in how we talk about 'sustainable' finance - (27:39)Real-time markets for climate risk data - (31:06)Larry's bold predictions for the future of climate risk data - (34:53)Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief
The discussion explores how organizations should assess climate risk at both the asset and system level—factoring in emergency-response limitations, infrastructure failures, and supply-chain disruptions—while prioritizing resilience investments that … Read More » The post Modeling Climate Risk from Assets to Supply Chains | Risky Future Summit appeared first on Insurance Journal TV.
Send me a messageWhat happens to your supply chain when it gets too hot for workers to show up?In this episode I'm joined by Kevin Vranes, Chief Product Officer at Worldly, a platform working with tens of thousands of suppliers to generate real sustainability intelligence across global supply chains. We dig into why climate exposure, labour disruption, tightening disclosure rules, and escalating NGO scrutiny are converging into one of the biggest resilience challenges companies have ever faced, and why the old ways of managing risk simply won't cut it anymore.You'll hear how rising heat stress across manufacturing regions is creating a very real form of operational fragility, with knock-on effects that most leadership teams still underestimate. Kevin explains why the gap between brand-level assumptions and on-the-ground realities is widening, and why primary data from deep-tier suppliers is becoming essential infrastructure rather than a “nice to have”.We break down where AI is genuinely transforming sustainability analysis, including the shift from weeks of spreadsheet work to seconds of machine-driven insight, and where human relationships, incentives, and policy signals still determine whether change actually happens on the factory floor. And you might be surprised to learn why NGOs, not regulators, may become the true enforcers of global climate disclosure.If you care about supply chain resilience, Scope 3, data visibility, or the next wave of sustainability risk, this episode goes right to the heart of what's coming, and what leaders need to prepare for.
Kevin Sandelin of Allianz Commercial explains how climate-driven risks now extend far beyond property damage, impacting supply chains, workforce safety, operations, and business reputation in this clip from … Read More » The post Climate Risk Is More Than Just Property Damage | Risky Future Summit 2025 appeared first on Insurance Journal TV.
Disasters leave more than physical damage. They carry lasting financial consequences for the people, businesses, towns, and cities they impact. A new report from the New Jersey Office of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) lays out in stark terms storms, flooding, and rising recovery costs are increasingly putting pressure on the state's infrastructure, housing markets, and municipal finances. In our Season 3 finale, NJ DEP Chief Economist unpacks the report's findings—from shrinking tax bases and rising insurance costs to the financial feedback loops that can trap communities in cycles of risk. But they also discuss how local governments can plan smarter, invest in resilience, and protect the economic backbone of New Jersey's communities. Michael Russell serves as Chief Economist at NJDEP, where he specializes in regulatory impact analysis. He previously served as assistant professor of Economics at Centenary University in New Jersey, where he directed the Center for Sustainability and the Sustainable Practices program. More Links and Information Check out more Fors Marsh Media Connect or partner with Fors Marsh Read the full Economic Risks of Climate Change in New Jersey report
On Aon — Episode 95 Title: Turning Climate Risk into Strategic ResilienceIn the latest episode of On Aon, Liz Henderson, global head of climate risk advisory, and Tracy-Lee Kus, CEO of Aon's Global Broking Center, discuss the urgent topic of climate risk and resilience.As climate-related events grow more frequent and severe, they're reshaping insurance costs, regulations and business operations. Liz and Tracy-Lee explore how Aon is responding with innovation to help clients navigate this increasingly complex risk environment.They also highlight why resilience in organizational strategy is no longer optional, but imperative for sustainable growth. Experts in this episode:Liz Henderson — Global Head of Climate Risk Advisory, AonTracy-Lee Kus — Chief Executive Officer, Global Broking Center, Aon Key Takeaways:Climate resilience is now a board-level priority and becoming increasingly important to business strategy and the insurance sector.Regional regulations are causing organizations to adapt their risk strategies.Aon has heavily invested in advanced analytics and climate modeling to empower clients with a complete and actionable view of their climate risk, supporting better decisions and long-term resilience strategies. Key moments: (03:10) With organizations facing increased climate risk, Aon is focusing on how it match risk to the right price and measure the impact and benefit of resilience for our