Shaken Not Burned

It's a turbulent time for the global economy, which is leading some companies to row back on their sustainability commitments and focus their efforts on what is deemed essential spending. However, environmental impacts go both ways: a company can create environmental damage, for example by polluting the air or water, but it can also be at the receiving end of this damage, when ecosystem breakdown leads to flooding or wildfires. Last week we introduced the concept of climate risk, what it is and why it matters. At this point, preventing and managing climate risk becomes essential spending. But how can companies prioritise it in times of economic crisis? In our latest episode, co-host Giulia Bottaro goes into more depth on how to address this challenge with Dave Jones, former California insurance commissioner and director of the Climate Risk Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.Dave explains how evaluating climate risk is no longer a “nice to have”, especially as climate disclosure requirements are becoming a regulatory obligation globally. The discussion also delves into the role of insurance in managing climate risk, the importance of nature-based solutions, and the need for transparency and proactive measures in corporate practices.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Extreme weather is here. Supply chains are vulnerable. Insurance costs are rising. And whether or not governments pull funding for climate science or roll back disclosure rules, businesses, economies, and insurers still have to grapple with the very real impacts. Insurers can’t afford to ignore mounting losses, and companies can’t afford to ignore their exposure. Risk still needs to be priced, especially in a world where the costs are only going up.In the latest episode of Shaken Not Burned, host Felicia Jackson sits down with Tom Sabbatelli-Goodyer, VP of climate risk at FIS, to unpack one of the biggest threats to modern business: climate risk.Recorded before the latest wave of political shifts – including the US election, the roiling tariff trauma and pushback on climate and ESG, as well as the EU’s delay on CSRD – the conversation feels more relevant than ever. While regulation may stall, and ESG becomes a political football, the physical reality underpinning climate risk remains unchanged.Tom and Felicia explore what climate risk really means today – from acute shocks like floods and wildfires, to chronic pressures like sea-level rise and declining productivity. They break down how businesses can move from awareness to action, with smarter scenario planning, better data, and tools designed to make resilience a strategic advantage, not just a compliance box.This is not just another climate conversation. It’s a wake-up call for decision-makers navigating a world where climate is no longer a future problem - its a financial one happening now.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Our economic system is based on extracting as much value as possible from natural resources, without taking into consideration the principles and processes that power our ecosystems.Somehow, as humans, we have come to believe that we are not part of the natural world in an “us and them” situation. But, really, we are all the same. How can we survive without the Earth?Keeping our planet liveable means integrating our activities with nature, protecting and serving ecosystems, rather than exploiting them. If we focused on regeneration, rather than extraction, we could create a new balance.In our latest episode, Giulia talks about the regenerative economy with Erinch Sahan, business & enterprise lead at Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). They cover the concept of biomimicry, how companies can adopt a regenerative approach, and the benefits it will bring to society, from an environmental but also a social perspective.DEAL’s tools for businesses If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Cement might not be sexy, but it is responsible for 8% of global emissions – and it's in everything from critical infrastructure to homes. It's fundamental to development and its decarbonisation is critical to net zero success.This week, Felicia dives into the future of construction with Grant Quasha, CEO of Eco Material Technologies, the largest supplier of low-carbon cement alternatives in North America.They unpack how industrial waste like coal ash and steel slag are being transformed into sustainable building materials, why AI is reshaping power and construction demands, and how policy and carbon tariffs are influencing the green building revolution.Tune in to learn:How blended cements are taking over the marketWhy AI data centres are changing how we buildWhat carbon tariffs mean for the future of materialsAnd how cost-efficiency and sustainability can finally alignIt’s not just about reducing emissions – it’s about rethinking what we build with, for generations to come.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Welcome to another week of Shaken Not Burned!If you live in today's world, you may be inclined to think that capitalism is the only viable way for our economies to exist. After all, it's been like that for centuries, but this system is not serving the vast majority of people, and certainly not the environment.Most companies today have the main goal of growth: expanding their market share, increasing revenue and profits, boosting returns to shareholders. However, we live on a planet that has finite resources – endless growth is just not possible.The concept of degrowth has emerged as an alternative to the current extractive system, proposing that economic activity focuses on human needs and well-being. In this week’s episode, Giulia interviews Sara Mahdi, degrowth scholar at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, to unpack the meaning of degrowth and how it can be applied in practice.Further reading:What is degrowth?Degrowth can work — here’s how science can helpStakeholder capitalism: A brief history of GDP and its useOur episode on stakeholder capitalismDegrowth lessons from CubaIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Over the last couple of years forest carbon credits have become an increasingly contentious solution to the climate challenge because of questions around additionality, permanence and leakage. Scandals have emerged over how carbon credits are estimated and assessed, much of which stems from outdated or flawed methodologies. The risk of greenwashing is a core concern, that credits have been used by companies to appear climate-friendly without delivering real impact.With advancing technology, stronger regulation and the introduction of dynamic baselines however, nature-based solutions like forest conservation and reforestation are critical to the capture and storage of CO2 in natural ecosystems. The market is evolving quickly, offering significant opportunities as it matures.In this episode, Felicia Jackson sits down with Lisett Luik, co-founder of Arbonics, to dive into the challenges and potential of nature-based carbon removal, from using satellite data and LiDAR to build a “digital twin” of forests, to navigating the complexities of carbon markets, trust, and transparency. The conversation also explores how companies like Microsoft are evolving their carbon removal strategies, highlighting the spectrum of approaches available—from avoidance and forest conservation to cutting-edge technological removals. It examines what makes forest carbon credits either valuable or controversial, and emphasizes the essential role nature-based solutions will play over the next 30 to 50 years, even if their impacts aren't always permanent.And for those of you interested in the articles discussed on the podcast, or want some further reading:Measuring Forest Carbon (remembering allometric equations)Realigning Climate Finance: Is It Time We Move From Oil to Soil?We won't achieve gigatonne carbon removalCarbon Removal’s Wrong TurnThe Frontier Coalition for Carbon Dioxide Removal (technical)The Symbiosis Coalition for Nature Based Carbon RemovalsIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

