Climate Rising
By: Harvard Business School Business & Environment Initiative
Language: en
Categories: Business, Management, Science, Natural
Climate Rising is about the impact of climate change on business. It brings business and policy leaders and Harvard Business School faculty together to share insights about what businesses are doing, can do, and should do to confront climate change. It explores the many challenges and opportunities that climate change raises for managers, such as decisions about where they choose to locate, the technologies they develop and use, their strategies with respect to products, marketing, customer engagement, and policy—in other words, the full spectrum of business concerns.
Episodes
Tata Power and India's Energy Transition: Balancing Growth and Decarbonization
Dec 10, 2025As bonus episode of Climate Rising, we feature a conversation among Tata Power CEO Dr. Praveer Sinha, Harvard Business School Professor Vikram Gandhi, and HBS Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Brian Kenny that explores how India’s largest private power company is navigating its net-zero commitment while supporting a rapidly growing economy. With energy demand projected to quadruple by 2047, Tata Power has committed to phasing down coal and expanding renewables, distributed generation, and smart grid investments.
This conversation, based on the HBS case “Tata Power and India’s Energy Transition” and originally recorded for the HBS Cold Call podc...
Duration: 00:38:49Decarbonizing Steel in the Global South: JSW Group’s Climate Strategy
Nov 26, 2025Parth Jindal and Prabodha Acharya of JSW Group join Climate Rising to discuss how one of India’s largest industrial conglomerates is reducing the carbon intensity of its steel business while scaling infrastructure for a fast-growing economy. They share how JSW built vertically integrated operations—from power to cement to ports—through industrial symbiosis, and why energy efficiency, renewable power, and circular practices are at the heart of its decarbonization roadmap.
The conversation explores India’s dual challenge: meeting rising domestic steel demand while managing its climate vulnerability. Parth and Prabodha explain JSW’s green investments, hydrogen pilots, ca...
Duration: 00:57:37De-Risking Climate Tech: Inside the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center with Galen Nelson
Nov 12, 2025Galen Nelson, Chief Climate Officer at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) explains how the state is helping accelerate climate innovation through early-stage grants, equity investments, and infrastructure support. Galen outlines how MassCEC targets “market failures” where private investors hesitate—such as pilot and demonstration projects—and how these public investments help attract follow-on capital, inform policy, and build economic resilience.
Galen shares examples across climate tech verticals including energy efficiency, carbon-intensive materials like cement, and urban heat resilience. He also discusses how MassCEC is responding to the shifting federal policy landscape, its new authority to fund climate...
Duration: 00:53:26Governing Climate Action: Massachusetts’ Strategy for Decarbonization and Resilience
Oct 29, 2025Jonathan Schrag, Deputy Climate Chief for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, joins Climate Rising to discuss how the state is tackling emissions, electrifying infrastructure, and responding to a shifting federal policy landscape. Jonathan shares how Massachusetts’ newly created Climate Office coordinates across agencies—from housing to public health to corrections—to embed climate action into all corners of state government.
He discusses the state’s emissions targets, the role of local municipalities in building codes and EV infrastructure, and the growing headwinds from federal rollbacks, tariffs, and canceled clean energy grants. He also reflects on market uncertainty, offshore wind, ge...
Duration: 00:44:53How Crusoe is Reducing the Carbon Intensity of AI Data Centers
Oct 15, 2025Hui Wen Chan, Senior Director of Sustainability at Crusoe, describes how the rapid rise of AI is reshaping energy demand and Crusoe’s efforts to design more sustainable data centers. She explains how Crusoe leverages stranded energy sources, repurposed electric vehicle batteries, on-site renewables, and innovative energy-efficient cooling technologies to design and build gigawatt-scale AI data center infrastructure that reduces water and carbon footprints.
She also shares why Crusoe emphasizes modularity and location-based energy sourcing, and how its customers—ranging from AI startups to tech hyper-scalers—are integrating climate into their computing strategy. Hui reflects on her path f...
Duration: 00:30:50Scaling Carbon Capture for Hard-to-abate sectors: Danielle Rapson of Mantel
Oct 01, 2025Danielle Rapson, HBS alum and Co-founder and COO of Mantel, joins Climate Rising to explain how her company is developing a novel molten-based carbon capture system for hard-to-abate industrial sectors. Danielle shares the story of how Mantel spun out of an MIT lab, what sets its technology apart from existing amine-based carbon capture, and why the economics of steam reuse are critical to its efficiency. She also discusses how Mantel’s early projects in pulp and paper and oil refining are shaping its path to commercialization, and what policy and regulatory incentives—like 45Q and Canada’s carbon tax—mean for...
Duration: 00:40:07MethaneSAT: The EDF Satellite Tracking Methane Emissions from Oil & Gas Operations
Sep 17, 2025Fred Krupp, president of the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), describes EDF’s work to address climate change through scientific, economic, and legal analyses, working with
governments and companies, and public and legal advocacy for stronger climate and other environmental practices and policies. Fred joined us to talk about MethaneSAT, EDF’s new satellite that was recently launched to monitor emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from oil and gas operations. Fred describes why EDF entered the satellite business, how its satellite differs from others already in orbit, the many partners EDF enlisted to design and
Building Climate-Resilient Farming with Robotics: Eric Adamson of Oishii and Tortuga
Sep 17, 2025Eric Adamson, Robotics Executive at Oishii and co-founder of Tortuga AgTech, joins Climate Rising to share how automation and AI are transforming fruit farming. Eric explains how his team designed a strawberry-harvesting robot capable of operating in outdoor tunnels and vertical farms, bringing operational efficiency, labor savings, and climate resilience to high-value crops. He discusses why harvest is the hardest—and most impactful—problem in agriculture to automate, what it took to move from lab demo to field-scale deployment, and how they integrated custom robotics and 17 on-device AI models to achieve 97% picking accuracy. Eric also shares his climate thesis on w...
Duration: 00:43:13Microsoft ’s Climate Strategy and Its Carbon Removal Deal with Chestnut Carbon
Sep 10, 2025Microsoft’s Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Removal, and Chestnut Carbon CFO Greg Adams share their perspectives as a major buyer and developer of carbon removal credits. Their 2025 deal is one of the largest carbon removal deals in the U.S. and seeks to deliver 7 million tons of nature-based carbon credits over 25 years.
Brian explains Microsoft’s carbon negative strategy and targets, and the role of carbon removal credits. He also describes how Microsoft is using its Climate Innovation Fund and procurement efforts to “build missing markets” in decarbonized energy, materials, and transportation.
Greg des...
Duration: 00:44:34Reducing Household Emissions with Dishwashing Innovation: A Conversation with P&G ’ s Ashley Fill
Aug 27, 2025Ashley Fill, Global Director of Sustainability at P&G Home Care joins Climate Rising to discuss how consumer behavior and innovative technologies can reduce household carbon and water footprints. Ashley shares how life cycle assessments reveal that 87% of the emissions in P&G’s Home Care portfolio come from product use, particularly dishwashing. She describes how their products are engineered to deliver superior performance while reducing water and energy. Ashley also discusses P&G’s partnerships with appliance manufacturers, NGOs, and coalitions like the 50L Home Coalition to encourage sustainable home practices. She reflects on regional water use trends, beha...
