All Things Sustainable (formerly ESG Insider)

Welcome to the latest episode in the Terra Carta Series of the All Things Sustainable podcast, a collaboration with the Sustainable Markets Initiative. Throughout 2025, we’ll be interviewing SMI member CEOs across industries and around the world about how they’re approaching sustainability challenges and opportunities.   In this episode, we’re talking with Brennan Spellacy, founder and CEO of Patch, a climate technology company that helps companies manage, sell and buy carbon credits. Brennan says interest in carbon markets is growing as a tool for companies to achieve their climate targets, even amid a challenging current environment.  "Even though the tactics might evolve in the short term, almost every [Chief Sustainability Officer] that I've seen is upping their investments in 2025 and 2026, not cutting them. But how you deploy and how you talk about that deployment is going to obviously evolve," Brennan says.  He outlines how Patch works to drive the integrity of carbon markets by providing companies with a universal framework for evaluating projects across a wide range of technologies on an apples-to-apples basis.  "The core theory of change at Patch is that it's incredibly difficult to understand this market," Brennan says. "And the way we're going to drive scaling within this ecosystem today is to remove the friction to understanding."  About the Terra Carta Podcast Series: The SMI is a network of over 250 global CEOs across finance and industry. It facilitates private sector diplomacy with the ambition of making sustainability the driving force of global markets and value creation. S&P Global is a proud SMI member.  We’re calling this the Terra Carta Series based on the SMI’s Terra Carta mandate. This is the guiding mandate for the SMI and sets out ambitious and practical actions to help the private sector accelerate progress toward a sustainable future. The name Terra Carta is a play on the historic Magna Carta.   Learn more about the S&P Global Sustainable1 Summit in Singapore June 26, 2025.  Listen to our first episode in the Terra Carta series featuring Sustainable Markets Initiative CEO Jennifer Jordan-Saifi.   Listen to our podcast episode about what’s ahead for carbon markets.   Learn about the S&P Global Sustianable1's Energy Transition data.  This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1 and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global.     Copyright ©2025 by S&P Global            DISCLAIMER      By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.       S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

In the current landscape of geopolitical volatility and policy uncertainty, we’re hearing stakeholders use the term “back to basics” to describe their approach to sustainability. In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we bring you interviews with three speakers from the annual S&P Global Sustainable1 Summit who describe how businesses are navigating this environment.   We sit down with Jessica Fries, executive chair of accounting for Sustainability (A4S), a not-for-profit that works with finance leaders to drive resilient business models and achieve a sustainable economy. She explains how financial decisionmakers are balancing near-term financial pressures with longer-term sustainability goals.   “We don't see business leaders and finance leaders backing down from those long-term goals. I think everyone is very clear of the consequences of a failure to act with the kind of scale and speed that we need on climate and nature,” she says.  We talk to Min Guan about how some companies are taking a pragmatic approach to balancing different energy sources and supply chains in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Min is head of systems insights at the Energy Transitions Commission, a global coalition of leaders across business, finance and the NGO space committed to reaching net-zero by 2050. She is also a director at sustainability consultancy and investment firm Systemiq.  And we hear directly from an energy company grappling with this balancing act in an interview with Alex Grant, UK country manager for Norway-based Equinor. The company is the largest supplier of energy to Europe and has a portfolio that includes oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions. Alex calls net-zero by 2050 the company’s “guiding star” but says the path won’t be straightforward.    “The energy transition is going to be bumpy,” he says. “What does that mean in practicalities? It means investing across the energy space.”  Listen to podcast coverage of the 2025 CERAWeek conference hosted by S&P Global here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/energy-transition-discussions-shift-to-pragmatism-amid-policy-uncertainty   Learn more about the S&P Global Sustainable1 Summit in Singapore June 26, 2025: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/events/sustainable1-summit-2025     Learn more about S&P Global’s Energy Transition data here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/solutions/energy-transition?utm_source=All+Things+Sustainable+podcast&utm_medium=libsyn&utm_campaign=HSBCS1Summit&utm_id=All+Things+Sustainable+podcast   This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1 and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global.    Copyright ©2025 by S&P Global           DISCLAIMER     By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.     S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

In this engaging conversation, Danny Alexander, Chief Executive of HSBC’s Infrastructure Finance and Sustainability unit, shares his insights on financing a low-carbon economy. He emphasizes the immense investment needed for energy infrastructure, from renewable sources to electric vehicle charging stations. Danny highlights the global investment landscape, noting a projected demand of $6 trillion annually by 2030. He discusses the importance of blending public-private partnerships and aligning economic realities with infrastructure investment to drive the net-zero transition.