In our current economic system, a company director's primary responsibility is widely considered to be to maximise profits for its shareholders. Their interests take precedence over those of other stakeholders – such as employees, communities, and customers – but this comes at a cost. When the return on investment is prioritised, the consequences are socialised: for example, air pollution caused by industry affects public health, which local communities and, ultimately, the government are likely to pay for. Such externalities are not included in the cost of operations. The roots of this ideology can be traced back to economist Milton Friedman, who argued in the 1970s that corporate executives' main duty is to their employers: the shareholders. But what happens if we prioritise stakeholders instead?In this week’s episode, Giulia discusses this issue with Rob Karpati, partner and senior advisor at investment advisory firm The Blended Capital Group. As they cover the differences between shareholder capitalism and stakeholder capitalism, Rob emphasises that prioritising stakeholders isn’t charity, but smart investment that fosters sustainable relationships and creates value for all parties involved.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Agriculture is responsible for around a quarter of global emissions, yet the environmental impact isn’t reflected in the cost of food. The food industry faces the challenge of balancing supply and demand in a world of finite resources, alongside the externalities that modern food production has created – from biodiversity loss to rising health concerns linked to ultra-processed foods.This week Felicia talks to Alastair Cooper, head of venture at Cibus Capital, to explore one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the need for a sustainable food system. The conversation uncovers the hidden costs of agriculture, the investment gap in sustainable farming, and the innovations that could revolutionise how we produce food.Despite growing awareness, investment in agri-tech and sustainable farming solutions remains far behind other sectors like renewable energy. Alastair explains why private capital is essential for scaling solutions such as robotic precision spraying, microbe-based soil enrichment, and pheromone-based pest control, which could significantly reduce the industry’s environmental footprint. At the same time, shifting government policies and new regulations on natural capital could play a pivotal role in reshaping the food economy.This episode is a must-listen for investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and consumers looking to understand how financial flows, government policies, and technological breakthroughs can drive the food transition.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

The energy transition is firmly part of the mainstream discourse: politicians and companies often talk about it but, at times, it can feel like an abstract concept.Maybe our lives don't look much different at the moment – sure, there are more electric vehicles on the road and solar panels on roofs – but there is a huge amount of work going on in policy and industry to decarbonise our energy systems. While these new strategies require a whole set of changes on the supply and demand side, they bring out enormous opportunities.In our latest episode, Giulia speaks to Isabella Suarez, Southeast Asia lead at TransitionZero, to understand where we are with the energy transition. The conversation covers the definition of the energy transition, the technological advancements we can count on and the challenges we are facing.We touch upon the importance of energy efficiency, the world’s dependency on fossil fuels, and how professionals can engage in the energy transition. It’s a massive endeavour that requires different types of action depending on the country where it’s taking place, but it’s one of the most crucial steps we can take to mitigate climate change.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Climate resilience is essential to protect communities in vulnerable regions against extreme weather events. But the volume of funding for adaptation in the Global South, which bears the brunt of climate change, remains far smaller than that for mitigation, which is driving communities to find their own homegrown solutions. Richer nations, which contribute the majority of emissions, must be held accountable. This week, Felicia talks to Ashfaq Zaman, strategic communication advisor for Aspire to Innovate (a2i), the Bangladeshi government’s innovation agency, about resilience, vulnerability and reorganising the way we understand value.We dive into climate resilience, climate justice, and the role of frugal solutions in tackling climate change, especially in the Global South. Our discussion explores how communities historically adapted to climate challenges and how innovation – both technological and mindset-driven – can drive sustainable change, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable innovation, policy reform, and equitable financial commitments to mitigate climate risks.The key challenge today is to integrate natural, frugal, and homegrown solutions into modern climate strategies. While international climate initiatives and financial pledges have fallen short, local communities continue to innovate and adapt without external support. For example, farmers in Bangladesh are developing indigenous crops which can sustain high salinity by trial and error.Our episode on the just transitionFrugal innovation as a source of entrepreneurshipClimate change is a matter of justice: here’s whyClimate change initiatives of BangladeshIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?