Duration: 00:48:02AI for Climate Resilient Food Systems with ClimateAi’s Himanshu Gupta
Aug 13, 2025ClimateAi co-founder and CEO Himanshu Gupta explains how his company uses machine learning to forecast extreme weather and help businesses adapt to climate volatility. Himanshu shares his journey from rural India to co-founding ClimateAi while he was an MBA student. He describes how ClimateAi's "biophysics-driven AI" combines limited weather and crop yield data to inform procurement, logistics, and planting decisions for a quarter of the top 200 food and beverage companies. He also shares examples of government partnerships focused on food security and national supply chain resilience and offers insight on the future of adaptation technologies and enterprise AI. Finally...
Duration: 00:46:16Designing for Resilience: with Alex Berkowitz of Coastal Protection Services
Jul 30, 2025This episode is another in our series on Climate Resilience featuring Alex Berkowitz, Founder and CEO of Coastal Protection Solutions (CPS), a startup developing nearshore infrastructure that reduces wave energy and enhances climate resilience. Alex shares how her personal experience with Hurricane Sandy in her hometown of Rockaway Beach led to the creation of the Wave Breaker—an innovative floating barrier designed to protect coastal communities from storm surge and erosion.
She explains how CPS integrates landscape design, marine engineering, and microgrid energy into its solution, and how it differs from traditional seawalls or breakwaters. Alex also di...
Duration: 00:38:10Investing in Climate Resilience and Poverty Alleviation: Acumen Founder & CEO Jacqueline Novogratz
Jul 16, 2025In this Climate Rising episode in our series on climate resilience, Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen shares how impact investing is agriculture is helping smallholder farmers build climate resilience. Jacqueline shares insights from two decades of investing in poverty alleviation that includes climate resilience and adaptation social enterprises engaging in agriculture and off-grid solar.
She explains how Acumen uses blended capital, including philanthropic first-loss investments and commercial impact funding, to scale business models in underdeveloped markets where traditional investors hesitate. Jacqueline also shares examples of companies solving food insecurity and extreme climate risks for smallholder f...
Duration: 00:57:24Forecasting Climate Risk with Geospatial AI: Sarah Russell of X , the Moonshot Factory at Alphabet
Jul 02, 2025This episode, part of the Climate Rising series on climate resilience, features Sarah Russell, General Manager of Project Bellwether at X, The Moonshot Factory at Alphabet (formerly Google X). Sarah shares how geospatial data and artificial intelligence can help communities and businesses anticipate and respond to climate risks. Sarah shares insights from her work building predictive wildfire risk models using satellite imagery, AI, and systems design to enable more targeted insurance underwriting and disaster preparedness.
She also explains how Bellwether is creating geospatial AI infrastructure and tools to support natural disaster response by the National Guard. Sarah a...
Duration: 00:35:09Closing the Loop by Recycling Apparel: Reju CEO Patrik Frisk
Jun 18, 2025Patrik Frisk, CEO of ReJu, joins Climate Rising to discuss his company’s mission to recycle textile waste and build circular supply chains for apparel made of polyester fabric. Patrik brings his prior experience leading Under Armour and other global brands across the textile and footwear industry for over 35 years.
Patrik describes how ReJu turns discarded apparel made of polyester blends into new polyester, and how it tackles the logistical and technical challenges of sorting, processing, and regenerating blended fabrics at scale. Patrik also describes relevant policy trends such as extended producer responsibility and offers advice for tho...
Duration: 00:43:43Extending Apparel Lifespan: ThredUp CEO James Reinhart
Jun 04, 2025James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp, one of the largest online resale platforms for secondhand clothing. James co-founded the company while he was a Masters’ student at Harvard and has spent the last 15 years scaling a national logistics and digital infrastructure platform for resale.
In this episode James describes why the company decided to handle physical goods rather than act as a pure marketplace, how ThredUp helps brands run their own resale channels, and how AI and automation are reshaping their operations. James also describes related public policies like extended producer responsibility (EPR) and provides advice for those pur...
Duration: 00:38:02Designing for Circularity at Scale: A Conversation with Karen Pflug of Ingka Group
May 21, 2025In the latest episode of Climate Rising from Harvard Business School, Karen Pflug, Chief Sustainability Officer of Ingka Group (IKEA), shares how IKEA is embedding circularity throughout its business model.
She discusses how IKEA is redesigning iconic products like the Billy bookcase to make them easier to disassemble and repair, how secondhand retail pilot programs at IKEA stores are reaching new customers, and how investments like RetourMatras are developing circular solutions for end-of-life mattresses. Karen also describes how policy, design, and customer nudges can accelerate circularity at global scale—and offers advice for those seeking careers in cir...
Duration: 00:46:27Advancing the Circular Economy: A Conversation with Lauren Rodriguez of Closed Loop Partners
May 07, 2025Lauren Rodriguez, who leads partnerships at Circular Services, a Closed Loop Partners company, joins host Mike Toffel to discuss building the infrastructure and investment models needed to scale the circular economy.
Lauren explains how Closed Loop Partners supports the transition from a linear to a circular economy through capital management, innovation initiatives, and operating companies like Circular Services. She shares how their private equity, venture capital, and catalytic credit strategies are helping scale recycling, reuse, and circular supply chains.Lauren also explores the critical role of policy—especially extended producer responsibility(EPR) laws—in driv...
Duration: 00:41:45Scaling Reuse with Vytal: A Circular Economy Conversation with CEO Fabian Barthel
Apr 23, 2025Fabian Barthel, Co-Founder of Vytal, a circular economy packaging-as-a-service startup, joins host Mike Toffel to explore the innovation, behavioral science, and regulations shaping the market for reusable containers for take-out food and beverages.
Fabian shares how Vytal is tackling packaging waste by building a reusable container system for restaurants, canteens, and major events. He explains why deposit-based systems often fail, how Vytal’s “borrow and return” model changes consumer behavior, and how data, technology and behavioral science underpin their service design. Fabian also discusses the evolving regulatory landscape, including Germany’s reuse mandates and emerging...
Duration: 00:44:49Carbon Credit Ratings and Market Integrity: A Conversation on the Calyx Global Case
Apr 09, 2025In this bonus episode of Climate Rising, we share an episode from Harvard Business School’s Cold Call podcast, featuring HBS professor Mike Toffel and Duncan van Bergen, Co-Founder of Calyx Global. The discussion focuses on Mike’s recent HBS case study, Calyx Global: Rating Carbon Credits, which explores how the company is helping improve transparency and credibility in the voluntary carbon market. Mike and Duncan join host Brian Kenny to unpack how Calyx Global evaluates carbon credit quality, how the company maintains independence in a space vulnerable to conflicts of interest, and how data and technology—from satellite sensin...
Duration: 00:41:21Investing in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Luke Leslie of Key Carbon
Mar 26, 2025Luke Leslie, Co-Founder and CEO of Key Carbon, joins Climate Rising as part of our series on voluntary carbon markets. Luke has spent over 20 years in carbon markets and finance, working in investment banking, private equity, and structured finance.
