ESG Decoded Podcast

Get ready for some great news! This is a monumental episode for ESG Decoded as GAA announces its acquisition by ClimeCo, a leader in the management and development of environmental commodities and deployment of sustainability solutions. To mark this exciting development, Kaitlyn Allen is joined by Bill Flederbach and Emily Damon.    Bill is ClimeCo’s President and CEO.  He co-founded ClimeCo in 2009 and three years later acquired all company shares to assume full ownership. Under his charge, ClimeCo has grown rapidly from a pioneer in N2O abatement projects to a respected leader in the environmental commodities market.   Emily is VP of Sustainability, Policy and Advisory, leading the consulting business unit at ClimeCo. Emily specializes in ESG performance and disclosure. She also has deep expertise in corporate climate strategy, including greenhouse gas accounting, target-setting, abatement strategy, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Before joining ClimeCo in early 2021, Emily spent over a dozen years in sustainability consulting, most recently leading Guidehouse’s ESG practice in North America. This newly formed powerhouse team provides an overview of ClimeCo’s three business units – Project Development, Environmental Credits, and ESG Advisory-- leading to a robust discussion about the thesis of the acquisition. To put it briefly, GAA’s clients need ClimeCo, and ClimeCo’s clients need GAA. Finally, hear directly from Bill about his experience at COP26 in Glasgow and why— despite anti-offset sentiment—voluntary environmental markets are crucial for rebalancing ecosystems and getting to net zero with more fairness. Of course, Kaitlyn also has some fun questions for Bill and Emily.  Congratulations to Kaitlyn, Amanda, and the entire GAA family on this new adventure and the start of an amazing next chapter!  2022 will be their best year yet!   Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode

This is an exciting episode featuring Kaitlyn Allen, Carol Liffman, and Dr. Ivonne Cruz.  Carol is a Senior Consultant with Global Affairs Associates who started her career in oil and gas as a geoscientist.  She was also the featured expert on episode #6 of this podcast.  Dr. Cruz holds a Doctorate and Masters degree in Sustainability. She serves as the Puentes Consortium Administrator, a Resident Scholar for the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at the Baker Institute and conducts research on climate change and social issues.  Most recently, Dr. Cruz was a faculty member of the Master in Global Affairs program where she teaches sustainability and global Issues. She has been in academia as associate researcher in countries such as Spain, U.K and the U.S.  She has experience as a consultant working on projects with international agencies, nonprofits and public and private entities.  Dr. Cruz has published several papers and book chapters on the social dimensions of environmental change, and she has collaborated in the elaboration of sustainability reports for private companies and local governments. The information shared was recorded by Dr. Cruz for her students, and we wanted to share it on the podcast also.  As Dr. Cruz points out, today’s students are very engaged in the topic of sustainability.  They understand the importance of clean energy and conservation, and many are familiar with the UN SDGs. Their conversation covers a variety of topics from how much waste we generate today, to today’s unconventional energy sources that may be more mainstream in the future, to carbon capture and enhanced oil recovery.  Remember, everyone organization or company needs to define what ESG means to them, and the innovative solutions will be, in large part, local strategies. The discussion these three experts have is like a mix ‘ESG 101’ and a high-level review of previous episodes.  So, whether you are new to the topic of ESG or a faithful follower of this podcast, this information is for you.  As a resource boost for this episode, check out Project Drawdown. Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!

In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Mark Williams.  Mark is responsible for the sales strategy across the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Datasite, a leading SaaS provider for the M&A industry. Prior to joining Datasite, Mark held several sales leadership roles in a variety of SaaS companies including Chief Revenue Officer at SmartFocus and Vice President of Sales for Kno Mark graduated with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Humberside University, England. ESG data is no longer a differentiator or ‘nice to have.’ ESG disclosure is moving into the mainstream expectations for this process.  Depending on the industry, more emphasis may be given to efforts associated with the ‘E,’ ‘S,’ or ‘G.’ (Carbon neutral is a current hot topic.) Listen as Amanda and Mark discuss ESG-related reporting trends for mergers and acquisitions, and how ESG impacts the overall valuation process. To ground us in this conversation, Amanda reminds us about the concept of ESG materiality.  She is such a great teacher!  It should come as no surprise that she is currently a guest lecturer at Rice University and the University of St. Thomas.  Super congrats, Amanda!  Those students are so lucky to learn from your expertise. Resource Boost: Climate Change’s Impact on M&A by Datasite https://www.datasite.com/us/en/insights/visualization/infographics/climate-change-s-impact-on-m-a.html Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your perspectives.  Enjoy this episode!

