Climate Rising

This podcast explores the efforts of Kenyan company Sian Flowers to create a low-carbon rose by shipping them around the world by sea. It discusses the carbon footprint in the horticulture industry in Kenya, compares carbon footprints of different transportation methods, explores the challenges of shipping by air and ocean, and examines the marketing opportunities and risks of selling low-carbon products.

Harvard Business School MBA students Nabig Chaudhry, Mitch Hirai, and Kamya Jagadish share their experiences interning in climate-related businesses, discussing their search process, projects related to zero emissions delivery, and the importance of networking. They provide valuable advice on job hunting in the field, recommend resources and sources for staying updated on climate-related news, and share their future career plans related to climate change and urban job creation.

HBS Prof. George Serafeim moderates a panel discussion on driving climate performance with Carter Roberts, President & CEO of World Wildlife Fund, Deb Spar, HBS professor, Bonita Stewart, Board Partner at Gradient Ventures, and Lauren Taylor Wolfe, Cofounder & Managing Partner of Impactive Capital. Topics include the role of boards in driving climate performance, collaboration across sectors, government intervention, data quality, the potential impact of the European border tax, and driving sustainability through boardroom focus on products.

Gabriel Serber, VP of Social Impact and Sustainable Development at Arcos Dorados, discusses how the company addresses climate change in Latin America. Topics include cultural diversity, McDonald's sustainability efforts, regional preferences, and water competition. Additionally, advice is given on integrating sustainability into business practices.

Paul Bodnar, Director of Sustainable Finance, Industry, and Diplomacy, discusses investors' approach to weighing climate priorities with fiduciary responsibilities. He shares insights on sustainable investing, climate risks, tracking capital expenditure, and opportunities in climate finance.

Sanchali Pal, Founder and CEO of Commons, discusses building an app to help consumers make climate-friendly purchasing decisions, tracking carbon footprint, utilizing location data, pricing, fundraising, and exploring the market for green energy.

Formerly Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Officer, and now Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Managing Director at Haveli Investments, Lucas Joppa discusses the strategies and tools Microsoft developed to meet its ambitious carbon negative goals, including setting an internal price on carbon, restructuring their corporate governance, and funding innovative climate technology solutions. He also tells us why he thinks climate finance is entering its most consequential decade.----Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment InitiativeGuest: Lucas Joppa, Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Managing Director, Haveli InvestmentsFor transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.

In this episode, Melissa Lott, Director of Research and Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and Michael Webber, Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, discuss how companies can decarbonize their electricity when pursuing net zero climate goals, from increased efficiency to electrification to generating their own carbon-free electricity, and the pros and cons of these pathways.Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment InitiativeGuests:Melissa Lott, Director of Research and Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia UniversityMichael Webber, Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Today’s episode features Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of the Science Based Targets Initiative explains how they help companies and financial institutions design verifiable and achievable climate targets, and how they assess and validate those targets. He also discusses how the SBTi is transitioning from focusing on technical assistance and assessments to a standard-setting organization.Company Resources:The Science Based Targets initiativeHow science-based targets workClimate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment InitiativeGuest: Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Co-Founder and and Chief Technical Officer, Science Based Targets InitiativeFor transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org

For the second episode in our series on corporate net zero programs, we’re sharing an episode on airline decarbonization from the Climate Vision 2050 podcast produced by the consulting firm Boston Consulting Group. This episode sets up a scenario in 2050 where the industry relies on liquid nitrogen, sustainable aviation fuels, electric aircraft, and blending-wing body planes, coupled with present-day experts who explain the changes.Link to original podcast: BCG Climate Vision 2050 (“Sustainability at 36,000 feet” episode)Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative