Sustainability in Conversation

Hosted by Morningstar Sustainalytics Podcast

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Join us for a digest of the latest research, analysis and insights on the relationships between environmental, social and corporate governance issues and global business, finance and society. In each episode, hear from experts sharing their insights on how institutional investors can identify and mitigate risks related to ESG or climate factors, but also leverage opportunities in sustainable investment and debt capital markets. This is Sustainability in Conversation.

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November 4, 2026Episode 8249 min

Asset Owner Perspectives on ESG, AI and Private Markets

Featuring: Leanne Clements, Head of Responsible Investment, People’s Pension Margaret Stafford, Director of Product Management, Morningstar Indexes Lindsey Stewart, Director, Institutional Investor Content Strategy, Morningstar Catalina Secreteanu, Global Head of Market Development, Morningstar Sustainalytics Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics On the Asset Owner’s Perspective What are the world's largest asset owners prioritizing today? In this episode, we explore the evolving role of sustainability in investment decision-making with Leanne Clements of People's Pension, and review findings from Morningstar's 2026 Asset Owner Perspectives Survey. Our guests discuss asset owners’ approaches to climate transition readiness, ESG decision-making under uncertainty, the growing influence of AI-related risks, how they are managing sustainability data challenges, and rising interest in private markets. Key Moments 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 A conversation with Leanne Clements 00:25:09 A conversation with Maggie Stafford and Lindsey Stewart 00:45:30 Sign off Links to Select Resources Asset Owner Perspectives Survey 2026: Quantitative Analysis

October 2, 2026Episode 8138 min

Resilience, Returns and Sustainability in Private Markets

Featuring: Hilary Wiek, Principal Analyst, Fund Strategies, PitchBook Anikka Villegas, Senior Analyst, Fund Strategies and Sustainable Investing, PitchBook Catalina Secreteanu, Global Head of Market Development, Morningstar Sustainalytics Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics On Where Sustainable Capital is Flowing Next This episode of Sustainability in Conversation dives into the results of PitchBook’s 2026 Sustainable Investment Survey. The report’s co-authors Hilary Wiek, Principal Analyst, Fund Strategies and Anikka Villegas, Senior Analyst, Fund Strategies and Sustainable Investing, share insights from the survey and discuss the persistence of sustainable investing among private market investors, despite headlines to the contrary. They also explore emerging opportunities in infrastructure, energy transition, and water, as well as how investors are navigating the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence. In the long run, they see successful strategies as those that connect sustainability themes directly to risk management, resilience, and investment opportunities, while also responding to evolving geopolitical and technological realities. Key Moments 00:00:00 Introduction and highlights from Climate Week NYC 00:05:27 A conversation with Hilary Wiek and Anikka Villegas, authors of Pitchbook’s 2026 Sustainable Investment Survey report 00:33:29 Sign off Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on Sustainability in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com. Links to Select Resources 2026 Sustainable Investment Survey Asset Owner Perspectives Survey 2026 – Quantitative Analysis Sustainable Investment Forum at PRI in Person

September 10, 2026Episode 8040 min

Sustainable Bonds in a Maturing Market

Host: Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Guest: Agnes Grouc, Co-head Sustainable Capital Markets Solutions, BNP Paribas Begum Gursoy, Director, Market Development, Morningstar Sustainalytics On the Next Phase of Sustainable Finance This episode of Sustainability in Conversation explores how the sustainable debt markets are maturing as investors and issuers shift their focus from commitments and frameworks to evidence, delivery and long-term credibility. Agnes Gourc, Co-Head of Sustainable Capital Market Solutions at BNP Paribas, joins Begum Gusoy, Director, Market Development at Morningstar Sustainalytics, to discuss evolving investor expectations, the continued role of labeled bonds in capital markets, and why capital allocation and transition planning have become critical indicators of a credible sustainability strategy. Their conversation examines the integration of sustainable finance across debt markets and what that means for issuers, banks, and investors navigating the next phase of market development. Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on Sustainability in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com. Key Moments 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:17 A conversation with Agnes Gourc 00:04:34 How are sustainable fixed income transactions being discussed today? 00:09:34 How are investors assessing the cost/benefits of issuing labeled debt? 00:16:27 How is the greater focus on climate credibility showing up in use of proceed bond issuances? 00:20:40 What are some challenges in surfacing the entity-level transition story in issuances? 00:28:55 How do you see the sustainable debt market evolving? 00:34:48 Sign off Links to Select Resources Global Sustainable Fund Flows: Q2 2026 in Review

July 27, 2026Episode 7934 min

The Investor’s Role in Addressing Climate Change

Episode Summary Host: Catalina Secreteanu, Managing Director, ESG Solutions, Europe, Sustainalytics Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Guest: Tom Gosling, Professor in Practice, Financial Markets Group, London School of Economics Lindsey Stewart, Director, Institutional Investor Content Strategist, Morningstar On Investors’ True Impact on Sustainability In this episode of Sustainability in Conversation, we are delighted to share an intriguing and insightful conversation direct from London Climate Action Week. Friend of the show and former host, Lindsey Stewart, sat down with Tom Gosling, Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics, to discuss the investor’s role in climate transition. The conversation points toward a more pragmatic phase of sustainable investing — one centered on fiduciary duty, policy engagement, investor agency, and asset-owner leadership, rather than ambitious but difficult-to-deliver climate commitments. Additionally, Catalina shares why she’s feeling energized and inspired following a week of climate conversations with peers in London and talks about Morningstar Sustainalytics’ recently announced collaboration with XDI and Veridion to bring enhanced asset-level physical climate data to the market. Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on Sustainability in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com. Key Moments 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:36 A conversation with Lindsey Stewart 00:07:32 A conversation with Tom Gosling 00:30:38 Sign off

June 25, 2026Episode 7837 min

Climate Transition Investing: Signals, Strategy, and Scale

Host: Catalina Secreteanu, Managing Director, ESG Solutions, Europe, Sustainalytics Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Guest: Thomas Hohne-Sparborth, Head of Sustainability Research, Lombard Odier Alex Osborne-Saponja, Director, ESG Methodology On Aligning Capital With Climate Outcomes This episode of Sustainability in Conversation focuses on investors and climate transition. We start with an insightful conversation with Thomas Hohne-Sparborth, Head of Sustainability Research at Lombard Odier. He discusses how the asset management firm’s systems-level view of climate transition informs their investment strategy, and shares what that looks like in practice. Next, we hear from Alex Osborne-Saponja, Director of ESG Methodology at Sustainalytics and co-author of Transition or Illusion? What Capital Flows Reveal About Net Zero Credibility. Alex shares insights from the report, which examines capital expenditures as a key signal of corporate climate transition credibility. She details why capex is an important indicator and highlights a “mosaic approach” to analysis, combining multiple indicators to infer transition direction. Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on Sustainability in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com. Key Moments 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:38 A conversation with Thomas Hohne-Sparborth 00:17:14 A conversation with Alex Osborne-Saponja 00:34:00 Sign off Links to Select Resources What Capital Flows Reveal About Net Zero Credibility Climate Transition Toolkit

June 10, 2026Episode 7728 min

Testing Markets and Building ESG Resilience

Host: Catalina Secreteanu, Managing Director, ESG Solutions, Europe, Morningstar Sustainalytics Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Guest: Bin Dong, Lead Analyst, ESG Methodology, Morningstar Sustainalytics On the Evolution of Sustainable Investing and Constructing More Resilient Portfolios In this episode of Sustainability in Conversation, we welcome our new co-host, Catalina Secreteanu. Catalina has worked in the sustainable investment space for the past 17 years, holding roles at UKSIF and Sustainalytics in the UK and Australia. During that time, she’s had a front row seat to how the industry has evolved. She shares her thoughts on where the market has been and where it’s going, as well as the challenges and opportunities along the ways. Melissa and Catalina also sat down with Bin Dong, Lead Analyst, ESG Methodology, and author of the report “ESG Resilience in Focus: What the US-EU Divergence Means for Portfolio Performance.” Building on analysis from a previous publication, this report examines how portfolios adjusted for material sustainability factors perform under pressure in US and EU equity markets. Bin shares the most recent findings and explains how investors could leverage the insights for their own approaches. Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on Sustainability in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com or take this short survey. Key Moments 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:46 A conversation with Catalina Secreteanu on the evolution of sustainable investing 00:14:13 A conversation with Bin Dong about ESG risk and portfolio resilience 00:24:01 Sign off Links to Select Resources Report | ESG Resilience in Focus: What the US-EU Divergence Means for Portfolio Performance Webinar | ESG Resilience in Focus: How Markets Price Risks and What It Means for Portfolios Report | ESG Risk Ratings: A Protective Instrument Amid Economic Shocks

December 18, 2025Episode 7624 min

ESG in Conversation: 2025 Proxy Season Review

Episode Summary Host: Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director, Institutional Investor Content Guests: Angela Flaemrich, Director, Stewardship Matteo Felleca, Analyst, Stewardship Ignacio Garcia Giner, Senior Analyst, Stewardship Bonus Episode: 20-25 Proxy Season Review In this episode, recorded earlier this year, Lindsey sat down with Angela Flaemrich, Matteo Falleca and Ignacio Garcia Giner from Morningstar Sustainalytics’ ESG Proxy Voting Overlay team to discuss their insights from the most recent proxy season. Insights from the discussion include: The decline in the number of sustainability-focused resolutions Changes to the regulatory landscape Increasing support for resolutions related to shareholder rights Lower support for proposals related to climate and DEI issues Key Moments 00:00:04 Introduction. 00:02:12 Highlights of the sustainability-related proposals from 2025 proxy season. 00:04:55 Insights on support levels for sustainability-related proposals. 00:08:31 Insights on the changing topic mix in the 2025 proxy season. 00:11:12 Overview of climate proposal trends. 00:14:52 Overview of social proposal trends. 00:19:04 Thoughts on the 2026 proxy season. Links to Selected Resources Can Big Tech Keep Its Climate Commitments as Data Centers Scale? Investor Views on AI Oversight Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2025 Qualitative Insights Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2025 Quantitative Analysis