In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Jennifer Guidry, Vice President, Global Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) for Precision Drilling, a company known to deliver high performance, high value products and services to its customers in the oil and gas industry. With 25 years of global experience leading change in the upstream oil and gas, heavy construction, and environmental remediation, Jennifer is known for creating industry leading strategies that drive culture change in organizations. Listen as Kaitlyn and Jennifer discuss the evolution of HSE and its connection to ESG.  HSE tends to be more compliance-driven; while ESG is more strategic.  They share their insights as to how perspectives related to energy transition have shifted in the oil and gas sector. Jennifer also provides updates related to opportunities in oil field services (OFS) to reduce emissions and source alternate forms of energy to power rigs, sharing concrete examples from Precision Drilling’s journey. Much of Jennifer’s niche expertise centers in her authentic ability to bring to life the ‘S’ in ESG.  She speaks to the value of ESG programs in a way that motivates leaders and employees to focus on long-term solutions.  She is a champion for Diversity & Inclusion (D&I), which she cites as a game changer for businesses seeking to drive innovation, with diversity of thought serving as the fuel. Moreover, she reflects on her own leadership journey, sharing that the key to success as a business leader--and in life--is to treat others with “humanity and grace.” As you listen to Kaitlyn and Jennifer, they sound like long-time friends chatting over coffee.  (Listen for Jennifer’s story about the sticky note left on her car!)  Their shared passion for ESG and travel has been a point of common interest for both through the years. There is a lot that will inform and inspire you in this episode.   Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your perspectives.

In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Rob West, Founder of Thunder Said Energy, a research consultancy for energy technologies and energy transition. Prior to Thunder Said, Rob built up the energy practice at Redburn, among the world’s leading, independent equity-research firms. He was responsible for the team’s energy strategy and commodity market research, while covering Super-Majors.  Rob is also a Research Associate at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Kaitlyn follows Rob’s research, and believes he is one of the best energy transition analysts in the field.  Listen as they discuss the biggest opportunities for meeting the world’s energy needs while achieving net zero carbon emissions. This topic is more complicated than most will admit.  Think about it: when have you gone one day without consuming fossil fuels, especially in light of the fact that two-thirds of CO2 emissions are embedded in “stuff”? Loyal listeners of this podcast have learned that ESG has connective tissue to so many other topics.  In this case, it is so neat to learn that the name Thunder Said is derived from the T.S. Eliot poem, The Waste Land Part V – What the Thunder Said.  A perfect side note for our poetry junkies.  Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your perspectives. Resource Boosts Thunder Said Energy’s Roadmap to complete decarbonization of the global energy system by 2050 at an average CO2 cost of $42/ton: https://thundersaidenergy.com/2020/12/10/decarbonizing-global-energy-the-route-to-net-zero/ Thunder Said Energy www.thundersaidenergy.com Thunder Said Energy on Twitter https://twitter.com/energy_said?lang=en

ESG Decoded is the podcast powered by Global Affairs Associates to share relevant updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a manner that is clear and actionable. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Steven Okun, Founder and CEO of APAC Advisors, which offers clients hybrid expertise in government relations, policy, and sustainability empowering them to operate at the intersection of business, government, and media.  Steven has more than 25 years’ experience across government, public affairs, and communications and has lived and worked in Asia since 2003. He consults on sustainability and ESG in the financial services industry, specifically for private equity firms based in Asia. Steve is also Senior Advisor for geostrategic consultancy McLarty Associates, a frequent analyst for CNBC, Channel News Asia, and The Straits Times, and serves as Senior Advisor in Southeast Asia for the Global Private Capital Association. This episode is intended to provide listeners with ESG perspectives that are not centered around US or European constructs.  Listen as Steven covers a range of sustainability topics from an Asian vantage point.   He discusses energy-related social, access, and poverty reduction issues that are often left out of the conversation about energy transition in developed nations.  He also explains how investment decisions can differ in emerging markets, with consideration given to a company’s current ESG mindset and its sustainability potential over time (as opposed to factoring in track record and current performance). Steven only intended to live in Singapore for 5 years. Thank goodness he stayed and became an expert in the region’s sustainability issues. Kaitlyn and Steven have both been fellows with a diplomatic initiative by the National Committee on US-China Relations, called the Young Leaders Forum. It is great to have them collaborate on this episode.  Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your perspectives. Resource Boosts APAC Advisors https://www.apacadvisors.com/ National Committee on US-China Relations https://www.ncuscr.org/ CDC Group ESG Toolkit for Emerging Markets https://toolkit.cdcgroup.com/ Monetary Authority of Singapore https://www.mas.gov.sg/

In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Jillian (Jill) Evanko, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director for Chart Industries, a leading independent global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment servicing multiple applications in the Energy and Industrial Gas markets. 2020 was an award-winning year for Jill as she received the ExxonMobil PowerPlay Rainmaker Award, the S&P Global Platts Energy Award for Chief Trailblazer, and the World LNG Executive of the Year honors. Way to go, Jill! The topics discussed in this episode are as diverse as the ESG landscape, great for those who want a brief touchpoint on a myriad of sustainability issues from the energy transition, water, board diversity and ESG’s role in M&A. Listen as Amanda and Jill discuss the nexus of clean energy, water, food, and industrials. Jill cites that the topic of ESG and sustainability is not lip service; it is important on a global scale, across industries and regions. (Another reason not to miss an episode of this podcast!) Innovative ESG solutions, however, are often cultivated at the regional/local level. They talk about hydrogen and carbon capture as solutions to reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that still need to become scalable and more cost effective. And achieving 2030 targets will not be the result of one dominant energy source; it will take a multitude of solutions to meet our future needs. Amanda and Jill will inspire you to grab a cold beer as their conversation brings to light a myriad of possibilities in the sustainability space.  So, kick back and enjoy this episode! ** Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your perspectives.

