LSEG Sustainable Growth

What are the direct and indirect impacts of AI, and how can these be mitigated? In this episode, Sally Radwan, Chief Digital Officer of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) delves into the environmental impact AI has outside of energy consumption, ranging from e-waste disposal to the construction and location of data centres. On the flip side, Sally explains the positive environmental impacts of AI including how it can support policymaker decision making, provide accurate information about environmental science and detect methane emission hotspots early on.   Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction(00:03:12) - UNEP's key data & AI objectives(00:05:40) - AI's broader environmental footprint(00:08:23) - Why e-waste disproportionately impacts the global south(00:10:15) - The growth and location of data centres(00:12:24) - Indirect and higher order impacts of AI(00:16:02) - UNEP's World Environment Situation Room(00:22:02) - The International Methane Emissions Observatory(00:25:03) - UNEP's AI chatbot

How has sustainable finance regulation evolved in the past decade? In this episode, Mark Manning, Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE), explains how Mark Carney's seminal 2015 speech and the TCFD's 2017 recommendations paved the way for the development of sustainability related disclosure standards. Mark also discusses what makes sustainable finance regulation different, how regulators are engaging with climate transition planning and what's in store for sustainable finance regulation in the next five years.

How is AI transforming the world of work? In this episode, Janine Chamberlin, Country Manager, UK and Vice President, Global Clients at LinkedIn talks to us about trending workplace skills and provides insight into the fastest growing jobs globally, the increased demand for green skills and the importance of AI literacy. Janine also explains the value of human skills and how we can adapt to change through learning.

How can we integrate sustainability into investment decision-making? In this episode, Shami Nissan, Partner at Actis, talks about investment risk and opportunities in emerging markets, determining what makes a data centre sustainable and the importance of relationship-building as an investor. Shami also shares insights from some of their investments, including a renewable energy project so large that it will be viewable from space.

 What are the hidden benefits of the school meal? In this episode, Donald Bundy, Professor of epidemiology and development at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, delves into the economic and social benefits of school meals programmes, and explains how the Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition, the research initiative of the School Meals Coalition, is working internationally to improve and accelerate school meal programmes globally.

With just 8% of oceans protected, how can we bridge this gap? Kicking off season 10, Clare Brook, CEO of Blue Marine Foundation, shares how policy engagement and investigative work are bringing them closer to their goal of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. Clare explains overfishing’s impact on ocean health, human rights and the climate, how territorial ocean ownership complicates protection efforts and the importance of blue economics in driving systemic change.    

Are we close to the tipping point for ecosystems and the economy? This episode, Karen Ellis, Chief Economist at WWF, speaks to us about nature risk and how the overexploitation of natural resources could impact economies around the globe. Karen dives into the ways WWF is combatting nature loss, how companies can invest in nature-based solutions and the three sectors in the UK that need the most focus in the nature transition.

In this episode, Nick Mabey, Founder and CEO of the independent climate change think tank E3G, explains why COP is the biggest media moment of the year on climate. Nick covers the COP process including the role of geopolitics in climate cooperation, how the agreements reached will impact our everyday lives in the next five years and the tough compromises made at COP29 in Baku.

How prepared are major G20 cities for physical climate risk? This episode, Jaakko Kooroshy, Global Head of Sustainable Research at LSEG, unpacks the findings from LSEG's COP29 Net Zero Atlas report including what emissions targets the G20 are expected to set, particularly the US following the presidential election, and how these targets matter for investors. Jaakko also delves into the financial consequences of physical climate risks including why some countries are more at risk than others, and what the scenarios the report creates using the sovereign climate assessment framework mean for emissions, transition and physical risk.

How can scientific methodology translate into a profitable investment strategy? In this episode, Sophie Flak, Executive Board Member at Eurazeo explains their science-based approach including their impact funds, the data they look for when looking at the impact of prospective companies and why we are in a new generation of impact investment. Sophie also delves into how Eurazeo have turned regulation into a business advantage and how they are driving value over the long term.