Luke explains how Key Carbon is financing high-integrity carbon projects and how new overlaps between the voluntary and compliance carbon markets are at the center of their investment strategy. He provides a “climate finance 101” introduction and discusses the role of investors in the carbon credit space, how structured finance can scale climate solutions. Luke also descr...
Duration: 00:41:26Navigating Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Alexia Kelly of High Tide Foundation
Mar 12, 2025Alexia Kelly, Managing Director of the Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative (CPMI) at theHigh Tide Foundation, joins host Mike Toffel for the fifth episode in our series on voluntarycarbon markets. Alexia has worked for nearly two decades atthe intersection of carbonmarkets, policy, and finance, with roles spanning government, private industry, andnonprofits.
In this episode, Alexia discusses how voluntary carbon markets are evolving, the criticalrole of policy in shaping carbon finance,and how standards and governance can improvemarket integrity. She also explores how advances in digital technology, data transparency,and AI-driven monitoring are transforming carbon...
Duration: 00:56:17Enhancing Integrity Standards in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Amy Merrill of ICVCM
Feb 26, 2025Amy Merrill, CEO of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) joins host Mike Toffel in this fourth episode of the Climate Rising series on voluntary carbon markets. Amy has extensive experience in carbon markets, including leading negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and advising on global carbon finance.
Amy explains how ICVCM uses a multi-stakeholder approach to enhance the integrity of carbon credits, including by developing ten Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) and using them to evaluate and strengthen carbon credit programs and methodologies. She discusses the challenges in ensuring credit q...
Duration: 00:40:29Strengthening Carbon Claims via the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI): A Conversation with Mark Kenber
Feb 12, 2025This episode, the third in our series on Voluntary Carbon Markets, features Mark Kenber, Executive Director of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI). Mark has worked in carbon markets and climate finance for nearly three decades, with experience at organizations like WWF, The Climate Group, and Fundación Natura in Ecuador.
Mark describes VCMI’s mission to provide guidance for companies and other non-state actors on how to credibly use carbon credits as part of their climate commitments. He discusses the current challenges and opportunities in voluntary carbon markets, the role of businesses and...
Duration: 00:52:30The Potential and Challenges of the Voluntary Carbon Market
Jan 29, 2025Our second episode on the voluntary carbon market is a bonus episode of a panel discussion recorded at Harvard Climate Action Week in 2024. Harvard Kennedy School Professor Joe Aldy
moderates this discussion with Nat Keohane from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Donna Lee from Calyx Global, UC San Diego Professor David Victor, and Carolyn Weinberg, formerly of Blackrock. Together, they bring perspectives from policy, business, and academia. The conversation explores the role of voluntary carbon markets in mobilizing finance for decarbonization, ensuring the integrity of carbon credits, and scaling high-quality projects. They also discuss emerging...
Duration: 00:54:59Building Integrity in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Jennifer Jenkins of Rubicon Carbon
Jan 15, 2025Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, Chief Science Officer at Rubicon Carbon, joins our host Mike to talk about the critical role of voluntary carbon markets in achieving net-zero goals. Dr. Jenkins shares insights on how Rubicon Carbon is advancing the integrity and scalability of carbon credit through tools like the Rubicon Carbon Integrity Framework (RCIF). The conversation explores the lifecycle of a carbon credit, the challenges of managing risks like additionality and leakage, and how voluntary carbon markets can incentivize global climate action. Dr. Jenkins also shares her outlook on the future of carbon markets and offers advice for those pursuing...
Duration: 00:45:18Accelerating Battery Innovation with AI: A Conversation with Argonne’s Logan Ward
Jan 01, 2025Logan Ward, Deputy Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, joins host Mike Toffel to discuss how AI is transforming the discovery process for new materials in grid-scale batteries. Logan explains Argonne’s research on improving energy storage solutions, why AI plays a critical role, and the partnerships between national labs and the industry. He also shares his outlook on the future of AI in climate science and offers career advice for those interested in this field.
Duration: 00:45:47Using AI and Satellite Data to Transform Agriculture: A Conversation with Alyssa Whitcraft
Dec 18, 2024Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft is a professor at University of Maryland and a leading expert in agricultural
remote sensing and climate adaptation. Dr. Whitcraft discusses her journey from co-founding NASA Harvest, a global program addressing food security with satellite data, to leading NASA Acres, which focuses on U.S. agriculture. She explains how AI and satellite technology are changing the agricultural sector, offering solutions ranging from crop yield prediction to regenerative farming practices. Alyssa also shares insights into Harvest SARA, a nonprofit she
founded to foster collaboration between public and private sectors in advancing sustainable agriculture...
Duration: 00:51:14Using AI to Fight Wildfires: How Dryad Networks is Scaling Climate Technology
Dec 04, 2024Carsten Brinkschulte is the CEO of Dryad, a company that leverages AI to detect wildfires early and prevent catastrophic damage. Carsten shares his journey from a telecom entrepreneur to climate tech innovator, explaining how Dryad’s solar-powered sensors and mesh networks detect wildfires at their inception and transmit real-time alerts to their customers. He also discusses the technical challenges of embedding machine learning into low-cost sensors, the importance of collaborating with public and private stakeholders, and the evolving landscape of wildfire detection technology. Carsten provides advice for aspiring climate tech entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need to align impact with profitability.
Duration: 00:43:35Using AI to Optimize Energy Demand
Nov 20, 2024In this episode, host Mike Toffel speaks with Pasi Miettinen, CEO of Sagewell, a company that uses AI to help utilities and their customers manage energy demand efficiently. Pasi explains how Sagewell’s technology helps reduce peak electricity usage, which in turn lowers energy costs and lessens climate impact. He also discusses how smart data analytics can identify energy-saving opportunities and the importance of AI in optimizing energy usage patterns. Pasi provides insights on the challenges and successes in the utility sector and shares career advice for those looking to work in AI and clean energy.
Duration: 00:52:24A Preview of COP29: What Business Leaders Should Know with Outrage & Optimism Co-hosts
Nov 06, 2024In this episode, host Mike Toffel sits down with Paul Dickinson and Tom Rivett-Carnac, co-hosts of the climate podcast Outrage & Optimism, to preview COP29, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. With their extensive experience in climate negotiations and industry collaboration, Paul and Tom share insights on how COP29 fits into the broader climate agenda, what business leaders should expect, and how they can best engage. The conversation delves into the evolving role of COP, from setting targets to ensuring implementation, and the critical importance of corporate involvement in driving ambitious
climate action.
Duration: 00:46:53How Public Policy Can Drive Climate Innovation and Business Opportunities: A Conversation with USEPA’s David Cash
Oct 30, 2024David Cash, the Regional Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for
New England, shares his journey from environmental science to state and federal leadership roles. He highlights how the clean energy transition in the United States is being driven by public policy, community engagement, and new funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. He explains the U.S. EPA’s role in balancing climate action with economic development, while promoting environmental justice. David also offers insights
on career opportunities at the intersection of business, climate, and government.
