Sustainability Now

The EU has made a last minute change to its green bible, the EU Taxonomy: It proposed including natural gas as a sustainable transition fuel. The move would have notable effects on investors and companies. And would give natural gas a coveted green label by the EU. Then, a self-commissioned report by Rio Tinto revealed sexual assaults and culture of ‘systemic’ bullying at the Australian mining giant.Host: Mike DisabatoGuests: Hanna Ogilvy, Elchin Mammadov, and Sam Block; MSCI ESG Research

A labor strike ends at Kroger after contract negotiations give the employees a wage increase. But Kroger is supposed to be a decent employer, so what is going on here? Is this all due to the great resignation or renegotiation or restructuring of labor caused by pandemic? Or is there something deeper? We answer all these (floating) questions. Then, we discuss how a new EU proposal to ensure that people working through digital labor platforms can enjoy the labor rights and social benefits they are entitled to is linked to the Kroger strike.Host: Mike DisabatoGuests: Cole Martin and Andrew Young from MSCI ESG Research

This podcast explores how rising sea levels in China are impacting global manufacturing. It discusses the economic loss potential in major manufacturing hubs due to flooding. It also delves into the challenges of evaluating climate risks in supply chains and the effectiveness of carbon offsets. Additionally, it highlights the need to address pollution and toxic waste in various industries and the challenges of achieving net-zero goals.

This week we provide you with a carbon markets 101, and a discussion around companies that use carbon markets and carbon offsets to meet their plans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon markets, in the broadest sense, turn the power to pollute into a credit that can be bought and sold. They are marketed as one of the major pillars in combating climate change and are an important tool for investors to understand.

Antibiotic resistance is getting more worrisome. It's possible by 2050, antibiotic resistant super bugs could kill three times as many people could a year as during the worst parts of the COVID-19 pandemic . But there may be hope in the development of novel antibiotics. We discuss how this is related to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Then we finally put ESG ratings in their rightful place and tell you what they are REALLY used for.The antibiotic story references research from our 2022 ESG Trends which can be viewed here: https://www.msci.com/research/2022-esg-trends-to-watchThe ESG ratings portion references an interactive chart which can be fond here: https://www.msci.com/research/2022-esg-trends-to-watch/esg-ratings-in-rightful-placeHost: Mike DisabatoGuests: Julia Giguere-Morello, ESG Research; Laura Nishikawa, ESG Research

Everyone wants to get into mining these days. The extractive industries have seen a flurry of interest as the rush to decarbonize our economies sparks a race to control the metals those low-carbon technologies need to work. We discuss the ESG paradox this creates: on the one hand, mining is a fundamentally challenging sector when it comes to ESG and on the other hand for renewable energy to be a feasible solution to fossil fuels, we need batteries. Then we discuss a sustainability bond issued by Teva Pharmaceuticals with some of its provisions tied to both better access to healthcare and lower greenhouse gas emissions.Host: Mike DisabatoGuests: Samuel Block, MSCI ESG Research; Namita Nair, MSCI ESG Research

Jack Dorsey, the eccentric and visionary co-founder of Twitter, announced he was stepping down on Monday. Parag Agrawal, the chief technology officer, will replace him as CEO. We discuss what this move means for the governance of Twitter, for Block (previously called Square), and for the tech world in general. It's a good old governance episode!

COP26 dropped an unstoppable wave of headlines. As delegates catch their breath for the hard work that starts in the aftermath, we take a look back at what happened in Glasgow. For one, it looks like big change lies ahead, especially for energy producers. But a recent surge in the prices of coal, oil, and gas may dampen the spirits of climate investors. Should it?Host: Bentley Kaplan; Guests: Simone Ruiz-Vergote, MSCI ESG Research; Elchin Mammadov, MSCI ESG Research.

A USD 1 trillion deal is scheduled to be signed into law by US President Biden on Monday, November 12. The deal, in the White House’s words, is imperative for the US to meet its commitment to reduce U.S. emissions by 50-52% from 2005 levels in 2030, create a 100% carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, and achieve a net-zero economy by 2050. It allocates funds toward updating the US transportation system, its energy infrastructure, its climate resiliency, and its water system. We discussed how these plans move from the political stratosphere to the more habitable land of economic stimulus.Host: Mike Disabato; Guests: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research; Yu Ishihara, MSCI ESG Research; Mathew Lee, MSCI ESG Research; Chris Cote, MSCI ESG Research; Gillian Mollod, MSCI ESG Research.

We talk about two of the most consequential agreements made at COP26 this week. The first is the deforestation pledge signed by around 100 world leaders. And the second is an agreement by 46 countries to halt the growth of coal in our energy sector. Each is a step among many toward a more sustainable future, but each, as with many agreements, has its pitfalls.