April 29, 2025Episode 7537 min

ESG in Conversation: Financing the Future

Episode Summary Host: Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director of Investment Stewardship Research, Morningstar Sustainalytics Guests: Ruthann Bartello, Senior Director, Global Lead, Stewardship Kevin Ranney, Senior Director, Sustainable Fixed Income Research Allocating Funds to Support a Sustainable Future In this episode of ESG in Conversation, Melissa and Lindsey chat about the continued volatility in the sustainable investing market, as well as luxury brands’ focus on ESG and sustainable supply chains. To kick things off, Melissa interviews Kevin Ranney, Senior Director, Sustainable Fixed Income Research. He talks about the evolution of the sustainable fixed income market and shares insights on the latest enhancements to Morningstar Sustainalytics’ second-party opinion assessment framework. Later, Lindsey sits down with Ruthann Bartello, Senior Director, Global Lead, Stewardship, where they discuss Sustainalytics’ involvement in the Pact for the Future and the importance of bringing the investor voice to the conversation about funding the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com. Key Moments 00:00:24 Introduction 00:06:25 Interview with Kevin Ranney on the evolution of sustainable fixed income investing and Morningstar Sustainalytics second-party opinion framework. 00:24:44 Interview with Ruthann Bartello about efforts to allocate more funding to the Sustainable Development Goals. 00:36:24 Closing remarks Links to Select Resources Sustainalytics Insight: Second Party Opinions a Primary Focus Webinar | Enhanced Assessment Framework for Use of Proceeds Second-Party Opinions Listen to more episodes here .

March 27, 2025Episode 7438 min

ESG in Conversation: Shining a Light on Shareholder Rights

Episode Summary Host: Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director of Investment Stewardship Research, Morningstar Sustainalytics Guests: Hortense Bioy, CFA, Head of Sustainable Investing Research Jackie Cook, Senior Director, Stewardship Trends in Sustainable Investing and ESG-Focused Proxy Voting Activities ESG In Conversation welcomes Lindsey Stewart as the new co-host for the podcast. He and Melissa chat about current developments in the sustainable investment space and the uncertainties investors and companies face. This month’s episode includes three compelling interviews with some of Sustainalytics’ experts, including Lindsey. Tune in to hear perspectives on sustainable investing trends and the continuously changing regulatory landscape. The discussions also cover recent research examining patterns in investors’ proxy voting activities, how companies’ share structures can influence vote outcomes and how that plays out for certain ballot items like say on pay. Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com . Key Moments 00:00:26 Introduction 00:03:32 Interview with Hortense Bioy on sustainable investing trends, regulatory changes and the impact on the investment funds landscape. 00:14:29 Interview with Jackie Cook covering recent research on the impact of dual class share structures on sustainability-focused shareholder resolutions. 00:28:42 Interview with Lindsey Stewart on the widening gap between European and US investors environmentally and socially focused shareholder resolutions. 00:36:24 Closing remarks Links to Select Resources Six Sustainable Investing Trends to Watch in 2025 Report Shareholder Democracy and the Challenge of Dual Class Share Structures Say on Pay: CEO Compensation and the Long Tail of Shareholder Dissent Voting on ESG: A Gap Becomes a Gulf Ad: To learn more about the Morningstar Sustainable Investing Summit and to register visit https://www.morningstar.com/business/events/morningstar-sustainable-investing-summit

January 30, 2025Episode 7333 min

ESG in Conversation: A Look Ahead at 2025 and Beyond

Episode Summary Host: Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Guest: Thomas Kuh, Head of ESG Strategy, Morningstar Indexes Barbara Lambotte, Head of Sustainable Fixed Income Research Azadeh Sabour, Director of Climate Thought Leadership, North America Anne Schoemaker, Director, ESG Products Catalina Secreteanu, Managing Director, ESG Solutions, Europe Lindsey Stewart, Director of Investment Stewardship Research 2025: A Year of Change in Sustainable Investing It’s the start of a new year, a time when many focus on setting new goals and ambitions. In this episode of ESG in Conversation, we explore the resolutions investors and issuers might make when it comes to ESG, climate transition and regulatory issues. Experts from Morningstar Sustainalytics weigh in and share their predictions on what financial market participants will, or should, focus on in the year ahead. Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com or take this short survey. Key Moments 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:35 Thomas Kuh discusses asset owners 00:05:43 Catalina Secreteanu discussion ESG risk and opportunities 00:08:35 Anne Schoemaker discusses regulations 00:12:52 Azadeh Sabour discusses climate transition finance 00:21:58 Lindsey Stewart discusses stewardship 00:26:03 Barbara Lambotte discusses sustainable fixed income 00:30:59 Closing remarks Links to Select Resources Morningstar Sustainable Investing Index Solutions Material ESG Issues Resource Center ESG Regulatory Insights Hub Climate Solutions Resource Center Stewardship Services Corporate Solutions – Sustainable Finance and Lending Solutions