clients. (05:10) California and the EU are leading the way when it comes to climate-related regulation and can provide an indication on what measures other countries and regions will be adopting in the coming years.. (07:50) Aon's analyzers — like the Climate Risk Monitor — help clients to quantify their exposures and anticipate what the climate-driven disruptions could be for their business. Soundbites:Liz Henderson:“The one thing that we always say around climate risk is that it's both a risk in and of itself as it drives weather volatility, but it is also a risk amplifier across an organization, whether that's through your workforce, health and wellbeing, supply chain, etc.” Tracy-Lee Kus:“Our strategies themselves are now focused on helping clients to use disclosure, not just for compliance, but as a catalyst for resilience, capital access, and stakeholder trust.” Listen for more: The “On Aon” podcast is available on Spotify, Simplecast and Apple Podcasts (iTunes) More Like This:Findings from Aon's Global Risk Management SurveyClimate Change: Evolving Property Risk to ResilienceSteering Trade and Supply Chains Amid Weather Challenges
SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing
My guest today is Jamie Friedland, a former U.S. Treasury trader turned sustainability analyst at AXA Investment Managers – one of the world's largest and most active players in sustainable investing.He joined AXA Investment Managers – now part of BNP Paribas Group – in March 2022. Within the group, BNP Paribas Asset Management oversees over €716 billion in assets, while the broader platform manages around €1.5 trillion globally.Approximately 90% of listed assets are classified under Article 8 or 9 of the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, meaning they integrate sustainability or have a dedicated sustainable objective (Source: BNP Paribas/ AXA Investment Managers (Core) as of end of 2024).At AXA, Jamie works in a central ESG role, focused on public investments and helping integrate sustainability across equities, fixed income, infrastructure, and alternatives.The results are detailed – and sometimes strict. AXA applies hard exclusions in its green bond strategies. Nuclear energy, for example, is allowed in conventional mandates and in unlabeled strategies that hold green bonds. But it's left out of AXA's official green bond funds – because some clients have made it clear they don't want it included in the list of eligible projects.This is the real balancing act – between client preferences, shifting regulation, and ESG data that's still catching up. Jamie likens it to steering a tanker: slow to move, but once it shifts, the weight behind it is massive.Still, ESG doesn't operate in a vacuum. The backlash – especially in the U.S. – has been loud, often political, and sometimes confusing. Jamie's answer is disarmingly simple: ESG is just data. And more information is always better than less.Today, he's here to walk us through how one of the world's largest asset managers turns ESG from principle into portfolio decisions. Tune in.—DISCLAIMER: This communication does not constitute, on the part of AXA Investment Managers, a solicitation or investment, legal or tax advice. Due to its simplification, this document is partial, and opinions, estimates, and forecasts herein are subjective and subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee forecasts made will come to pass. Data, figures, declarations, analysis, predictions, and other information in this document is provided based on our state of knowledge at the time of creation of this document. Whilst every care is taken, no representation or warranty (including liability towards third parties), express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information contained herein. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the recipient. This material does not contain sufficient information to support an investment decision.—Connect with SRI360°:Sign up for the free weekly email updateVisit the SRI360° PODCASTVisit the SRI360° WEBSITEFollow SRI360° on XFollow SRI360° on FACEBOOK—Additional Resources:- Jamie Friedland LinkedIn- AXA Investment Managers website- Full-year 2024 earnings- BNP Paribas Asset Management- Point of No Returns 2025: A responsible investment benchmar
In this episode of In Good Company, Nicolai Tangen sits down with Dame Amanda Blanc, CEO of Aviva, Britain's largest insurer, to unpack a remarkable corporate turnaround. Since becoming CEO during the pandemic, Amanda has refocused Aviva's portfolio, sold off non-core businesses, and made the landmark acquisition of Direct Line. She explains how AI is reshaping insurance, why climate change is a defining challenge for the industry, and what it takes to restore investor confidence after years of challenges. Beyond business, Amanda shares her views on leadership, execution, and building resilience, as well as her advocacy for gender balance in finance. From growing up in the Rhondda Valley of South Wales to being appointed a Dame and leading Britain's largest insurer, her story is one of decisive leadership and determination. Tune in for an insightful