Climate Rising

Large corporations play a critical role in addressing climate change—but transforming complex global supply chains is no small task. This episode, originally from the Invested in Climate podcast hosted by Jason Rissman, features a conversation with Katie Anderson of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Chris Adamo of Danone. It explores how a major food company and a nonprofit partner are working together to reduce methane emissions in dairy supply chains. The discussion examines why methane has become a priority in agricultural climate strategies, how Danone became the first food company to set a methane-specific target, and what it takes to implement change across thousands of farms globally. The episode also highlights the role of financing, public policy, and cross-sector collaboration in scaling regenerative agriculture practices. More broadly, the conversation offers a real-world look at how climate action is increasingly tied to business continuity, supply chain resilience, and long-term value creation.

How can companies make sustainability information useful to consumers at the moment they make a purchase? Justine Mahler and Cameron Westfall of Amazon join Climate Rising to discuss Climate Pledge Friendly, Amazon’s sustainable shopping program. They explain how Amazon uses third-party certifications to identify products with sustainability attributes, how the company evaluates which certifications qualify, and how it translates complex standards into information consumers can quickly understand. The conversation also explores what Amazon has learned about consumer behavior since launching the program in 2020. Cameron shares research showing a sales lift for products after joining Climate Pledge Friendly, while Justine explains why the environmental impacts that matter most differ across product categories. They also discuss how customer feedback, experimentation, and evolving sustainability science continue to shape the program.

Galen Nelson, Chief Climate Officer at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) explains how the state is helping accelerate climate innovation through early-stage grants, equity investments, and infrastructure support. Galen outlines how MassCEC targets “market failures” where private investors hesitate—such as pilot and demonstration projects—and how these public investments help attract follow-on capital, inform policy, and build economic resilience. Galen shares examples across climate tech verticals including energy efficiency, carbon-intensive materials like cement, and urban heat resilience. He also discusses how MassCEC is responding to the shifting federal policy landscape, its new authority to fund climate adaptation technologies, and how the agency’s public-private model balances innovation with accountability.