Duration: 00:51:29BCG Global Chair Rich Lesser: How Businesses Can be “Bold and Pragmatic” on Climate Change
Oct 23, 2024Rich Lesser, Global Chair of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), shares how BCG is
helping clients walk the walk with net-zero commitments, transition to sustainable practices, and how it is partnering with global organizations to amplify their impact. He also delves into the challenges businesses face in adapting to climate risks and the role of AI in optimizing everything from supply chains to climate resilience. Rich suggests ways businesses can step up to create meaningful changes and concludes with his advice for those looking to enter the climate space.
Duration: 00:43:50Joel Makower @ Greenbiz
Oct 09, 2024This is the fourth episode in our series on business and climate change in the media and entertainment industry, where we’re diving into the business of news and storytelling around climate change. Our prior episodes featured CNN, Netflix, and Sustainable Entertainment
Alliance. In this episode, we are hosting Joel Makower, the co-founder and Chair of Trellis, formerly known as GreenBiz. Joel has been a pioneer in the climate media space since he founded The Green Business Letter in 1991. Today, Trellis stands as a leading independent media platform focused on the intersection of business, technology, and sustainability. In...
Duration: 00:47:24Sam Read, Sustainable Entertainment Alliance
Sep 25, 2024This episode is the third in our series on how the media and entertainment industries are integrating climate change into their storytelling and TV show and film production processes. This episode features Sam Read, Executive Director of the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, a consortium of major studios and streamers including Disney, Netflix, and Warner Brothers. Sam describes how these players are working together to share best practices and insights, and the progress he’s seeing in the industry. He also offers advice for those looking to work in climate-related alliances and collaborations.
Duration: 00:39:13Telling Climate Stories at Scale: Netflix's Strategy for Sustainability and Impact
Sep 11, 2024In this episode of Climate Rising, we explore how Netflix, a global entertainment powerhouse, is leveraging its platform to tell compelling stories about climate change. Stewart, Netflix's first
Sustainability Officer, joins host Mike Toffel to discuss the company’s strategic approach to sustainability, and the importance of embedding climate themes in popular content. Stewart shares insights into the challenges and opportunities of incorporating climate considerations into both operations and storytelling, revealing how Netflix is contributing to the global climate conversation.
Duration: 00:42:13CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir: Media's Role in Shaping Climate Action
Aug 28, 2024This episode is the first of our latest series on climate in media and entertainment, where we explore and understand the role of storytelling in shaping climate actions. Today we have Bill Weir, Chief Climate Correspondent at CNN who shares his expertise on how CNN integrates climate narratives into their news coverage, the power of storytelling, and the strategies they employ to highlight both the urgency of the climate crisis and the innovative solutions emerging worldwide.
Host and Guest
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative (LinkedIn)
...
Duration: 00:45:19Drawdown Fund: Scaling the Impact of Climate Technology
Aug 14, 2024Erik Snyder, Founder and CEO of Drawdown Fund discusses financing climate tech startups
through growth equity. He describes how he started the Drawdown Fund with Paul Hawken, editor of the New York Times best-selling book on climate solutions called Drawdown, and the strategic choices that set their fund operations apart from others. He also describes some of the fund’s portfolio companies: from sustainable packaging, community solar to decarbonizing mass-transit with AI.
Duration: 00:50:01Decarbonizing Fashionable Materials
Jul 17, 2024Today’s episode focuses on some innovative alternative low-carbon natural materials being used in fashion. Bolt Threads CEO Dan Widmaier describes Mylo, a substitute for leather that’s derived from mushrooms, via the TED Climate podcast that we’re bringing here a bonus episode of Climate Rising. It’s a perfect extension of our two most recent Climate Rising episodes that focus on other low-carbon advanced materials: GALY’s lab-grown cotton and C16 Bioscience’s lab-generated treeless palm oil.
Duration: 00:14:31A Biotech Solution to Palm Oil Deforestation
Jul 03, 2024Today’s episode is the fifth in our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Previously we talked about green concrete, green steel, regenerative agriculture, and lab-grown cotton. Today we’re discussing palm oil – a widely used product that’s also associated with climate change due to some palm oil plantations arising from clearing and burning tropical forests, releasing carbon and destroying habitat and biodiversity. We talk with Shara Ticku, Co-founder and CEO of C16 Biosciences (and HBS alumna), which uses fermentation to produce a palm oil substit...
Duration: 00:50:11How Lab - Grown Cotton can Decarbonize Textiles
Jun 19, 2024Today’s episode is the fourth in our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Previously we talked about the technical products of green concrete and green steel, and agriculture through the lens of regenerative agriculture. Today we continue our focus on decarbonizing agricultural products by focusing on lab-grown cotton. Luciano Bueno, founder and CEO of GALY, joins me today to talk about how his biomaterials start-up uses sugar to feed cells and grow cotton in the lab. Luciano will share how he rebounded from a vent...
Duration: 00:42:30Regenerative Agriculture and “The Profiteers” with Cambridge Professor Chris Marquis
Jun 05, 2024Today’s episode is the third in our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Previously we talked about green concrete and steel, and today we’re turning to agriculture. Chris Marquis, a professor at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School sheds light on regenerative agriculture, a set of practices that restore farming ecosystems while having the potential to decarbonize. We’ll also talk about his new book The Profiteers, where he discusses the need to hold companies accountable for the environmental and social externalities associat...
Duration: 00:38:01H2 Green Steel: Decarbonizing Steel Production with Green Hydrogen
May 22, 2024This episode is a part of our series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries. Our prior episode explored green concrete, and today’s focuses on steel. Steel production primarily relies on coal and coke, and accounts for nearly 7% of global CO2 emissions. But new technologies are on the horizon. Maria Persson Gulda, Chief Technology Officer at H2 Green Steel, joins us to discuss an innovative solution: green steel made from green hydrogen. By harnessing renewable power, H2 Green Steel is pioneering a path to drastically reduce stee...
Duration: 00:32:52Green Concrete: Decarbonizing Construction with Recycled Glass
May 08, 2024The first of a series on decarbonizing the roots of value chains, where we’re looking deep into supply chains that serve many industries, this episode focuses on concrete. Concrete is one of the world’s most popular materials, and it accounts for nearly 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, most of which comes from cement– the glue that binds conventional forms of concrete. We focus on one type of green concrete produced by Urban Mining Industries that replaces half of the cement with recycled glass that makes its product much less carbon intensive. We present this story through a...
Duration: 00:29:00Helping Companies Become More Climate Resilient
Apr 24, 2024In this episode in our adaptation series, Peter Hall, Managing Director at Resonance Impact Advisory, draws upon his experience in global engineering and professional services firms to share how consulting and advisory companies can help their clients assess their risks and take actions to become more resilient to climate change. He walks through several adaptation frameworks and roadmaps recently developed by governments, civil society, and private companies to help provide clarity and guidance on the steps necessary for more resilient companies and societies.
For notes and resources visit; climaterising.org
Duration: 00:37:03How Insurance Companies are Addressing Climate Risks
Apr 10, 2024This episode in our adaptation series focuses climate change’s implications on the insurance industry. Claudine Blamey, Group Director of Sustainability at Aviva, describes how climate change evokes both transition risks and physical risks for insurance companies, and affects how insurance companies are assessing and pricing risk in their underwriting process, and influences their investment strategy. Claudine also describes innovative insurance products such as parametric and catastrophe insurance that are emerging to address natural disasters that are exacerbated by climate change.