conversation! In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management. New full episodes every Wednesday, and don't miss our Highlight episodes every Friday. The production team for this episode includes Isabelle Karlsson and PLAN-B's Niklas Figenschau Johansen, Sebastian Langvik-Hansen and Pål Huuse. Background research was conducted by Une Solheim. Watch the episode on YouTube: Norges Bank Investment Management - YouTubeWant to learn more about the fund? The fund | Norges Bank Investment Management (nbim.no)Follow Nicolai Tangen on LinkedIn: Nicolai Tangen | LinkedInFollow NBIM on LinkedIn: Norges Bank Investment Management: Administrator for bedriftsside | LinkedInFollow NBIM on Instagram: Explore Norges Bank Investment Management on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Extreme weather is intensifying, and funding for adaptation measures remains a challenge. Emerging markets face growing economic and credit risks given limited resilience and insurance protection. In this new video podcast ahead of the COP30 meeting in Belém, Brazil, our Moody's experts discuss whether innovative private and multilateral finance are the answers to bridging the gap.Watch the full episode at: moodys.com/sustainable-finance Host: Colin Ellis, Head of Centre for Credit Research, Moody's Ratings Guests: Rahul Ghosh, Global Head of Sustainable Finance, Moody's Ratings; Marie Diron, Global Head of Sovereign and Sub-Sovereign Risk, Moody's Ratings Related Research:Environmental Risk – Global – Strong water management increases economic resilience to physical climate risk 27 Oct 2025Environmental Risk – Global – Adaptation can support credit strength, but faces race to keep up with climate risks 22 Sep 2025 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Extreme weather events are reshaping the investment landscape. How can investors protect portfolios—and communities—from the rising physical risks of climate change? In this episode, Kate Webber, Chief Solutions and Technology Officer at the PRI, speaks with Dr Calvin Lee Kwan of Link Asset Management and Simon Whistler, PRI's Head of Real Assets, to explore how investors can turn climate resilience into both risk management and value creation.Overview Physical climate risk is no longer theoretical—it's here. Floods, fires, and black-rain events are increasing in frequency and intensity, with real financial consequences. Simon Whistler outlines how investors are beginning to quantify and address these risks, yet highlights that fewer than one-third of PRI signatories currently report on physical climate risk metrics. Calvin Lee Kwan shares how Link Asset Management has moved from reactive recovery to proactive resilience—reducing insurance premiums by 11.7% and strengthening investor confidence in the process.Detailed CoveragePhysical climate risk today: More frequent and severe events—from typhoons in Hong Kong to floods in Europe—are causing major financial and operational losses.Investor action gap: Only 29% of investors report on physical climate risk, compared with 50% in the real-assets space, showing the need for broader engagement.Value protection and creation: Link's sustainability strategy is built on two pillars—protecting existing value through resilience and creating new value through efficiency and stakeholder alignment.From risk to return: Engaging insurers with clear, data-driven resilience metrics translated into measurable financial results, proving sustainability can deliver bottom-line benefits.Community resilience: Floodwaters don't stop at property boundaries. Link's team now collaborates with neighbors, local authorities, and infrastructure managers to build district-level resilience—an approach that benefits whole communities.Industry-wide change: Collaboration between investors, insurers, and policymakers is key to building consistent models, pricing resilience into valuations, and driving systemic adaptation.Communication as a catalyst: For Calvin Lee Kwan, sustainability comes down to translating resilience into stakeholder-specific value—from stable returns for investors to safety and reliability for tenants.Chapters00:43 – Welcome and introductions02:08 – Why investors must act on physical climate risk05:07 – How far investors have come—and how far to go07:23 – The cost versus opportunity debate08:43 – Link Asset Management's practical approach11:48 – A watershed moment: floods and recovery13:34 – Turning resilience into measurable value15:23 – Black-rain events and extreme weather16:59 – Challenges for other investors20:23 – Partnering with insurers to price resilience25:00 – From property-level to community-level resilience27:28 – How resilience links to property valuation30:50 – Final reflections: communication, focus, and leadership32:44 – What is the responsibility of investingFor more details, visit: https://www.unpri.org/climate-change-for-private-markets/assessing-physical-climate-risk-in-private-markets-a-technical-guide/13135.articleKeywords responsible investment, physical climate risk, resilience investing, PRI podcast, Link Asset Management, insurance and sustainability, real assets, climate adaptation, community...
