

Climate Rising
Harvard Business School Business & Environment Initiative
Climate Rising is about the impact of climate change on business. It brings business and policy leaders and Harvard Business School faculty together to share insights about what businesses are doing, can do, and should do to confront climate change. It explores the many challenges and opportunities that climate change raises for managers, such as decisions about where they choose to locate, the technologies they develop and use, their strategies with respect to products, marketing, customer engagement, and policy—in other words, the full spectrum of business concerns.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 19, 2024 • 44min
How Lab - Grown Cotton can Decarbonize Textiles
Luciano Bueno, founder of GALY, discusses lab-grown cotton using sugar, its benefits, and market strategies. They explore innovative textile production, fundraising challenges, and other applications like saffron and cell-based meat.

Jun 5, 2024 • 39min
Regenerative Agriculture and “The Profiteers” with Cambridge Professor Chris Marquis
Chris Marquis, a professor at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and author of 'The Profiteers,' discusses the revolutionary potential of regenerative agriculture for decarbonizing farming ecosystems. He tackles corporate accountability, revealing how some companies engage in 'corporate gaslighting,' shifting blame for environmental harm. Marquis emphasizes the need for a reassessment of stakeholder capitalism and highlights innovative companies like Indigo Ag and Patagonia that are prioritizing ecological restoration in their practices.

May 22, 2024 • 34min
H2 Green Steel: Decarbonizing Steel Production with Green Hydrogen
This episode is a part of our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Our prior episode explored green concrete, and today’s focuses on steel. Steel production primarily relies on coal and coke, and accounts for nearly 7% of global CO2 emissions. But new technologies are on the horizon. Maria Persson Gulda, Chief Technology Officer at H2 Green Steel, joins us to discuss an innovative solution: green steel made from green hydrogen. By harnessing renewable power, H2 Green Steel is pioneering a path to drastically reduce steel's carbon footprint. Maria will also share insights into the world’s largest green steel plant in Sweden H2 is building, the evolving technological landscape, and the pivotal role of initial adopters. Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative (LinkedIn)Guest: Maria Persson Gulda, the Chief Technology Officer at H2 Green Steel (LinkedIn)

May 8, 2024 • 29min
Green Concrete: Decarbonizing Construction with Recycled Glass
This podcast explores the use of green concrete to reduce carbon emissions in construction, highlighting Harvard University's pilot testing with Urban Mining Industries. They discuss challenges, strategies, and innovative products like Positive made from recycled glass to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. The focus is on decarbonizing construction materials and measuring carbon emissions throughout the supply chain.

Apr 24, 2024 • 38min
Helping Companies Become More Climate Resilient
In this episode in our adaptation series, Peter Hall, Managing Director at Resonance Impact Advisory, draws upon his experience in global engineering and professional services firms to share how consulting and advisory companies can help their clients assess their risks and take actions to become more resilient to climate change. He walks through several adaptation frameworks and roadmaps recently developed by governments, civil society, and private companies to help provide clarity and guidance on the steps necessary for more resilient companies and societies. For notes and resources visit; climaterising.org

Apr 10, 2024 • 37min
How Insurance Companies are Addressing Climate Risks
Claudine Blamey from Aviva discusses how climate change impacts insurance companies with transition and physical risks, innovative insurance products like parametric and catastrophe insurance, and the need for proactive measures and climate modeling for effective risk management.

Mar 27, 2024 • 46min
Building Climate - Resilient Cities and Infrastructure
This episode in our climate adaptation series features HBS Professor John Macomber. John discusses how companies and governments need to incorporate climate resilience as they develop and finance real estate and infrastructure to address the risks of flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, drought, and sea level rise. John describes “five R” options to address these risks—to reinforce, rebound, retreat, restrict, and rebuild—and highlights best practices from insurance companies and the governments of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Singapore. He also identifies entrepreneurial opportunities to foster adaptation and resilience. Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative Guest: John Macomber, Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org

Mar 13, 2024 • 1h 3min
The Lightsmith Group’s Adaptation Investment Strategy
Jay Koh, co-founder of Lightsmith Group, discusses their investment strategy focusing on climate resilience. They invest in sectors like cloud resilience and agriculture using technology for proactive risk analysis. The podcast explores innovative solutions like solar hydropanel technology for addressing climate challenges and calls for more investment in climate resilience.

Feb 28, 2024 • 57min
Visualizing our Changing Climate with Probable Futures
In this podcast, Spencer Glendon and Alison Smart of Probable Futures discuss tools for managing climate risks, emphasizing the need for a new perspective on adaptation. They explore the impacts of climate change on businesses in tourist areas like Florida and advocate for incorporating climate awareness into storytelling and decision-making processes.

Feb 14, 2024 • 29min
Raízen’s Decarbonization Strategy
A discussion on ethanol and its role in decarbonization efforts. Raízen's innovative approach to bagasse processing. Maximizing the use of sugarcane byproducts for low carbon ethanol production. Manufacturing process and scaling challenges of ethanol powered vehicles. The role of Brazil and Raízen in global decarbonization efforts.