For resources and other episodes visit climaterising.org
Duration: 00:36:18Building Climate - Resilient Cities and Infrastructure
Mar 27, 2024This episode in our climate adaptation series features HBS Professor John Macomber. John discusses how companies and governments need to incorporate climate resilience as they develop and finance real estate and infrastructure to address the risks of flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, drought, and sea level rise. John describes “five R” options to address these risks—to reinforce, rebound, retreat, restrict, and rebuild—and highlights best practices from insurance companies and the governments of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Singapore. He also identifies entrepreneurial opportunities to foster adaptation and resilience. Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative Guest: John Mac...
Duration: 00:44:43The Lightsmith Group’s Adaptation Investment Strategy
Mar 13, 2024This episode continues our series on adaptation, and features Jay Koh who co-founded the Lightsmith Group, the first growth private equity firm focused on climate adaptation. Jay discusses the firm’s investment strategy, the sectors his firm invests in and their investment criteria process. He also shares thoughts on the role of public policy and offers career advice.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guests: Jay Koh, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Lightsmith Group
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Duration: 01:02:12Visualizing our Changing Climate with Probable Futures
Feb 28, 2024In this first episode of our series on adaptation, host Mike Toffel sits down with Spencer Glendon and Alison Smart of Probable Futures. They discuss how Probable Futures tools are educating decision makers to better understand how their organizations will experience climate change, and how adaptation and resilience requires a paradigm shift in planning decisions. They describe a five-step process managers can use to identify and manage adaptation risks posed by climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Duration: 00:56:22Raízen’s Decarbonization Strategy
Feb 14, 2024The bonus episode of the Climate Rising features an episode of HBR’s Cold Call podcast featuring a discussion on ethanol, a biofuel with a complex history and an uncertain future. Host Brian Kenny is joined by Professor Gunnar Trumbull and Paula Kovarsky from Raízen. As Brazil's top producer of sugar and ethanol and the world's premier ethanol trader, Raízen is at the forefront of biofuel innovation. The conversation delves into Raízen’s cutting-edge work in biofuels, the strategic choices behind advancing second-generation ethanol, and how these efforts contribute to global decarbonization initiatives.
Guest/Host: <...
Duration: 00:29:03Decarbonizing Industrial Processes with Material Science
Jan 31, 2024This episode continues Climate Rising's hard-to-abate series, and features Shreya Dave, CEO and Co-founder of Via Separations. Shreya describes how her company is decarbonizing the industrial sector by using material science to create a much less energy intensive and cheaper approach to separate substances, a common step in many industrial processes. Shreya talks about her company's journey, the challenges of market adoption, and the strategic partnerships that have been pivotal. She also shares some career advice.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest: Shreya Dave, CEO and Co-Founder Via Separations<...
Duration: 00:42:33Decarbonizing Aviation with McKinsey
Jan 17, 2024This episode in our hard-to-abate series features aviation expert Robin Riedel, a Partner at McKinsey & Company who co-leads the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility. Robin describes five approaches to decarbonize aviation: upgrading aircraft, improving operational efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel, other novel fuels and aircraft configurations, and carbon credits. We also learn about some McKinsey engagements on aviation decarbonization, and conclude with Robin’s career advice.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest: Robin Riedel, Partner and co-head of the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility
For transcripts and ot...
Duration: 00:58:48The Health Risks of Natural Gas Stoves
Jan 03, 2024This bonus episode of Climate Rising features an episode from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health's podcast "Better Off" that explores the intersection of decarbonization and public health. While decarbonization requires shifting away from fossil fuels, this episode emphasizes the equally crucial health reasons to do so – especially for natural gas stoves. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation led by Anna Fisher-Pinkert of the Harvard Chan School of Public Health and her guests Brady Seals, Drew Michanowicz, and Jon Kung.
Guest/Host:
Anna Fisher-Pinkert, Director of Digital Strategy at Harvard T.H...
Duration: 00:22:24Sweden’s Northvolt Quest to Build the World’s Greenest EV Batteries
Dec 20, 2023This bonus episode of Climate Rising features an episode of Harvard Business Review’s Cold Cast podcast with Brian Kenny interviewing HBS professor George Serafeim about his case on Northvolt, a Sweden-based start-up company producing batteries for Europe’s EV auto manufacturers. They'll discuss Northvolt’s efforts to build government partnerships, hire the right people, and attract financing in order to scale rapidly.
Guest/Host:
Brian Kenny, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Harvard Business School and host of Cold Call
George Serafeim, Charles M. Williams Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
...
How Green Hydrogen can Decarbonize Hard-to-Abate Sectors
Dec 06, 2023The third in our series on hard-to-abate sectors, this episode features Jacob Susman, CEO and co-founder of Ambient Fuels, a developer of green hydrogen projects. He describes how green hydrogen can help decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors and which applications are especially promising for green hydrogen solutions. Jacob also describes Ambient’s role in green hydrogen project and infrastructure development, provides career advice, and shares tips to attract early-stage financing.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest: Jacob Susman, CEO and Co-founder at A...
Duration: 00:43:10CarbonBuilt: Decarbonizing Concrete Blocks
Nov 22, 2023The second episode of our hard-to-abate series features Rahul Shendure, CEO and Director at CarbonBuilt. The company has developed and commercialized a Carbon XPRIZE-winning technology to produce what it calls “ultra low carbon” concrete. We start with the basics of how concrete is such a high-emitting product, then describe how CarbonBuilt’s technology is reducing product costs and emissions by replacing cement with a combination of industrial waste materials and CO2 – often captured directly from industrial sources. Rahul also shares advice for those looking to build careers in climate, particularly in the start-up world.
For transcripts and other reso...
Duration: 00:36:32Einride: Decarbonizing Trucking with EVs, Automony, and Digitalization
Nov 08, 2023This first episode of our hard-to-abate series features Linnéa Kornehed Falck, Einride's Founder, Deputy CEO and Board Member. Einride is launching a fleet of battery electric autonomous trucks, orchestrated via route-optimization software. We discuss how its fleet-based freight capacity-as-a-service business model seeks to disrupt the cargo trucking industry, and better serve customers while decarbonizing the sector. Linnéa also shares some advice for purpose-driven entrepreneurs.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest: Linnéa Kornehed Falck, Founder, Deputy CEO and Board M...
Duration: 00:33:27How Sian Flowers Aims to Create a Low-Carbon Rose
Oct 25, 2023This bonus episode of Climate Rising features Harvard Business Review’s Cold Cast podcast with Brian Kenny interviewing HBS professors Willy Shih and Mike Toffel about their teaching case about Kenya-based Sian Flowers. They discuss the company’s efforts to create a “low-carbon rose” by shipping them to their clients around the world by sea instead of by air without eroding their quality, and the effects this has on its production process.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Guest/Host:
● Brian Kenny, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Harvard Business School and host of Cold Call...
Duration: 00:25:19Three MBA Summer Interns in Business and Climate Change
Oct 11, 2023The final episode of our 2023 back-to-business school series features three Harvard Business School MBA students: Nabig Chaudhry, Mitch Hirai, and Kamya Jagadish. They describe how they spent the summer interning in climate-related businesses, from impact investing to a climate tech incubator and climate risk analytics. They also discuss what sparked their interest in the field and how they stay current on information and trends to explore career opportunities in business and climate change
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guests:<...
