Julien Nicolas, Senior Scientist at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, shares insights on the alarming report that 2024 is the hottest year on record. He discusses how this dramatic temperature rise links to increased extreme weather events, emphasizing the urgent need for emission reductions. Julien also highlights adaptation strategies as essential to mitigate climate impacts, stressing that both approaches are crucial for resilient communities. His expertise sheds light on moving beyond just limits set by the Paris Agreement to actionable climate solutions.

In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we explore what's ahead for jobs that require green, climate or sustainability skills.   We talk with Efrem Bycer, Senior Lead Manager of Public Policy and Economic Graph at professional social networking platform LinkedIn, which publishes an annual Global Green Skills Report on demand for green talent. Efrem says these skillsets are increasingly embedded in many lines of work.  "We're shifting from climate being this niche topic to something that is much more ubiquitous and much more widespread," Efrem says. "At some point, these aren't just climate skills, but they are business skills. These are skills that just anybody who works in certain functions within a business is going to have to know."  We also talk with Neil Yeoh, Founder and CEO of OnePointFive, a climate advisory and training firm that publishes a climate workforce playbook.   In the episode, we hear what's driving demand for sustainability jobs; about the talent shortage and skills gap for these roles; and about how organizations can navigate political uncertainty. Neil and Efrem also outline how individuals can position themselves to be more competitive in the job market going forward.  We’re celebrating the 7-year anniversary of this podcast with a live event in NYC on Feb. 6. Register to attend here:  https://events.spglobal.com/event/075966b7-f60b-4a45-b489-c35e954d8baf/summary-full-event-info-?RefId=S1EMAIL  Listen to our episode titled "Why climate literacy matters for business, growing the green workforce" here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/why-climate-literacy-matters-for-business-growing-the-green-workforce   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.

Chris Slater, CEO and Founder of Oka, specializes in carbon market risk management, while Linda Rivera Macedo, of Calyx Global, focuses on carbon ratings and sustainability. They discuss how the insurance sector can stabilize carbon projects and the importance of robust data for pricing risks. Linda emphasizes how ratings agencies can build market confidence and drive investment in carbon credits. Both highlight the critical 2025 landscape shaped by COP29 and the need for transparency and collaboration to enhance the integrity of carbon markets.

In this enlightening discussion, Daniel Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Vice Chairman of S&P Global, shares insights on the energy transition amid geopolitical tensions. He emphasizes the need for nuanced energy strategies while discussing the transformative CERAWeek conference. Atul Arya, S&P Global's Chief Energy Strategist, highlights the Innovation Agora's focus on emerging technologies and solutions to climate challenges. Together, they explore critical themes for 2025, including decarbonization, hydrogen tech, and the role of AI in shaping a sustainable energy future.

Sally Davey, CEO of Travalyst, a nonprofit founded by Prince Harry, discusses her mission to unite competitors in the travel industry for sustainable practices. She shares insight into the initial skepticism surrounding Travalyst’s goals and how, in five years, they've made significant strides. The conversation highlights the importance of collaboration in creating actionable sustainability data, the impact of climate initiatives from COP29, and the rise of grassroots movements in responsible tourism, transforming how we can travel mindfully.

In this insightful discussion, Alexander Gillett, Co-founder and CEO of HowGood, shares his expertise on food sustainability. He highlights the challenges of measuring food emissions and the confusing nature of food labels for consumers. Gillett emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to sustainability that addresses soil health and biodiversity, not just carbon emissions. He advocates for regenerative practices in agriculture and calls for greater transparency in the food industry to empower sustainable choices.

Explore the transformative insights from a leading figure at the US Department of Energy, who emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainties in the energy transition. Discover the significance of private sector investments from COP29 and learn how diverse career paths can enhance clean energy initiatives. Gain essential advice for young professionals balancing career growth and parenthood. Uncover the critical role of nuclear energy and the need for innovative strategies to advance clean technology.