One of our key takeaways from Climate Week NYC in 2025 was that the insurance industry is taking a more central role in conversations about climate risk. As climate change causes more frequent and severe extreme weather events, some insurers are increasing premiums or pulling out of certain regions, with implications for policy and the financial markets. To learn more about the changing landscape for insurance, we sat down on the sidelines of Climate Week NYC with Martin Powell, Group Sustainability Director at global insurance and asset management group AXA. “A 2-degree world is still insurable, but it's going to be unaffordable for many, many people,” Martin says. "As we head towards that sort of temperature increase, our job is to try and predict and assess what that's going to mean for society in five years' time and do what we can today to reduce those impacts.” The urgency is growing to adopt new strategies and practices to assess these climate-related risks, and we heard at Climate Week NYC why this is particularly true in the US homeowners insurance market. Heather Zichal, the Global Head of Sustainability at JPMorganChase, says the future of homeowners insurance is “very much front and center” for the largest bank in the US. "Whether you're worried in the state of Florida about sea-level rise, or you are in California and you're worried about wildfires, there's a very healthy recognition that we are going to collectively need new products, services, and policies to help meet that moment,” Heather says. We also speak to Kingsley Greenland, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Development at Verisk, a company that works with the global insurance industry to provide data and analytics. He points to the difference between big banks and their smaller peers when it comes to assessing climate risk. "The largest banks...in a way, they also have the least risk because they're globally diversified and can take the hit,” he says. “It seems to me like it's these really small banks, your credit unions, your small community bankers that retain a lot of this risk and don't have now — nor can we expect them to — really have this full suite of climate risk analytics in their portfolio that would trickle down to their investment decisions.” Read S&P Global's key takeaways from Climate Week NYC: 5 Climate Week NYC takeaways setting the scene for decision-making in 2026 | S&P Global Read an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis of US insurance rate and rule product filings: At London Climate Week, a bold call for insurers to tackle climate risks | S&P Global Listen to the full interview with Heather Zichal: How the biggest bank in the US is approaching climate risk | S&P Global Learn more about S&P Global Sustainable1's Physical Climate Risk data. This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1 and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global. Copyright ©2025 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. Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights). 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.
Last week the All Things Sustainable podcast was on the ground in New York City bringing you daily episodes from Climate Week NYC. The week included more than 1,000 events and convened an estimated 100,000 attendees from the private sector, governments, nonprofits and the broader climate community. To understand how financial institutions are showing up in these climate conversations, we sat down with Heather Zichal. Heather is Global Head of Sustainability at the largest bank in the US, JPMorganChase, and she shares her Climate Week key takeaways. She explains why adaptation and resilience are a growing area of focus, and how this is impacting conversations around insurance. She talks about the rising role of AI in climate and energy transition discussions. And she tells us how the landscape for climate and sustainability is shifting heading into 2026. “There's a very healthy dose of pragmatism that has been layered into the conversations,” Heather tells us. This conversation took place at The Nest Climate Campus, where the All Things Sustainable podcast was an official media partner during Climate Week NYC. Listen to all our coverage here: All Things Sustainable | S&P Global Subscribe to The Sustainability Weekly newsletter from S&P Global. Listen to our interview with Dr. Sarah Kapnick here: How NOAA is working to turn climate science into action | S&P Global This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1 and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global. Copyright ©2025 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. Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights). 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.
