ESG Decoded Podcast

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

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 switches things up by starting with some fun.  We learn some really neat facts about Andrew Bruce before diving into the topic of smart contracts.  Andrew is the Founder and CEO of Data Gumbo, a Houston-based technology company that has developed GumboNet™, the interconnected, industrial smart contract network powered andsecured by blockchain.  Andrew created Data Gumbo after spotting an opportunity to eliminate a sizable cost inefficiency between an oil supermajor and one of its suppliers. Andrew and Data Gumbo have not gone unnoticed.  Andrew was named a 2020 finalist for Ernst &Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Gulf Coast Area; Data Gumbo was recognized in the Forbes 2020 Energy Awards, with industrial customers around the world. Kaitlyn and Andrew start by defining what a smart contract is and highlight how many of us engage in them in our daily lives…we just may not use the term.  The pay-at-the-pump gas transaction is an example of a smart contract. They then explore smart contacts’ practical applications in businesses and their connection to sustainability measurements and ESG reporting.   As always, Kaitlyn does a super job of clarifying the ‘ESG alphabet gumbo,’ ensuring that we don’t get lost in the acronyms that relate to this topic. Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!

Within the spaces of ESG, technology, and innovation, the topic of waste management is often an afterthought. Well, this is not the case for this episode as Kaitlyn Allen and Rachel Meidl, LP.D., CHMM bring the subject of waste management to the forefront with their energized, informative discussion. For our ESG Decoded listeners, the episode does a great job of clarifying the actual meaning of terms that are used incorrectly far too often. We clarify definitions for ‘circular economy’ and ‘sustainability’ and their interconnectedness to waste management and life cycle impacts. One key takeaway: Sustainability is a feature of an overall system in its entirety, and individual parts can’t be optimized without optimizing the whole. Dr. Meidl is a rockstar on the waste management stage. She is the fellow in energy and environment at Rice University's Baker Institute.  Her research focuses on sustainability; the circular economy; domestic and international policy and law as it relates to life cycle management of hazardous wastes; safety and environmental regulations of the treatment, storage, disposal, and transportation of chemicals within and outside the U.S.; assessing plastics, plastic recycling technologies, advanced electronics, and alternative energy applications from a sustainability and life cycle perspective to understand the environmental, economic, and social impacts across the supply chain; among many other topics. Waste management is a complex field of work. In Dr. Meidl’s 20+ years’ experience, she has observed the correlation between growing economies, their increasing volume of waste, and corresponding policies that do not keep pace with the changes. If you one day hear Dr. Meidl giving a TED Talk on this topic, just remember that you received a great primer on this podcast. Learn more about Dr. Meidl and her research and publications here. Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!

Many of us overlook the important role that financial institutions play in creating positive social and climate impacts. Listen as Kaitlyn Allen and Jeff Dangremond discuss the role of banks in the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) landscape. Jeff is a Senior Consultant and Capital Markets Specialist with Global Affairs Associates who guides companies, individuals, and financial institutions to set their strategic and tactical financial direction while incorporating ESG goals and initiatives. He is particularly focused on the ability of financial institutions to communicate their ESG activities and performance to stakeholders and how to leverage ESG programs to provide differentiation from competitors and broaden access to clients and capital. Jeff sees the world through the lens of risk which powers his ability to advise banks on how ESG risks connect to reputation and brand. All banks need to focus on ESG as it is an increasingly important component of reputational risk management. There are also various banking structures, and each approaches climate issues differently. The country where the financial institution operates plays a factor on where it falls on the climate action spectrum. Jeff also explains the Basel Accords and the Network for Greening the Financial System, important topics that correlate to this concept but may not be well known by many of our listeners. Kaitlyn and Jeff’s conversation guides you through subject matter that may not yet be mainstream.  What you learn will increase your ESG IQ, regardless of your industry. As an added bonus, Kaitlyn shares insights as to why she named her company Global Affairs Associates.  (Inquiring minds always wanted to know!) Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!

We light-heartedly refer to this episode as “The Amanda Show” as Amanda Hsieh (Amanda H.) meets with Amanda Tullos (Amanda T.), the Founder and Principal of GreeNexus Consulting.  GreeNexus has the mission to remove the barriers that surround implementing triple bottom line thinking (environmental impact, social responsibility, and economic value) into the built environment. The Amanda H. and Amanda T. discuss the Living Building Challenge, which is currently the most rigorous performance building standard as it applies only to green buildings that “give more than they take.”  This is a great topic for those who are new to the concept of regenerative design, and the importance of building with the community and the future in mind.  There are many sustainability certifications in this space, which Amanda T. helps to shed light on.  She also talks about the focus of the 2021 Living Building Conference hosted earlier this year by the Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI). For all current and aspiring entrepreneurs, Amanda T. shares  her 10-year journey as a sustainability consultant and speaks candidly about the lessons that accompany the small business owner’s journey.  Her resilience paid off, as Amanda T. was recently named a Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Honoree. We love it when great things happen to people, like Amanda T., who do great things for others! 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 episode sheds light on how ESG relates to energy transition. The "E" in ESG has connective tissue to the proper management of operational environment impacts and extends to the topic of climate change risk mitigation. Kaitlyn Allen welcomes two renewable energy experts, Kay McCall and Kevin Doffing, to explore the ramifications of the transition to a low carbon economy in the context of Houston.  Kay McCall currently serves as the President and Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Alliance Houston, Houston’s first renewable energy trade association committed to enabling the city to maintain its leadership role in the energy industry. She works to build bridges between companies and professionals in the hydrocarbon and renewables industries. Previously, Kay was President, CEO and board member of Noble Environmental Power, LLC, a wind energy company which operated windfarms in Texas and New York. Global Affairs Associates is honored to have Kay as an advisory board member. Kevin Doffing is an advisor for several cleantech companies, and he provides market intelligence reports on the energy transition to larger firms including foreign consulates looking to advise their domestic firms on doing business in the energy sector. Kevin also serves as an Executive in Residence for Rice University’s Cleantech Accelerator, and he co-founded the Renewable Energy Alliance Houston. With the proper stakeholder engagement, Houston can remain the Energy Capital of the World.  Houston is a resilient city with a history of adaptability and embracing innovation. We simply need leaders from all aspects of the energy industry working in collaboration.

In this episode Yvonne Harris chats with Anton Rushakov, a Senior Consultant with Global Affairs Associates.  Anton is an ESG practitioner with 20+ years’ experience in the international oil and gas industry and the non-profit sector. He specializes in corporate sustainability and stakeholder relations with the focus on climate change and energy transition communications and engagement.  Anton has worked in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Far East Russia, and he holds a Masters of Political Science and African Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Masters of International Public Policy from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. As you will learn in this episode, Anton is a skilled educator with a knack for communicating technical information to non-technical audiences. So, as we dive into discussion on climate-related corporate reporting and the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) reporting framework and recommendations, you will realize that you are in very capable hands! Moving toward standardized transparency is one of the tools the financial system has to price economic externalities—the risks of climate change—into markets. That’s why the Financial Stability Board of the G20 countries created the TCFD to provide recommendations for effective evaluation and disclosure of the “actual and potential impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities on the organization's businesses, strategy, and financial planning where such information is material.” While at first blush this may sound like ‘amped up alphabet soup’, Anton explains the nuts and bolts of the TCFD framework, scenario analysis and the reporting framework in an easily digestible manner for business leaders and those tuning into this topic for the first time. Subscribe to ESG Decoded where you consume your podcasts and connect via social media to share your feedback and topic suggestions. Enjoy this episode!