In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Robert M. ‘Bob’ Pilko, Strategic Relationships Director for Blade Energy Partners, an independent consulting company that provides leading-edge expertise to solve subsurface, drilling, completion, production, and materials challenges. Bob has extensive experience in many facets of the upstream gas and oil industry domestic and internationally. Since 2003, Bob has been key to Blade's expansion from a small consultancy providing niche oil & gas drilling expertise to a global technological leader in complex and critical wells and integrated projects. His projects included: designs to drill to Earth’s mantle; confirming deepwater technology advances; HPHT well design issues and mitigation; managed pressure drilling applications; geothermal deep wells & energy development; and most recently, CCUS, hydrogen, and water production, use, limitations, and reduction from source to release. Listen as Amanda and Bob discuss the growing interest in geothermal energy by the oil and gas industry. Geothermal energy is generated from the heat deep in the earth’s crust. As true geothermal advocate, Bob calls it, “the energy underneath our feet.” In a few short years, geothermal energy has evolved from being the “other” energy (as compared to solar and wind energy) to the new “it” energy and a commercially viable greenhouse gas reduction solution for energy companies. This is a good geothermal energy 101 episode which will challenge how you used to think about this energy source vs. what modern, closed loop geothermal really is, and its benefits as a baseload renewable resource. Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!

In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Emmanuelle Palikuca, Senior Sustainability Advisor, Special Projects Team with ISS Corporate Solutions (ICS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS). ICS provides industry standard solutions in corporate governance, executive compensation, and sustainability.  Emmanuelle works with corporate issuers across industries to develop their ESG strategies and improve sustainability-related disclosures and programs. She provides insight and guidance on alignment with ESG ratings, global frameworks and standards and is the lead Materiality Assessments advisor on the ICS team. Emmanuelle holds an M.S. in Sustainability Management from American University’s Kogod School of Business. Kaitlyn and Emmanuelle discuss the challenges that many companies face in determining which ratings and rankings best support their ESG goals, and matter to their investors.  From a practical perspective, ratings for any industry should provide a consistent measure as to how a company is performing against certain standards.  In the ESG space, this is not always that that clear cut.   As such, there is a call for increasing transparency surrounding the various rating structures, with greater clarity on what they are designed to measure.  This allows for companies to make more informed decisions around which constructs work best for them. Emmanuelle’s expertise brings clarity to the utility of some of the different ratings related to sustainability performance, and we are reminded that ESG ratings serve as signals to investors…they are not the end all, be all for their decision making.  Conversely, to a company, an ESG rating is not just a score, it should serve to guide implementation of solutions that support sustainability goals. Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode! Episode Resource Boost: MIT Sloane Sustainability Initiative, The Aggregate Confusion Project https://mitsloan.mit.edu/sustainability-initiative/aggregate-confusion-project

ESG Decoded is the podcast powered by Global Affairs Associates to share relevant updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a manner that is clear and actionable. In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen discusses a myriad of topics with Dr. Matthew Berg, Founder, CEO and Principal Scientist of Simfero Consultants. Simfero is a science-based water and natural resources risk management and stakeholder engagement firm, generating high-impact analyses to guide industry strategy and public policy. Dr. Berg is sought-after by policy makers, public agencies, private companies and the media for his multi-disciplinary expertise. He holds a PhD in Hydrology, an MS in Ecosystem Science, and a BS in Biology/Coastal Ecology from Texas A&M University. Dr. Berg fit right into ESG Decoded with his natural knack for making difficult topics easier to understand.  Listen as he and Kaitlyn discuss the energy-water-climate nexus and why it matters to companies, financial institutions, and the everyday person.  He also speaks to the importance of collaboration amongst the stakeholders in this space to collectively problem solve and mitigate risk.  And Kaitlyn keeps Dr. Berg on his toes with some interesting questions related to water and sustainability issues. Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode! Episode Resource Links: Office of the State Climatologist: https://climatexas.tamu.edu/ Simfero: https://www.simferousa.com/ Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40: https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2021/04/21/hbj-names-40-under-40-class-of-2021-honorees.html Latest public research article (2020 in Texas Water Journal): https://journals.tdl.org/twj/index.php/twj/article/view/7101