Send me a messageIn this week's episode of the Climate Confident Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Gary Yohe, one of the world's leading climate economists, long-time IPCC author, and a member of the Nobel Peace Prize, winning IPCC team of 2007. Gary has spent over four decades shaping how we understand climate change, not just as an environmental issue, but as a fundamental risk management challenge.We explore his powerful framework: abate, adapt, or suffer. These are, he argues, the only three choices humanity has left, and crucially, some level of suffering is now unavoidable. Mitigation slows the pace of warming, adaptation reduces impacts, but neither can eliminate all risks. The insurance crisis unfolding in California and beyond shows what happens when climate risks become uninsurable, raising the threat of financial instability on a global scale.Gary also reminds us that climate decisions must be iterative. Policies cannot be fixed for 100 years; they must evolve as science, technology, and risk tolerance change. He illustrates this with striking examples, from New York's evacuation planning after Hurricane Sandy to San Francisco's flexible approach to sea-level rise.Yet, despite the scale of the challenge, Gary insists on hope, not blind optimism, but the conviction, as Václav Havel wrote, that action makes sense regardless of outcome. It's this perspective that has kept him, and many others, working relentlessly on solutions for over 40 years.If you want to understand why climate change is ultimately a risk management problem, why insurance, finance, and resilience are inseparable, and why hope is a strategy we can't do without, this episode is essential listening.Podcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing subscribers: Ben Gross Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Subscribe to the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one, as well as give you access to the entire back catalog of Climate Confident episodes.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper
In today's special episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we sit down on the sidelines of Climate Week NYC for an interview with CDP CEO Sherry Madera. CDP is a global nonprofit that runs an independent environmental disclosure system for companies, capital markets, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. Sherry says that at Climate Week NYC this year, water is front and center in many conversations, especially as companies build water-intensive data centers to address growing AI demand. “There has been a 100% increase in the interest and demand and the requests for data on biodiversity and on water in particular,” she says. Listen to our coverage from Climate Week NYC 2025 here: Kicking off Climate Week NYC in a fragmented global landscape | S&P Global And here: Climate Week, meet Fashion Week Listen to our 2024 interview with Sherry here: CDP CEO talks climate, nature and the future of sustainability disclosure | S&P Global Learn more about S&P Global Sustainable1's Nature & Biodiversity dataset here. We'll be back with podcast interviews from Climate Week NYC throughout the week — including our coverage from The Nest Climate Campus, where the All Things Sustainable podcast is an official media partner. You can register free to attend here. This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1 and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global. Copyright ©2025 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. Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights). 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.
Coastal hazards driven by climate change could put three million people at risk by 2090 if Australia warms by 3 degrees, according to a major body of new climate research released by the federal government. The National Climate Risk Assessment has been released, as the government prepares the ground to announce its carbon emissions reduction target for 2035.
Are there climate risks we shouldn't be insuring anymore? Dr. Carolyn Kousky, Associate Vice President for Economics and Policy, discusses how climate change is reshaping insurance, what's at stake if insurance markets begin to break down, and who ultimately bears the financial burden when the private market pulls back.
SRI360 | Socially Responsible Investing, ESG, Impact Investing, Sustainable Investing
In this episode, my guest is Timothy Rann, Managing Partner of Mercy Corps Ventures. He leads what is likely the only venture capital fund in the world to have emerged from within a humanitarian NGO. When the fund was first created, Mercy Corps itself was a $600 million-a-year organization working in more than 40 conflict and climate-stressed countries.After years of building businesses in fragile markets such as Cambodia, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, he and his wife moved to Jakarta, where he was recruited to help launch what became Mercy Corps Ventures. The original idea was to create “the equivalent of Google X inside a nonprofit.”But that venture-building model proved too expensive. Tim and his team pivoted and convinced the board to let them invest directly in startups serving the Global South.From those beginnings, Mercy Corps Ventures has scaled into a family of four funds with more than 60 portfolio companies across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.Their first fund was evergreen, seeded by family offices and corporates, later joined by institutions like USAID and Proparco. It's already produced a unicorn and multiple exits.The second fund, now aiming for $50 million, focuses on climate adaptation and resilience.The third fund is the Venture Lab. It puts small grants behind frontier ideas – everything from anticipatory cash transfers to glacier restoration.And the fourth is a Web3 fund. Its purpose is simple: to test whether decentralized finance can lower costs and expand access in emerging markets. Mercy Corps Ventures has what they call a resilient future thesis. The idea is to back startups that help communities in emerging markets adapt to climate change and recover faster from shocks.Their thesis is built around three verticals:adaptive agriculture and food systemsinclusive fintechclimate-smart technologiesInstead of waiting years for perfect research to act on, they put capital to work now. They test what works and learn along the way. As Tim puts it, “We need to take as much impact risk as commercial risk within the realm”.It's this willingness to test, fail, and adapt that's helped MCV move from an experiment inside a nonprofit to one of the most innovative impact investors in the Global South today.In this interview, Tim talks about what it takes to back founders in fragile markets, why impact investing sometimes means taking risks no one else will, and why boring products like factoring can unlock climate resilience.Tune in to hear more about his remarkable journey.