Duration: 00:35:36How Boards Can Drive Climate Performance
Sep 27, 2023As part of our 2023 back-to-business school series, this episode features a session from Harvard’s Climate Action Week in May 2023. Moderated by HBS Prof. George Serafeim, the panel includes Carter Roberts, President & CEO of World Wildlife Fund, HBS professor Deb Spar, Bonita Stewart, Board Partner at Gradient Ventures, and Lauren Taylor Wolfe, Cofounder & Managing Partner of Impactive Capital. They discuss how companies and their boards can use accountability and transparency to drive climate performance.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Mo...
Duration: 00:47:05How Arcos Dorados is Addressing Climate Change in Latin America
Sep 13, 2023Today’s episode is the first in our 2023 back-to-business school series. The episode features Gabriel Serber, Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainable Development, Arcos Dorados, the largest McDonald’s franchise in the world. He discusses how Arcos Dorados designs and implements climate solutions across the 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries where they operate, the vast cultural diversity across the region, and how his work fits into the larger McDonald’s corporate climate goals
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest...
Duration: 00:38:54An Investor’s Perspective on Corporate Climate Action
Aug 30, 2023Today’s episode in our corporate net zero climate series features Paul Bodnar, Director of Sustainable Finance, Industry, and Diplomacy, Bezos Earth Fund, and former Global Head of Sustainable Investing at BlackRock. Paul discusses how investors approach the complex web of weighing climate priorities with fiduciary responsibilities. He also talks about his career in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors and where he thinks the next big climate-related investment priorities will be.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest: Paul Bo...
Duration: 00:56:03Helping Consumers Decarbonize their Purchases
Aug 16, 2023Today’s episode in our corporate net zero climate series features HBS alumna Sanchali Pal, Founder and CEO of Commons, an app created to help consumers make more climate-friendly purchasing decisions. Sanchali discusses why she chose an entrepreneurial pathway out of busine---ss school and what inspired her to focus on the power of consumers to drive corporate climate action. She also talks about building a startup and raising funds and offers advice for those seeking to work in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike To...
Duration: 00:45:55Going Carbon Negative at Microsoft
Aug 02, 2023Formerly Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Officer, and now Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Managing Director at Haveli Investments, Lucas Joppa discusses the strategies and tools Microsoft developed to meet its ambitious carbon negative goals, including setting an internal price on carbon, restructuring their corporate governance, and funding innovative climate technology solutions. He also tells us why he thinks climate finance is entering its most consequential decade.
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Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest: Lucas Joppa, Chief Sustainability Officer & Senior Managing Director, Haveli Investments
For transcripts and ot...
Duration: 00:40:13Managing Electricity to Meet Net Zero Targets
Jul 19, 2023In this episode, Melissa Lott, Director of Research and Senior Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and Michael Webber, Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, discuss how companies can decarbonize their electricity when pursuing net zero climate goals, from increased efficiency to electrification to generating their own carbon-free electricity, and the pros and cons of these pathways.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guests:
Melissa Lott, Director of Research and Senior Research...
Duration: 00:40:35How Science Based Climate Targets Work
Jul 05, 2023Today’s episode features Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of the Science Based Targets Initiative explains how they help companies and financial institutions design verifiable and achievable climate targets, and how they assess and validate those targets. He also discusses how the SBTi is transitioning from focusing on technical assistance and assessments to a standard-setting organization.
Company Resources:
The Science Based Targets initiative
How science-based targets work
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest: Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Co-Founder and and Chief Te...
Duration: 00:33:10BCG Climate Vision 2050: Sustainability at 36,000 Feet
Jun 21, 2023For the second episode in our series on corporate net zero programs, we’re sharing an episode on airline decarbonization from the Climate Vision 2050 podcast produced by the consulting firm Boston Consulting Group. This episode sets up a scenario in 2050 where the industry relies on liquid nitrogen, sustainable aviation fuels, electric aircraft, and blending-wing body planes, coupled with present-day experts who explain the changes.
Link to original podcast: BCG Climate Vision 2050 (“Sustainability at 36,000 feet” episode)
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Duration: 00:25:26Beyond Net Zero: How Seventh Generation Plans to Achieve Real Zero Carbon
Jun 07, 2023In this first episode in a new series on companies setting and meeting net zero climate targets, Ashley Orgain, Chief Impact Officer at Seventh Generation, discusses why this home care products company decided to set a real zero climate goal instead of net zero, and how they plan to achieve it. She also describes how Seventh Generation is going beyond a carbon footprint to measure its carbon fingerprints that touch every aspect of their business, from banking to creative services.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty...
Duration: 00:35:49How BMW is Driving Decarbonization
May 24, 2023This bonus episode of Climate Rising features Harvard Business Review’s Cold Cast podcast with Brian Kenny interviewing HBS professor Shirley Lu on BMW Group’s decarbonization strategy, which is the subject of a new case study that Shirley wrote with HBS colleagues George Serafeim and Mike Toffel. They discuss why BMW is focusing on reducing vehicle lifecycle emissions, and why the company has so far avoided setting a phase-out date for internal combustion engine BMWs.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest/Host:
● Brian Kenny, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Harvard Busi...
Duration: 00:24:03Can We Really Engineer a Climate Fix?
May 17, 2023Today, as a bonus, we’re sharing an episode of the Skydeck podcast that features interviews with HBS alumni where they share lessons learned and their life experiences.
We thought this episode of Skydeck would be particularly interesting to you because it focuses on carbon capture technology. This is one of three Skydeck episodes on this topic. And for even more, check out Climate Rising’s own episodes on carbon capture, released in the fall of 2022.
To hear more about the Skydeck podcast visit www.alumni.hbs.edu/skydeck
Visit climaterising.org for more i...
Duration: 00:12:15How OPower Uses Behavioral Science & AI to Reduce Energy Demand
May 10, 2023In this sixth episode in our series on climate change and artificial intelligence (AI), Paul McDonald, Senior Director, Opower Product Strategy & Marketing at Oracle Energy and Water, discusses how OPower uses behavioral science and AI to help utility customers reduce their energy use. He describes why saving electricity benefits both customers and utilities, and shares his advice for those interested in careers in business and climate.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guest:
Paul McDonald, Senior Director, Opower...
Duration: 00:55:36Climate Adaptation & Supply Chains: Everstream Analytics’ AI Solution
Apr 26, 2023In this fifth episode in our series on climate change and artificial intelligence (AI), Jim Hayden, Chief Data Scientist at Everstream Analytics, discusses how they use AI and machine learning to help mitigate risk and optimize opportunities for supply chain logistics in a changing climate and in the face of extreme weather events, such as heat stress, drought, and temperature extremes. And he shares his advice for those interested in careers in business and climate.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
<... Duration: 00:36:42Ideon: Mining the Energy Transition
Apr 12, 2023In this fourth episode in our series on climate change and artificial intelligence (AI), Gary Agnew, CEO and Co-founder of Ideon Technologies Inc, and Kim Lawrence, VP, Talent and Customer Experience, discuss how they use energy from supernovas, sensors, satellites, and machine learning to improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of mining for minerals critical to the clean energy transition. They also share their advice for those interested in careers in business and climate.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative<...
