ESG Currents

Mike Richter, president of Brightcore Energy, helped lead the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup Championship in 1994. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s ESG Currents podcast, Mr. Richter joins BI’s director of ESG research Eric Kane to discuss his path from goaltender in the National Hockey League to the world of energy efficiency and renewable energy, the importance of incentives in energy projects, what technologies provide the best cost and energy savings, the intersection of sports and the environment, the Rangers’ 2024-25 outlook and more. For more insights, register here for BI ESG’s Dec. 11 conference, ESG is Here to Stay: 5 Investment Themes for 2025. The episode was recorded on Oct. 2.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can financial markets help solve climate change, poverty and inequality on a worldwide scale? The UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment supports an international network of investor signatories looking to incorporate ESG factors into investment and ownership decisions. Launched in 2006, the PRI has grown to more than 5,300 signatories managing over $121 trillion. Ahead of this week’s 16th annual PRI in Person conference in Toronto, senior ESG analyst Rob Du Boff chatted with PRI Chief Sustainable Systems Officer Nathan Fabian and board member Wendy Cromwell, vice chair and head of sustainable investment for Wellington Management.The episode was recorded on Sept. 23.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Inflation Reduction Act unleashed nearly half-a-trillion dollars in investment for projects to help meet climate goals. In this episode of the Bloomberg Intelligence ESG Currents podcast, BI senior analysts Gail Glazerman and Rob Du Boff are joined by Gina McCarthy, who as White House national climate advisor was a key backer of the legislation and as former head of the EPA, offers a unique perspective on the Supreme Court’s recent ruling overthrowing the long-standing Chevron doctrine. She shares her views on the outlook for the IRA in the context of the 2024 federal election and the search for energy to power AI. This episode was recorded Sept. 23.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With natural capital emerging as a vital investment theme, understanding its risks and opportunities is crucial. In this episode, BI’s senior ESG analyst, Rob Du Boff, and Melanie Rua, senior ESG associate, are joined by Adam Kanzer, head of stewardship for the Americas at BNP Paribas Asset Management, to share why natural capital is an important investment theme, why transparency in nature-related data matters and how the firm engages with industry to influence corporate practices. From the story of horseshoe crabs to how Nature Action 100 drives impactful corporate change, this episode delves deep into the efforts to protect biodiversity while generating shareholder value. The episode was recorded on Sept. 18.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a $10-trillion opportunity in nature-positive investing, says Ingrid Kukuljan, head of impact and sustainable investing at Federated Hermes. About half of global GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature, yet relentless exploitation has led to risks ranging from labor productivity to the global supply of oranges. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s ESG Currents podcast, BI analyst Grace Osborne talks to Kukuljan about the risks of biodiversity loss, corporate champions of a regenerative economy and her hopes for COP16 next month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In her forthcoming book, “What if We Get Right?: Visions of Climate Futures,” Ayana Elizabeth Johnson interviews 20 climate thought leaders across disciplines to answer the critical question posed in the title. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s ESG Currents podcast, BI’s director of ESG research Eric Kane is joined by Dr. Johnson to discuss the book, her work with the Urban Ocean Lab, finding inspiration in biophilia and a climate-action Venn diagram. They also talk about the absurdity of having constant growth and scarcity as fundamental principles, what we can learn from Marvel’s “Black Panther” movie, and much more. This episode was recorded on Sept. 6. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ESG has come under fire in recent years as investors have struggled to understand the tradeoffs and benefits of including “values-based” factors in their investment process. On this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior ESG analyst Andy Stevenson is joined by Lukasz Pomorski, Senior Vice President at Acadian Asset Management and author of “The Puzzle of Sustainable Investment,” to discuss how data related to governance, climate and wages may help investors build their portfolios. This episode was recorded on Sept. 3. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid growing concerns over ESG risks, today’s investors are taking a more active role as owners or lenders in corporations, whether through engaging with management, voting at annual meetings or just choosing to divest. This is especially true for Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the owner of one of the largest stakes in almost every listed company in the world. On this episode of ESG Currents, senior ESG analyst Rob Du Boff is joined by Carine Smith Ihenacho, Chief Governance and Compliance Officer of the fund’s manager, Norges Bank Investment Management, who leads ownership and responsible investment activities. This episode was recorded on Aug. 6.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Alm and Levi Stewart Zurbrugg from Saturna Capital dive deep into the complexities of the energy transition. They discuss how ESG factors vary in equities versus credits, and why the transition might be messier than anticipated. Key points include overlooked bond impacts and innovative risk management strategies in green investments. They also tackle criticisms of ESG investing, emphasizing the need for nuanced understanding amidst rapidly changing regulations. Get insights into how holistic approaches can identify quality investments in today's climate-driven market.

One of the most controversial topics in sustainable finance is the voluntary carbon market. On paper, these offsets can match companies seeking to cut emissions with projects that can reduce carbon in the atmosphere. But the industry has faced allegations ranging from greenwashing to outright fraud. On this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s ESG Currents podcast, BI Senior ESG Analyst Rob Du Boff discusses the future of this market with Tom Montag, who runs carbon-credit management firm Rubicon Carbon after a storied career on Wall Street. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.