—About the SRI 360° Podcast: The SRI 360° Podcast is focused exclusively on sustainable & responsible investing. In each episode, I interview a world-class investor who is an accomplished practitioner from all asset classes.—Connect with SRI360°:Sign up for the free weekly email updateVisit the SRI360° PODCASTVisit the SRI360° WEBSITEFollow SRI360° on XFollow SRI360° on FACEBOOK—Additional Resources:
Assessing Climate RisksAs climate change accelerates, climate risks are beginning to impact every aspect of society from infrastructure and transportation to health, biodiversity, and air and water quality. A climate risk is the potential for climate change to have adverse consequences for a human or ecological system. Climate risks have implications for property and infrastructure, posing a threat to the global financial system at large. The rate at which climate change and its associated risks are increasing can be reduced through mitigation and adaptation actions such as investing in green infrastructure and implementing energy efficiency standards. The assessment of climate risk involves the identification and quantification of the potential impacts of climate change on an organization, region, or community. Many organizations utilize climate risk assessments, which involve evaluating current and future vulnerabilities to climate-related hazards, taking into account factors such as infrastructure resilience, economic stability, and social vulnerability. To quantify those impacts, assessments typically estimate the level of damage in financial terms. In order to streamline this process and make it easier for companies to identify their potential risk, riskthinking.AI has developed a platform to leverage climate change risks and impacts through AI software.Integrating AI technology into climate risk assessmentsRiskthinking.Ai integrates AI technology with climate change data to evaluate financial risk management through their development of the ClimateEarthDigitalTwin (CDT). The CDT integrates physical asset data with the latest climate projections like extreme weather and temperature shifts. Rather than using deterministic forecasts, CDT relies on probabilistic distributions to simulate a range of future scenarios and project changes in an asset's value over time. The CDT platform quantifies exposure and impacts from climate change. Riskthinking.Ai identifies which specific risk factors, such as extreme heat and floods, contribute to overall exposure. This approach can guide decision-making and help assess the complex risks posed by climate change and inform future infrastructure investments, risk mitigation, and climate adaptation strategies.Upsides to AI assessment Riskthinking.Ai enables organizations to evaluate future financial impacts of climate change, integrating climate risks into business decisions. Countries especially vulnerable to climate change may benefit from this algorithm, as it allows for a better understanding of the threats they face due to a changing climate. By providing countries, governments, and corporations with a better understanding of how they may be at risk due to their geographical location and respective climate vulnerability, AI technology can guide decision-making to inform proper adaptation and mitigation into the future. Downsides to AI assessment Although Riskthinking.Ai provides a tangible strategy in informing proper adaptation and mitigation, many argue that the use of AI technology to address environmental crises is counterintuitive due to AI's negative impacts on the environment. By 2040, it is predicted that the emissions from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry will amount to 14% of global emissions, with the majority being driven through ICT infrastructure, specifically data centers and communication networks which AI relies upon to operate. In addition to the significant energy consumption required to power AI technology, a large amount of water is needed for cooling data centers. Further, AI relies on critical minerals and rare elements which are mined for unsustainability and the rapidly increasing data centers contribute to the growing body of electronic waste. However, as AI becomes increasingly applied to environmental problems, it can prove to be a valuable tool in combating climate change. Thus, working to reduce the environmental impact of AI technology will not only be vital in its application for climate risk assessments, but in mitigating the harmful effects brought about by its rapidly increasing societal demand.About our GuestDr. Ron Dembo, founder and CEO of Riskthinking.Ai, has utilized his multi-factor scenario modeling expertise to create a data platform and analytics engine for measuring and managing climate financial risk. Dr. Ron Dembo has been an Associate Professor at Yale, visiting professor at MIT, and has received many awards for his work in risk management, optimization, and climate change.ResourcesEarth Scan, What is climate risk and what does it mean for your organizationIBM, What is climate risk?NOAA, Climate Change ImpactsRiskthinking.AI, Climate Data & Analytics that Power Enterprise Risk, Research and ReportingEarth.Org, The Green Dilemma: Can AI Fulfil Its Potential Without Harming the Environment?Further ReadingMIT News, Explained: Generative AI's environmental impactNASA, The Effects of Climate ChangeUN, AI has an environmental problem. Here's what the world can do about that.For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/using-ai-for-climate-risk-assessment-with-dr-ron-dembo/.