Duration: 00:39:44WeaveGrid's AI Solution for EV-to-Grid Integration
Mar 29, 2023In this third episode in our series on climate change and artificial intelligence (AI), Apoorv Bhargava, CEO and co-founder of WeaveGrid, a company that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help electric utilities optimize the integration of electric vehicles into a clean energy grid. He describes how they approach the intersection of transportation and energy as a systems problem, and he shares his advice for those interested in careers in business and climate.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty...
Duration: 00:41:56Google’s AI Approach to Climate Change
Mar 15, 2023In this second episode in our series on climate change and AI, Yossi Matias, Vice President, Engineering & Research at Google, and the founding Managing Director of Google Center in Israel, explains how Google uses AI and Machine Learning to tackle some of the biggest challenges for climate mitigation and adaptation. He describes how Google uses partnerships and collaboration to innovate in the climate space, and shares his advice for those interested in careers in business and climate.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment...
Duration: 00:35:14How BCG Uses AI to Address Climate Change
Mar 01, 2023In this first episode in a new series on climate change and AI, Hamid Maher and Charlotte Degot, Managing Directors and Partners at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), explain how BCG has developed and uses AI tools to help their clients manage climate risks and address mitigation and adaptation challenges. They describe how they pitch these solutions to potential clients, and share their advice for those interested in careers in business and climate.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Climate Rising Host: Professor Mike Toffel, Faculty Chair, Business & Environment Initiative
Guests:
<... Duration: 00:42:24Accelerating Climate Solutions for Food & Agriculture
Feb 15, 2023This special episode features a discussion on solving the challenges climate change poses to food & agriculture, recorded as part of the HBS Short Intensive Program on Accelerating Climate Solutions. HBS Senior Lecturer Eleanor Laurans interviews Alex Bondar, partner at Acre Venture Partners, and Rebekah Moses, Vice President of Impact Strategy at Iron Ox. They discuss climate tech and venture capital and the roles played by consumers, farmers, investors, and corporations.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Host/Guests:
● Eleanor Laurans, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School
● Alex Bondar, Partner, Acre Venture Partners...
Duration: 00:35:18Climate Tech Investing in Deep Decarbonization
Feb 01, 2023This bonus episode features Harvard Business Review’s Exponential View podcast, where Azeem Azhar interviews climate tech investor Shayle Kann, a partner at Energy Impact Partners. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of investing in the net zero economy and why Shayle prefers to frame it as deep decarbonization. They also cover what metrics venture capitalists should consider when investing in climate tech and how net zero electricity fits into solutions.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest/Host:
● Azeem Azhar, entrepreneur, investor, and host of Exponential View
● Shayle Kann, Partner, Ene...
Duration: 00:49:07Accelerating the Energy Transition: The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act
Jan 18, 2023This bonus episode features the Harvard Law School Environmental and Energy Law Program’s CleanLaw podcast, where professors Jody Freeman (Harvard) and Greg Dotson (University of Oregon) talk about the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act that was enacted in 2022. They discuss how the bill got passed, what the law contains, how its provisions connect to other climate-related laws, and how it seeks to accelerate the country’s deployment of clean energy and other efforts to address climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guests:
● Jody Freeman, Arch...
Duration: 00:54:31A Lookback at COP27: How Do Companies Engage in Global Climate Policy?
Dec 28, 2022Nat Keohane, President of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, discusses how companies participate in global climate talks and policy development, such as the recent UN Conference of Parties (COP) in Egypt. He also talks about what to expect as countries move from crafting climate agreements to implementation and what companies’ role is in that work. He also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Nat Keohane, President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Duration: 00:41:03Nature-based Carbon Removal: DroneSeed’s Reforestation Model
Dec 14, 2022Grant Canary, CEO of DroneSeed, a startup company designed to accelerate reforestation after wildfires, shares his perspective on the landscape of nature-based carbon removal solutions and how DroneSeed has developed a business model to address both climate and financial risk. He also discusses how his venture capital background lends itself to tackling complex climate solutions and he offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org .
Guest: Grant Canary, CEO, DroneSeed
Duration: 00:43:41Tech-based Carbon Removal: Sustaera’s Direct Air Capture
Nov 30, 2022Shantanu Agarwal, Co-Founder and Director of Sustaera, a startup company developing a Direct Air Capture technology to remove carbon from the atmosphere, shares his perspective on the landscape in the race to develop scalable and affordable carbon removal technologies–from engineering to financing to deployment–and how Sustaera’s specific technology fits in. He also discusses how his entrepreneurial background led him to finding solutions for climate change and he offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Shantanu Agarwal, Co-Founder and Director...
Duration: 00:36:44U.S. DOE’s Jigar Shah & the State of Carbon Removal
Nov 16, 2022Jigar Shah, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, shares some of the technical and finance challenges and opportunities of carbon removal solutions, and shares how transitioning his private-sector energy finance background into government leadership has shown him how public-private climate tech partnerships could be improved. He also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Jigar Shah, Director, Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy.
Duration: 00:37:48McKinsey's Climate Consulting
Nov 02, 2022Daniel Pacthod, Senior Partner and global co-leader of McKinsey Sustainability, shares how the company works with its clients to address climate risk and find opportunities through its pillars of net-zero strategy, green business building, decarbonization transformation, net-zero financial institutions, and sustainable investing. He also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Guest: Daniel Pacthod, Senior Partner and global co-leader of McKinsey Sustainability, McKinsey & Company
Duration: 00:37:05Bain’s Climate Consulting
Oct 19, 2022Cate Hight, an expert partner in Bain’s Sustainability & Responsibility and Energy & Natural Resources practices, shares how the company’s strategy, operations, customer value, and transformation work help enable their consulting and private equity clients identify opportunities associated with climate change and mitigate climate risks. She also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Cate Hight, Expert Partner in Sustainability and Responsibility and Energy and Natural Resources practices, Bain.
Duration: 00:38:32Deloitte’s Climate Practice
Oct 05, 2022Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader at Deloitte, shares how Deloitte’s professionals work with companies to help them manage climate risks and pursue opportunities. She talks about how Deloitte’s climate work helps companies improve their strategy, operations, finance, and reporting—and how Deloitte is developing and hiring people to build its sustainability & climate practice. She also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader, Deloitte
Duration: 00:43:42McDonald’s’ Climate Change Efforts
Sep 21, 2022In this special episode produced jointly with the Degrees podcast, Jenny McColloch, McDonald’s Chief Sustainability Officer, shares the challenges of meeting decarbonization goals at one of the world’s largest food service companies. She talks about how their climate action has evolved, and the critical role of their suppliers and franchisees, who operate 90% of McDonald’s restaurants. Jenny also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. Co-hosted with Yesh Pavlik Slenk.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
EDF Degrees podcast host: Yesh Pavlik Slenk, Senior Manager...
