208 episodes

ESG Insider is a podcast from S&P Global that takes you inside the environmental, social & governance issues shaping the business world today. In each episode, co-hosts Lindsey Hall and Esther Whieldon interview ESG experts, leveraging S&P Global data to shine a light on the sustainability opportunities and risks that business leaders and investors need to know about. Lindsey Hall is head of ESG Thought Leadership at S&P Global Sutainable1 and Esther Whieldon is a Senior Writer on the team.

ESG Insider: A podcast from S&P Global S&P Global

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    • 4.4 • 52 Ratings

ESG Insider is a podcast from S&P Global that takes you inside the environmental, social & governance issues shaping the business world today. In each episode, co-hosts Lindsey Hall and Esther Whieldon interview ESG experts, leveraging S&P Global data to shine a light on the sustainability opportunities and risks that business leaders and investors need to know about. Lindsey Hall is head of ESG Thought Leadership at S&P Global Sutainable1 and Esther Whieldon is a Senior Writer on the team.

    Women in Leadership: Why Mercer CEO turned down the top role — twice

    Women in Leadership: Why Mercer CEO turned down the top role — twice

    To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’ve relaunched our ‘Women in Leadership’ series of the ESG Insider podcast. Over the coming months, we’ll speak with women CEOs and leaders from across industries and around the world.   

    In today’s episode, we talk with Martine Ferland, CEO of global consulting firm Mercer, which is a business of professional services firm Marsh McLennan.  

    Martine retires from her role at the end of March 2024, and in the episode she discusses her decision to step down and her approach to leadership and longevity. She also talks about empathy and economics, or the idea of bringing emotional intelligence to business decisions — and why she turned down the CEO role twice before accepting on the third offer. 

    Read the latest research on gender diversity in leadership from S&P Global Sustainable1 here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/women-in-leadership-what-s-the-holdup  

    Listen to our 2023 Women in Leadership podcast series here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/women-in-leadership  

    This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

    Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global     

    DISCLAIMER     

    By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. 

    • 24 min
    Why Water.org CEO says the world’s water challenges are 'inherently solvable'

    Why Water.org CEO says the world’s water challenges are 'inherently solvable'

    Today is World Water Day, and we’re talking with Gary White in the latest episode of the ESG Insider podcast. Gary is CEO of the nonprofit Water.org, which he co-founded with actor Matt Damon. Gary is also CEO and Co-Founder of impact investment manager WaterEquity.  

    In the interview, he talks about the intersection of water challenges and climate change; the role of infrastructure in addressing water needs; and how finance can offer solutions to the water problems facing many low-income populations around the world. 

    “Even though these challenges are immense, they're inherently solvable — we know how to make water safe, we know how to distribute it," Gary says. "It's not rocket science in terms of doing this, but it is about investment capital that's needed." 

    Listen to our episode from COP28 featuring Gary White: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/climate-adaptation-finance-data-and-nature-what-we-learned-at-cop28  

    Listen to our episode about the role of public-private collaboration in addressing water challenges: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/at-cop28-solving-for-water-challenges-through-public-private-collaboration  

    Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1 about the financial costs that climate hazards like water stress, flooding and drought pose for companies: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/quantifying-the-financial-costs-of-climate-change-physical-risks 

    Listen to a replay of a webcast from S&P Global Sustainable1 about water risk: https://spgi-mkto.spglobal.com/BeyondESGwithFinancingSustainableWater-ODWebinarRegistration.html This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

    Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global     

    DISCLAIMER     

    By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. 

    • 20 min
    CERAWeek: One big bank’s solution to the energy tech finance gap

    CERAWeek: One big bank’s solution to the energy tech finance gap

    In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we sit down on the sidelines of CERAWeek with Ana Carolina Oliveira, Head of Sustainable Finance in the Americas for ING, a global banking and financial services corporation headquartered in Amsterdam. 

    Ana explains how ING is working with companies across sectors to facilitate the low-carbon transition — including by financing emerging low-carbon technologies.  

    “If you think about the $5 trillion that needs to be put every year to finance transition by 2030, believe it or not, this money is out there,” Ana says. "The challenge is this mismatch between legacy risk-return profiles, the way banks were wired to look at risk-return for something now that still needs to be scaled and the technology sometimes still needs to be proven.” 

    S&P Global's CERAWeek conference is one of the biggest events in the energy industry, convening global leaders to talk about energy and transition strategies. Listen to more CERAWeek coverage here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/at-ceraweek-mapping-one-large-utility-s-energy-transition-path  

    And here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/ceraweek-how-one-of-the-world-s-largest-mining-companies-approaches-energy-transition-nature  

    Tune into the podcast next week for more highlights from the event.   