In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast we're talking with Rebecca Mikula-Wright, CEO of the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) and the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC). The networks represent trillions of dollars of assets under management globally. AIGCC is a network of institutional investors in Asia focused on mitigating climate risks and seizing net-zero opportunities. Its parent organization is IGCC, a network for Australian and New Zealand investors to understand and respond to the risks and opportunities of climate change. Rebecca explains how members across both networks are evolving their approaches to climate, nature and the energy transition. "We do see this continued support for the transition because investors have done the work. They've been assessing their portfolios. They understand that climate risk is investment risk,” she tells us. Rebecca discusses how mandatory climate disclosure in markets like Australia and New Zealand are changing the landscape. And she talks about the importance of policy and regulation, which she calls the “biggest game-changer” when it comes to increasing the pace of decarbonization. The All Things Sustainable podcast from S&P Global will be an official media partner of The Nest Climate Campus during Climate Week NYC. Register free to attend here. Read a report S&P Global Sustainable1 coauthored with GIC on Integrating climate adaptation into physical risk models: https://www.spglobal.com/sustainable1/en/insights/blogs/integrating-climate-adaptation-into-physical-risk-models This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1 and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global. Copyright ©2025 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. Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights). 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.
“Standards help people understand what they're buying and if there are any significant impairments to value. And now we're living in a world where the physical impacts of climate change to commercial real estate is growing, insurance costs are going through the roof, and investors are demanding to know more about the risks in any given portfolio,” said Holly Neber, Chief Resilience Officer with AEI Consultants. Indeed, the commercial real estate industry faces growing risks from extreme weather and natural hazards. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, discusses with Holly Neber why property resilience standards are important and how they can help mitigate climate impact on real estate.
Businesses today are operating in an environment where a discussion about climate risk must be front and center. The question is: How do companies move from simply being aware of climate risks, to taking real, strategic action? In this episode, we discuss regional climate risks, data technology, and the forward-looking planning critical for building resilience.We hear from co-host for this episode, Laura Kirkvold, Sustainability Working Group Leader with Inogen Alliance and Consultant with Antea Group USA, James Hughes, Technical Director for Climate and Resilience and Strategic Consulting at Tonkin + Taylor, Audrey Beattie, Senior Manager in the Sustainability Practice at Antea Group USA, and Michalis Lellis, Water and Environmental Specialist at Baden Consulting. ---------Guest Quotes“Uncertainty is the key thing we're talking about here. For a business, when we've got a range of different plausible futures, the question is how do you make good decisions in a world that's rapidly changing?... We use the word non-stationary where we've largely experienced a stationary climate in the past and things are rapidly changing." - James“The key is being able to connect climate-related risks to business impacts and understanding, how does a risk actually show up in their operations and also critically in their supply chain?” - Audrey “The integration of real-time environmental monitoring with predictive modeling, supported by predictive telemetry and remote control systems is a game changer. It allows companies to track conditions like air quality, water availability and temperature in real time, while forecasting emerging risk…it enables businesses to act proactively, preventing damage, reducing downtime, and protecting both communities and the environment.” - Michalis“Scenario analysis is now a tool that is newer to us and available to us, but so few companies are actually leveraging that information." - Laura---------Time Stamps(02:04) Regional climate challenges(07:29) Translating risk assessments into strategies(11:01) Resilience in 2025 and beyond(25:54) Tools and methods for climate risk assessment(37:37) Phil and Laura's key takeaways---------Sponsor copyRethinking EHS is brought to you by the Inogen Alliance. Inogen Alliance is a global network of 70+ companies providing environment, health, safety and sustainability services working together to provide one point of contact to guide multinational organizations to meet their global commitments locally. Visit http://www.inogenalliance.com/ to learn more. ---------Links Inogenalliance.com/resourcesInogenalliance.com/podcastPhil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phildillard/ Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-kirkvold-4464b3a/ James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hughes-3b337524/ Michalis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalis-lellis/ Audrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-beattie-727446155/
