The Sustainability Story

In this episode of the Sustainability Story, host Nicole Gehrig, Director of Global Industry Standards at CFA Institute, discusses the importance of integrating nature-related risks into investment strategies with Mel Peh, CFA, an independent consultant for the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). They explore how nature-related risks, such as biodiversity loss and deforestation, can impact financial performance and the steps asset managers and owners can take to mitigate these risks. The conversation also highlights the use of frameworks and tools like the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosure framework and the ENCORE tool to better understand and manage these risks.

In this episode of "The Sustainability Story," host Deborah Kidd, CFA, and Roman Kramarchuk, Head of Climate Markets and Policy Analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights, delve into the significance of Article 6 adoption at COP29 and its implications for the role of carbon markets in achieving net-zero goals. Roman shares insights from his extensive experience in public policy and emissions and environmental markets. Their discussion also explores the use of carbon taxes versus carbon markets to achieve emissions reductions and the challenges that have been faced by voluntary carbon markets.

Host Deborah Kidd, CFA talks with Monika Freyman, CFA, Vice President of Sustainable Investing at Addenda Capital, about the challenges asset owners and asset managers face when aiming to protect portfolios from the financial impacts of climate change. Monika shares practical advice on developing a comprehensive investment policy, measuring and managing the complexities of climate risk, and balancing climate goals with fiduciary duty. She emphasizes the importance of adhering to fiduciary duty fundamentals by ensuring that investment practices remain sound when integrating climate considerations.

Listen in as Dr. Jane Thostrup Jagd, Director of Net Zero Finance at We Mean Business Coalition, and Josina Kamerling, Head of EMEA Regulatory Outreach at CFA Institute, discuss the necessity of integrating sustainability departments within companies, particularly in collaboration with financial teams. The challenge lies in ensuring that knowledge about sustainability extends beyond mere compliance and reaches all levels of the organization. There is a call for greater openness from financial professionals towards sustainability agendas. The conversation also touches on the readiness of investors to comprehend and utilize new sustainability reports, highlighting a current gap in understanding that needs to be addressed for effective implementation in the future. #Sustainability #SustainabilityStory #NetZero #EURegulations

In this episode of the Sustainability Story podcast, Nicole Gehrig, Director of Global Industry Standards at CFA Institute, is joined by Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director of Stewardship Research and Policy at Morningstar Sustainalytics. Together, they explore key themes in the realm of stewardship. Lindsey shares his insights on how institutional shareholders are approaching proxy voting and engagements that focus on environmental and social issues. Key topics covered include say on climate votes, the influence of proxy advisors, collaborative initiatives, and the significance of voluntary stewardship codes. The discussion highlights how regulatory differences in Europe and the US impact the prioritization of sustainability themes by investors on both sides of the Atlantic.

In this episode of the Sustainability Story, host Deborah Kidd, CFA, interviews Paula DiPerna, author and Special Advisor to the CDP. In her book, Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets, Paula offers a compelling argument for the need to assign economic values to nature's essential resources. Paula takes us on a journey through history, world travel, case studies, and financial theory to demonstrate how bringing natural assets onto corporate and sovereign balance sheets, investing in resource-linked financial instruments, and putting a price on carbon are the keys to combating global warming and preserving the Earth's resources.

In this episode of The Sustainability Story, host Andres Vinelli interviews Marcos Buscaglia, an economist and author of Beyond the ESG Portfolio: How Wall Street Can Help Democracies Survive. Marcos discusses the impact of capital markets on funding democracies and autocratic regimes, emphasizing the importance for investors to consider democracy amidst global democratic decline. He highlights the interconnectedness of countries and how a democratic decline in one nation can have repercussions worldwide. Marcos' insights shed light on the role of capital markets in shaping political landscapes and the need for ethical investment practices.

In this episode, host Josina Kamerling has a discussion with Thierry Philipponnat, Chief Economist, Finance Watch, about the banks' efforts to building a sustainable economy and the challenges of the net zero transition for banks.