    This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

    Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global     

    DISCLAIMER     

    By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. 

     

    • 17 min
    CERAWeek: How one of the world’s largest mining companies approaches energy transition, nature

    CERAWeek: How one of the world’s largest mining companies approaches energy transition, nature

    In this special episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we sit down on the sidelines of CERAWeek with Sinead Kaufman, Chief Executive of Minerals at Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining companies. 

    Rio Tinto was founded more than 150 years ago, and Sinead says the company is taking a long-term view in its approach to the energy transition, its engagement with local communities and its rising focus on nature.  

    "When we look forward, we want to be part of the solution for the next 150 years,” she says. “In two ways: How do we decarbonize our own business? And obviously there's a lot of technologies that are advancing really quickly to do that. And then the second is: How can we provide the materials that are needed for the energy transition?” 

    S&P Global's CERAWeek conference in Houston is one of the biggest events in the energy industry, convening global leaders to talk about energy and transition strategies. Listen to more coverage from CERAWeek here: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/at-ceraweek-mapping-one-large-utility-s-energy-transition-path  


    And tune into the podcast later this week for more highlights from the event.   

    This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     

    Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global     

    DISCLAIMER     

    By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. 

    • 16 min
    At CERAWeek, mapping one large utility's energy transition path

    At CERAWeek, mapping one large utility's energy transition path

    In this special episode of the ESG Insider podcast we sit down on the sidelines of CERAWeek with Phil Nevels, Director of Corporate Strategy for AES Corporation, a Fortune 500 energy company with operations in multiple regions including the US, Latin America and Asia.  

    S&P Global's CERAWeek conference is one of the biggest events in the energy industry, convening global leaders to talk about energy and transition strategies. In the interview, Phil outlines steps AES is taking to achieve its net-zero goals, including phasing out coal-fired generation and building more renewables and gas-fired generation.  

    Phil explains that renewable generation may not be an easy option for some locations and that transitioning from coal to gas can be a positive initial step.  

    "Every country is going to be transitioning at different speeds, phases, stages, and we have to appreciate that and recognize that the approach is going to look different in every country," Phil says. "In many cases, the low-hanging fruit is transitioning from coal and fuel oil to natural gas." 

    Tune into the podcast later this week for more highlights from CERAWeek.  

    This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.    

    Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global    

    DISCLAIMER    

    By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. 

     

    • 20 min
    Unpacking the SEC's climate disclosure rule

    Unpacking the SEC's climate disclosure rule

    The US Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6 finalized a long-awaited rule requiring thousands of publicly traded companies to disclose certain climate-related information. The final rule takes a narrower approach than what the SEC proposed in 2022; it also marks a significant change in the level of climate-related information that publicly listed companies must disclose in the US.

    In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast, we explore key components of the SEC rule and its implications for investors and companies — as well as how it fits in the broader global climate disclosure landscape. 

    We talk with Cynthia Hanawalt, a Director at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, a think tank at Columbia Law School; she gives us an overview of the rule's requirements.  

    We speak to Bruno Sarda from professional services company EY, where he focuses on climate change and sustainability services. Bruno says a key message from the rule is that “climate risk is financial risk ... companies need to be ready to both measure, manage and communicate that risk." 

    We hear from Kristina Wyatt, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Sustainability Officer at carbon accounting software company Persefoni, about how the rule fits into the broader global disclosure landscape.  

    And to understand what’s on the horizon for the rule, we hear from Elizabeth Dawson, a Partner at law firm Crowell & Moring where she is a leader on the ESG advisory team and Chair of the Sustainability Committee. 

    Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1 about the current US landscape for corporate climate disclosure: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/after-sec-rulemaking-assessing-the-us-climate-disclosure-landscape  

    Listen to the podcast episode we released when the SEC proposed its climate disclosure rule in 2022: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/unpacking-implications-of-the-sec-s-proposed-climate-disclosure-rule  

    This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.    

    Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global    

    DISCLAIMER    

    By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.

    • 29 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
52 Ratings

52 Ratings

hehir95 ,

Fabulous.

This podcast feels very grounded in reality.

I’m a pragmatic problem solving operations guy at heart and even find the name of ‘ESG Insider’ to feel authentic.

Well done
Patrick H.

EddieWatson ,

Absolutely LOVED the episode on ESG trends in 2021

Truly insightful without getting too nuts and bolts. Really enjoyed this as an ESG investor and someone who works in the field!

PatriciaNYC ,

Interesting and engaging

Interesting stories keeping you up to date of what’s happening in the ESG financial world. Engaging presenters and guest speakers, great work. Thank you

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