In recent episodes of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we've heard how some of the biggest companies across sectors are navigating the changing sustainability landscape. In today’s episode, we sit down with one of the world’s largest chemical and plastic production companies, Dow.  “Sustainability used to be something nice to have, but now it’s a key part of the business strategy,” Han Zhang, Ph.D., Dow’s Global Sustainability Director, Packaging and Specialty Plastics, tells us during S&P Global's CERAWeek energy conference in Houston. This is due to regulations, commitments from brand owners, and consumer demand, he says. “All of this creates a lot of opportunities to companies who can develop those sustainable solutions.”  Dow has sustainability targets related to climate change, transforming waste, and advancing a circular economy where products are reused or recycled. Han says the company sees decarbonization and circularity as interconnected issues that can’t be treated in silos.  "We cannot decarbonize the society without circular plastic, and we cannot achieve a circular economy” with higher carbon emissions, Han says. “At Dow as a company, we’re tackling both in the same lens and I highly encourage the industry to do the same.”  Listen to our episode, What's at stake in UN plastic pollution treaty talks Listen to our episode, What companies are doing to address the plastic pollution problem Learn more about S&P Global's Energy Transition data  This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.           Copyright ©2025 by S&P Global           DISCLAIMER     By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.     S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

Emily Olson, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at Vale Base Metals, discusses the critical role of minerals in the low-carbon energy transition. She emphasizes balancing mineral production with community engagement and environmental stewardship. Olson shares insights on sustainable mining practices and the necessity of robust supply chains. Additionally, she highlights the company's efforts to work with Indigenous peoples and tackle climate risks while integrating innovative solutions in waste management. It's a compelling look at the future of mining in a sustainable world.

The rise of AI means more datacenters, and that means huge increases in electricity demand. In the US, natural gas is expected to play a prominent role in powering the AI boom.   In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we’re talking with EQT, one of the nation’s largest natural gas companies, to understand what’s ahead for AI, the energy transition and sustainability.   We sit down with Courtney Loper, EQT’s Head of Government Relations and Public Affairs, on the sidelines of S&P Global’s CERAWeek energy conference. She says natural gas can help the world shift away from coal-fired generation, which has a higher concentration of carbon emissions per unit of energy than natural gas. And she says EQT is focused on making its product as clean as possible, including by curbing carbon and methane emissions in its production of natural gas.  "A big focus for EQT has been the replacement of international coal with US natural gas and really thinking about the emissions offset that can come from that," Courtney says.   She says permitting reforms are needed in the US to get natural gas pipelines and other infrastructure built to meet growing energy demands from AI.  Courtney also tells us the company's view on sustainability remains "unchanged."   “Regardless of what winds shift in any sort of way around the idea of sustainability, it's something that we're going to continue to engage in, it's something that we're going to continue to promote, because it's important for the long-term viability of natural gas,” she says.  Learn more about S&P Global’s energy transition data here. Read S&P Global Sustainable1 research, "Can AI become net positive for net-zero?"  Explore S&P Global Sustainable1 net-zero data.  Listen to our podcast interview with ExxonMobil at CERAWeek. Listen to our podcast interview with JPMorganChase. This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.           Copyright ©2025 by S&P Global           DISCLAIMER     By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.     S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST. 

Shinjini Menon, Senior Vice President at Southern California Edison, discusses how one of the largest US utilities is tackling the dual challenge of climate resilience and energy reliability. She highlights ambitious decarbonization goals and innovative technologies like LIDAR for wildfire risk mitigation. Shinjini emphasizes the importance of equitable energy access and collaboration with stakeholders in addressing climate change. Tune in to learn how these strategies not only protect communities but also ensure affordable and reliable energy during extreme weather.

This episode features Paul Gruenwald, Chief Economist at S&P Global Ratings, who discusses balancing immediate energy concerns with long-term sustainability amidst policy uncertainties. Arshad Mansoor, CEO of EPRI, examines how AI will shape future electricity generation to meet increasing demands. Damian Beauchamp, from 8 Rivers, shares insights on innovative clean energy solutions aimed at achieving net-zero emissions. The conversation unveils a pragmatic approach to addressing energy security, affordability, and climate challenges in today's fluctuating landscape.

Will Hewes, Amazon's Water Sustainability Lead, discusses the tech giant's innovative approach to water stewardship. He details Amazon's goal to achieve 'water positivity' in its data centers by 2030, aiming to return more water to communities than it consumes. Hewes emphasizes collaboration with local communities to manage water scarcity exacerbated by climate change. He also highlights the importance of transparency and consumer engagement in sustainable practices, alongside innovative solutions for water management across Amazon's global operations.

Matt Kolesar, ExxonMobil's chief environmental scientist, dives into the company's sustainability strategy and energy transition. He discusses the urgent need for investments in low-carbon technologies and the importance of decarbonization targets. Kolesar sheds light on innovative projects, like a Texas initiative for low-carbon hydrogen production and a pioneering lithium extraction plant in Arkansas. He also shares optimistic insights from CERAWeek, emphasizing science-based strategies and the evolving role of fossil fuel companies in a sustainable future.