All Things Sustainable

Joining the discussion is Dave Jones, Director of the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley and former California Insurance Commissioner. He sheds light on how recent LA wildfires are reshaping the insurance landscape. Rising costs and decreased availability of insurance in fire-prone areas highlight the financial implications of climate change. Jones emphasizes that while climate change exacerbates the situation, immediate action to mitigate its effects is essential. The conversation also touches on the urgency of global efforts to cut carbon emissions to tackle these escalating risks.

Shabnam Shener, the Head of Private Finance for the SDGs at the UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub, brings her expertise in sustainable finance to discuss the urgent financial gaps in achieving global Sustainable Development Goals. She highlights that trillions are needed to tackle climate change and stresses the importance of mobilizing private capital for impactful investments. Shener also explains the balance between profitability and social responsibility, emphasizing the role of innovative, bankable projects in closing the funding void.

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.