In recent episodes of the ESG Insider podcast we’ve been covering some of the big outcomes from COP29, the UN’s climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. This was known as the "finance COP,” and today we’re back with another bonus episode looking at how climate finance has changed over time.   We sit down on the sidelines of COP29 with Sean Kidney, CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, a nonprofit that works to mobilize global capital for climate action. He discusses his key takeaways from COP29, the dramatic change he is seeing in sustainable debt markets and the outlook for the energy transition in 2025.   “I launched the Climate Bonds Initiative at the 2009 Copenhagen COP, where things got pretty grim,” Sean says. “I look now at the change of sentiment ... most of the conversations I'm involved in — with finance, with development banks, with governments — are all about HOW to do it, not IF.” Listen to our previous coverage of COP29: UN official says credibility of climate COPs at stake heading into 2025: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/un-official-says-credibility-of-climate-cops-at-stake-heading-into-2025   How the private sector showed up at COP29: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-the-private-sector-showed-up-at-cop29   How the insurance industry is tackling climate risk: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-the-insurance-industry-is-tackling-climate-risk   After COP29, what’s next for carbon markets: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/after-cop29-what-s-next-for-carbon-markets This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     Copyright ©2024 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 recent episodes of the ESG Insider podcast, we’ve explored how different sectors are approaching climate change. In today’s bonus episode, we’re focusing on the insurance industry in an interview with Liz Henderson.   Liz leads Climate Risk Advisory for Aon, a global insurance and reinsurance brokerage firm. In the episode she talks about her key takeaways from COP29, the UN climate conference that recently took place in Baku, Azerbaijan.  This event was widely known as the "finance COP," and Liz says that insurance plays a critical role alongside private finance. "You cannot have bankable high-value investment capital without risk capital alongside it to de-risk those investments," she tells us.   Liz also talks about the role of data and the insurance industry’s unique perspective on risk, thanks to its long history of modeling the impacts of events like hurricanes, floods and wildfires. She said this allows insurers to help companies measure and manage their climate risks.   Listen to our previous coverage of COP29:  How the private sector showed up at COP29: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-the-private-sector-showed-up-at-cop29   After COP29, what’s next for carbon markets: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/after-cop29-what-s-next-for-carbon-markets   UN official says credibility of climate COPs at stake heading into 2025: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/un-official-says-credibility-of-climate-cops-at-stake-heading-into-2025   This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.      Copyright ©2024 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 recent episodes of the ESG Insider podcast, we’ve been hearing about takeaways from COP29, the UN climate conference that recently wrapped up in Baku, Azerbaijan. In this episode, we hear about the rising private sector engagement at events like COP29, and how companies are collaborating across the public and private sector to find solutions to climate change. "When I look today just at the breadth of involvement there is in the private sector…I've really seen a step change in terms of the engagement," says Sagarika Chatterjee, Climate Finance Director and Finance Lead for the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, a group that aims to drive collaboration on climate action between governments, businesses and investors.  "The question, of course, is how good can we get at collaborating with the public sector on some very tricky areas and working fast enough so that we can reach the needs that there are of developing countries for climate finance," Sagarika tells us. In the episode we also speak to:   -Sherry Madera, CEO of the disclosure nonprofit CDP  -Kristen Sullivan, Partner at audit, consulting and advisory firm Deloitte where she leads Sustainability and ESG Services  -Naoko Ishii, Director of the Center for Global Commons, a research center at the University of Tokyo  -Yevgeniya Bikmurzina, Head of the Innovation Ecosystem Department within Azerbaijan’s Innovation & Digital Development Agency  Listen to our previous coverage of COP29 outcomes:  UN official says credibility of climate COPs at stake heading into 2025: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/un-official-says-credibility-of-climate-cops-at-stake-heading-into-2025   After COP29, what’s next for carbon markets: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/after-cop29-whats-next-for-carbon-markets/id1475521006?i=1000680181847 Listen to our interview with CDP CEO Sherry Madera at Climate Week NYC: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/cdp-ceo-talks-climate-nature-and-the-future-of-sustainability-disclosure   This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global. Copyright ©2024 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.