The Sustainability Story

Mark Campanale, founder of the Carbon Tracker Initiative, talks with Paul Moody, Managing Director of Global Partnerships and Client Solutions at CFA Institute,  about the growing risks tied to fossil fuel investments. Mark explains the concept of the carbon bubble—the gap between the carbon in global reserves and what the climate can safely absorb—and what it means for investors, regulators, and financial markets. We explore stranded assets, shifting energy economics, and why renewables and EVs are rapidly changing the game. Packed with insights on climate risk, valuation, and policy, this is a must-listen for anyone navigating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

In this episode of the Sustainability Story, host Nicole Gehrig, Director of Global Industry Standards at CFA Institute, discusses the importance of integrating nature-related risks into investment strategies with Mel Peh, CFA, an independent consultant for the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). They explore how nature-related risks, such as biodiversity loss and deforestation, can impact financial performance and the steps asset managers and owners can take to mitigate these risks. The conversation also highlights the use of frameworks and tools like the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosure framework and the ENCORE tool to better understand and manage these risks.

Join Paul Moody, Managing Director at CFA Institute, as he sits down with Dr. Ma Jun, President of the Institute of Finance and Sustainability (IFS) and founder of CASI (Climate Action and Sustainability Initiative), for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of sustainable finance. In this engaging episode, Dr. Ma Jun shares his journey from shaping global sustainable finance policies to launching CASI, a groundbreaking initiative aiming to educate 100,000 professionals in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) by 2030. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities in scaling sustainable investment, the role of policy incentives, and how innovative financial frameworks can drive meaningful change.

In this episode of "The Sustainability Story," host Deborah Kidd, CFA, and Roman Kramarchuk, Head of Climate Markets and Policy Analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights, delve into the significance of Article 6 adoption at COP29 and its implications for the role of carbon markets in achieving net-zero goals. Roman shares insights from his extensive experience in public policy and emissions and environmental markets. Their discussion also explores the use of carbon taxes versus carbon markets to achieve emissions reductions and the challenges that have been faced by voluntary carbon markets.

In this episode of the Sustainability Story podcast, host Nicole Gehrig welcomes Dr. Carmen Nuzzo, executive director of the Transition Pathway Initiative Centre (TPI Centre) at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The conversation centers around the TPI Centre's mission as the academic partner of the global investor initiative, highlighting the TPI tools, which provide independent, authoritative research and open-access data on corporate, bank, and sovereign entities’ progress in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Carmen explains how investors can leverage these tools to assess sustainability efforts and make informed decisions in their investment strategies. Join us for insights into the vital role of data in driving sustainable investment practices.

Host Deborah Kidd, CFA talks with Monika Freyman, CFA, Vice President of Sustainable Investing at Addenda Capital, about the challenges asset owners and asset managers face when aiming to protect portfolios from the financial impacts of climate change. Monika shares practical advice on developing a comprehensive investment policy, measuring and managing the complexities of climate risk, and balancing climate goals with fiduciary duty. She emphasizes the importance of adhering to fiduciary duty fundamentals by ensuring that investment practices remain sound when integrating climate considerations.

Host Nicole Gehrig welcomes Dean Hand, Chief Research Officer at the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). They delve into the critical topic of impact investing, clarifying its definition amidst common misconceptions in the investment marketplace. Dean shares insights on the GIIN's role in promoting impact investing and its commitment to developing effective practices that address global challenges. The episode highlights the importance of investing with the intention to generate positive and measurable social and environmental outcomes. Tune in to gain insights into the role of impact investing in addressing the world's pressing challenges.

Listen in as Dr. Jane Thostrup Jagd, Director of Net Zero Finance at We Mean Business Coalition, and Josina Kamerling, Head of EMEA Regulatory Outreach at CFA Institute, discuss the necessity of integrating sustainability departments within companies, particularly in collaboration with financial teams. The challenge lies in ensuring that knowledge about sustainability extends beyond mere compliance and reaches all levels of the organization. There is a call for greater openness from financial professionals towards sustainability agendas. The conversation also touches on the readiness of investors to comprehend and utilize new sustainability reports, highlighting a current gap in understanding that needs to be addressed for effective implementation in the future. #Sustainability #SustainabilityStory #NetZero #EURegulations

In this episode of the Sustainability Story, host Deborah Kidd, CFA, talks with Dr. Aniket Shah, Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainability and Transition Strategy at Jefferies Group, LLC. Aniket leverages his work across academia, public policy, and financial markets to provide unique insights into the energy transition roadblocks and the three keys to overcoming them. He shares his insights on profiting from investment opportunities in climate technologies and why climate adaptation investments deserve special focus.

In this episode of the Sustainability Story podcast, Nicole Gehrig, Director of Global Industry Standards at CFA Institute, is joined by Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director of Stewardship Research and Policy at Morningstar Sustainalytics. Together, they explore key themes in the realm of stewardship. Lindsey shares his insights on how institutional shareholders are approaching proxy voting and engagements that focus on environmental and social issues. Key topics covered include say on climate votes, the influence of proxy advisors, collaborative initiatives, and the significance of voluntary stewardship codes. The discussion highlights how regulatory differences in Europe and the US impact the prioritization of sustainability themes by investors on both sides of the Atlantic.