Duration: 00:39:28How Environmental Defense Fund Engages Companies on Climate Policy
Sep 07, 2022Victoria Mills, Managing Director of Environmental Defense Fund’s EDF+Biz program discusses how some companies are starting to advocate for more stringent climate policies as they see climate change affecting their operations, supply chains, and communities. She also describes how EDF acts as both advisor and catalyst to their engagement, shares some challenges and opportunities of working with companies on climate policy, and offers advice for those interested in pursuing a career in climate and business.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Guest: Victoria Mills, Managing Director, Environmental Defense Fund+Business
Duration: 00:37:21How CDP Drives Corporate Climate Disclosure
Aug 24, 2022Paul Dickinson, Founder Chair, CDP, shares how CDP works with investors to drive companies toward greater transparency by disclosing carbon emissions and other environmental indicators. He talks about how CDP is evolving in the face of new disclosure regulation, corporate disclosure trends, including expanding CDP’s reach to include water and forestry. Paul also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Paul Dickinson, Founder Chair, CDP.
Duration: 00:49:05How Ceres Supports Corporate Boards to Accelerate Climate Action
Aug 10, 2022Steven Rothstein, Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets, shares how Ceres works with corporate boards to facilitate systemic change in private sector climate action, including why boards are a critical part of the equation. He also talks about how the recent proposed SEC disclosure rule could change boards’ roles on climate change, and offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Steven Rothstein, Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets
Duration: 00:42:47How RMI Collaborates with Companies to Accelerate the Energy Transition
Jul 27, 2022Jules Kortnenhorst, CEO of RMI, shares how RMI works with companies in the transportation, cement, and steel sectors to encourage the rapid energy transition necessary to mitigate climate change. He also talks about RMI’s global partnerships, innovative energy programs, and accelerators—and describes how his experience in the HBS MBA program shaped his career journey, and offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Jules Kortenhorst, CEO, RMI
Duration: 00:58:49
How World Wildlife Fund Partners with Companies on Climate Change
Jul 13, 2022Carter Roberts, President/CEO of World Wildlife Fund-US, shares what successful climate collaborations between companies and environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs) look like in practice, and how ENGOs can help by sharing their expertise and even pushing companies to take bolder action on climate change. Carter also talks about how being an HBS MBA student shaped his career in the private sector and nonprofit space, and offers advice for others interested in careers in climate and business.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Carter Roberts, President and CEO, World Wildlife Fund-US
Duration: 00:43:30How New Belgium is Fighting Climate Change One Pint at a Time
May 18, 2022Katie Wallace, Chief ESG Officer of New Belgium Brewing Company, and Adam Fetcher, Senior Director of Communications and Public Engagement, discuss how climate change’s impacts on their operations and ingredients led them to engage with policymakers and take their climate message to their beer customers. They share how the company has integrated climate action into its operations and supply chain, how they encourage customers to hold companies accountable for the climate plans, and offer advice for those interested in pursuing a career in climate and business.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Gu...
Duration: 00:42:20How Footwear Startup Allbirds is Decarbonizing Fashion
May 04, 2022In this bonus episode, sustainable footwear brand Allbirds co-founder and co-CEO Joey Zwillinger, Prof. Michael Toffel, and Cold Call host Brian Kenny discuss the growing environmental impact of the fashion industry, and how Allbirds is balancing a critical tension between sharing its know-how and material innovations with competitors to scale its efforts to decarbonize fashion, while also retaining brand differentiation. This was originally broadcast on the HBS Cold Call podcast episode profiling the HBS case, “Allbirds: Decarbonizing Fashion,” which Prof. Toffel wrote with Ken Pucker and Eren Kuzucu.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Gu...
Duration: 00:34:44XPRIZE: Accelerating Climate Change Solutions
Apr 20, 2022Marcius Extavour, XPRIZE’s VP-Climate and Energy, discusses how his organization designs competitions to spur innovations for carbon removal and carbon utilization (converting greenhouse gasses into products). In discussing the Carbon XPRIZE and Carbon Removal XPRIZE competitions, Marcius explains how the prize model fosters solutions that address certain climate problems. He describes what makes for a successful climate-tech pitch, and shares specific resources for those interested in innovating and investing in climate tech.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Duration: 00:51:41How Harvard is Going Fossil-Fuel Free
Apr 06, 2022Jaclyn Olsen, Associate Director of Harvard’s Office for Sustainability, and Erin Craig, Vice President of 3 Degrees, a climate solutions firm hired by Harvard, discuss the University’s goal to be fossil-fuel neutral by 2026 and fossil-fuel free by 2050. Jaclyn and Erin discuss Harvard’s carbon footprint, its efforts to reduce emissions and realize health benefits, and its emerging strategy on carbon offsets. And they share with us their advice for those interested in entering a climate and business career.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guests: Jaclyn Olsen, Associate Director of Harvard University’s Office f...
Duration: 00:43:48Strengthening Carbon Offsets: The Oxford Offsetting Principles
Mar 23, 2022Myles Allen, Professor of Geosystem Science at the University of Oxford and Director of the Oxford Net Zero initiative, discusses the controversy over carbon offsets and how the Oxford Offsetting Principles can help organizations reduce risk and improve transparency in their use of carbon offsets to support their net zero goals. Myles also talks about what the University of Oxford is doing to address its own emissions, and shares the advice he gives his students interested in embarking on climate change careers.
For transcripts and other resources, visit; climaterising.org.
Guest: Myles Allen, Professor of...
Duration: 00:54:33The Aspen Institute’s Shipping Decarbonization Initiative
Mar 09, 2022Ingrid Irigoyen, Director of the Aspen Institute Shipping Decarbonization Initiative, discussesthe importance of decarbonizing global maritime shipping, the opportunities and challenges, andhow the Aspen Institute is working with Amazon, IKEA, Unilever, Michelin, and othercompanies to accelerate the effort. Ingrid also talks about how her background in mediationhelps her convene and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and she reflects on why a career inclimate mitigation is a rewarding long-term strategy.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Ingrid Irigoyen, Director, Aspen Institute Shipping Decarbonization Initiative; AssociateDirector, Ocean and Climate, for the Aspen Institute Energy and...
Duration: 00:44:13Supply Chain Decarbonization: Walmart’s Project Gigaton
Feb 23, 2022Kathleen McLaughlin, Chief Sustainability Office at Walmart, Inc. and President of the WalmartFoundation, discusses how Walmart plans to achieve its goal to avoid a gigaton–a billion metrictons–of greenhouse gas emissions in its global supply chain by 2030. She shares some of thechallenges and opportunities of operating on such a large scale and offers advice for thoseinterested in working in the business and climate change space.
For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Guest: Kathleen McLaughlin, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer,Walmart, Inc.; President, Walmart Foundation
Duration: 00:42:31How BlocPower is Decarbonizing Buildings
Feb 09, 2022Donnel Baird, founder and CEO of BlocPower, a climate tech startup, describes why decarbonizing the buildings sector is both a challenge and an opportunity, why he chose this corner of the climate tech space, and how BlocPower is working with the city of Ithaca to electrify its entire building stock. Donnel shares lessons learned on his journey as an entrepreneur and a few recommendations for launching climate tech startups.
Guest:
Donnel Baird, founder and CEO, BlocPower.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
Duration: 00:44:21