In episode 235 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Erin Sikorsky, Director of the Center for Climate and Security and author of the new book Climate Change on the Battlefield. Erin explains how climate change is already impacting global security—degrading military readiness, increasing conflict risks, and forcing new missions on defense forces worldwide. We explore how national adaptation plans can serve as strategic tools, the dangers of political backsliding in the U.S., and how China's assertive adaptation strategy may reshape global power dynamics. Erin also highlights countries that are getting it right—successfully integrating climate risk into military and national planning. This is a must-listen for anyone working at the intersection of climate, defense, policy, or global stability. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social Links in this episode: Leaving the Island podcast series: leavingtheislandpod.com https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Change-Battlefield-International-Contemporary/dp/1350407666 https://climateandsecurity.org/erin-sikorsky/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com
In episode 234 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons explores the fast-changing world of climate risk and insurance—where escalating hazards are driving rapid changes in how we safeguard homes, businesses, and entire communities. This episode brings together an unprecedented mix of guests: policy experts advancing insurance reform, senior executives from leading insurance companies, a Miami real estate agent navigating the front lines of a shifting market, and innovators using big data and advanced technology to transform how risk is measured and managed. Across these conversations, listeners will hear how reinsurance strategies are evolving, how fintech is creating new tools to stabilize premiums, how local resilience projects are shaping insurability, and how industry leaders are adapting to intensifying climate threats. Together, these voices provide a rare, comprehensive look at the diverse forces reshaping an industry on the front lines of climate adaptation—offering insights every community will need in the years ahead. This episode was generously sponsored by the CO2 Foundation. Experts in this Episode: Dr. Carolyn Kousky – Founder Insurance for Good – Interview transcript Anna Sherrill - real estate agent and vice president of sales at One Sotheby's International reality – Interview transcript Stephanie Race - CEO of Earth Analytics Group – Interview transcript Charlie Sidoti - Executive Director of InnSure – Interview transcript Laurna Castillo - senior vice president with CSAA Insurance Group – Interview transcript Abby Ross - Founder and CEO of The Resiliency Company – Interview transcript Stephen Weinstein - CEO of Mangrove Property Insurance – Interview transcript Dylan Dimarchi - co founder of Eventual – Interview transcript Moira Birss - fellow at the climate and community institute – Interview transcript Frances Bouchard - Managing Director of Climate at Marsh McLennan – Interview transcript To learn more about the CO2 Foundation and the project they fund, visit their web site here. Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/americaadapts.bsky.social Links in this episode: https://co2foundation.org/about/ https://mangrove-fl.com/ https://resiliency.com/ https://eventualclimate.com/#faq The Epicenter (mentioned by Abby Ross): https://www.epicenterinsights.com/ https://www.earthanalyticsgroup.com/about https://resiliency.com/ https://climateandcommunity.org/bio/moira-birss/ Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadapts https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts! Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook! Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com
Send me a messageIn this episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, I sat down with Ollie Carpenter, Director of Environmental Risk Analytics at Risilience, to unpack how global businesses are moving from climate ambition to action, through risk-informed decision making.Ollie and his team work with companies like Nestlé, Burberry, and Maersk, helping them build digital twins of their operations and supply chains to stress-test climate and nature-related risks. What I found particularly insightful is how this risk-based lens shifts the sustainability conversation from “nice-to-have” to essential business planning.We covered:The difference between physical and transition risk, and why both matter for supply chain resilienceHow regulation like CSRD and TNFD is raising the bar on climate disclosureThe evolving role of procurement in decarbonisation, supplier engagement, and scope 3 measurementWhy near-term transition plans (to 2030) are more actionable than distant net-zero targetsThe hidden vulnerabilities in agricultural supply chains most companies still overlookAnd how employee pressure is becoming a key driver of sustainability inside firmsIf you're trying to embed sustainability into operational planning, link it to financial outcomes, or simply stay ahead of climate-related disruptions, this one's really worth a listen.
We're coming to you LIVE from Riskworld 2025! In this episode of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, Jason Reichl sits down with James Alexander, Principal Consultant at Meliora-ESG, to explore how satellite-based structural auditing is transforming climate risk assessment and infrastructure monitoring. With over 25 years of experience spanning environmental impairment liability and cutting-edge earth observation technology, James reveals how organizations can leverage satellite intelligence to detect structural anomalies, predict climate impacts, and protect critical infrastructure. Discover how satellite technology has evolved from defense-sector exclusivity to mainstream risk management, why 80% of insured assets will be under satellite surveillance within six years, and how risk managers can start incorporating this game-changing technology into their frameworks today.