Climate Rising

By Harvard Business School Business & Environment InitiativeBusiness Science Management Natural Sciences

Climate Rising episodes

May 13 David Potere at BCG X: Using AI & Satellites in Climate Solutions
AI and geospatial technologies are transforming how
industries understand and respond to climate challenges. David Potere, Managing Director and Partner at BCG X, joins Climate Rising to describe how sensing, decision-making, and automation are reshaping and decarbonizing sectors like agriculture and energy.
The conversation examines how satellite data, AI models, and real-time sensing systems are enabling new levels of transparency—from methane emissions in energy systems to crop yields and wildfire risks. David discusses the concept of “Industry 4.0” in outdoor environments, where deploying technology is significantly more complex than in controlled factory settings.
The episode also highlights emerging applications in agriculture, energy infrastructure, and climate resilience, and explores how advances in AI and data systems are lowering barriers to innovation. David reflects on the future of consulting, the democratization of technology, and the growing role of builders in solving climate challenges.
39 min
April 29 Climate Risk Meets Finance: Modeling the Future of Real Estate with First Street
As climate risks intensify, understanding their financial
implications is becoming critical for businesses, investors, and homeowners alike. Ed Kearns, Chief Science Officer at First Street, joins Climate Rising to explain how climate data is being translated into actionable financial risk insights.
The conversation explores how First Street models physical climate risks—including flooding, wildfire, and extreme weather—and translates them into property-level financial impacts. Ed discusses why traditional tools
like FEMA flood maps fall short in a changing climate, and how new approaches combine physics-based modeling with high-resolution data.
The episode also examines how climate risk is reshaping real estate markets, insurance systems, and investment decisions, and why transparency is driving a fundamental shift in how risk is priced. Ed reflects
on the growing demand for climate risk intelligence and the role of both
private markets and public policy in adapting to a warming world.
44 min
April 15 Patagonia Provisions: Regenerative Organic Agriculture and Reimagining the Food System
Patagonia Provisions General Manager Paul Lightfoot joins Climate Rising to discuss why Patagonia expanded beyond apparel into food, and
how regenerative organic agriculture is central to its mission of addressing climate change. Patagonia’s food business was built on the belief that agriculture is one of the largest drivers of environmental degradation—and therefore one of the most important opportunities and levers for change.
The conversation explores how Patagonia’s early transition to organic cotton shaped its approach and evolution into regenerative organic agriculture. Paul that Patagonia’s focus seeks to encourage regenerative
practices that improve soil health, nutrition, and environmental performance.
Paul also describes some challenges of building regenerative supply chains, including working directly with farmers, creating demand signals, and managing supply constraints in a fast-growing business. He discusses the role of the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) standard in addressing greenwashing and scaling adoption, as well as Patagonia’s broader strategy to influence industry practices—not just gain market share.
The episode closes with a discussion of the future of regenerative agriculture, the limitations of policy-driven change, and Patagonia’s belief that market demand and consumer awareness will ultimately drive transformation in the food system.
39 min
April 01 VF Corporation: Scaling Regenerative Materials Across Global Apparel Supply Chains
Alyse Russel, Senior Manager of Global Sustainability
Programs at VF Corporation, joins Climate Rising to discuss how one of the
world’s largest apparel companies is embedding sustainability across a complex, multi-brand supply chain. VF owns major global brands including Vans, The North Face, and Timberland, and is working to reduce product-related emissions by transforming how key materials are sourced and produced.
The conversation explores why raw materials—such as cotton,
leather, rubber, and wool—account for the majority of VF’s emissions footprint, and how the company is prioritizing regenerative agriculture to address this challenge. Alyse explains how VF is scaling regenerative cotton, rubber, and wool programs across different geographies, while navigating trade-offs related to cost, verification, and supply chain complexity.
The episode also examines how VF collaborates with farmers,
NGOs, and researchers to implement regenerative practices, the challenges of measuring outcomes like soil carbon and biodiversity, and the evolving role of traceability and certification in validating sustainability claims. Alyse also reflects on the future of regenerative agriculture in the apparel sector, including the need for better standards, broader environmental metrics beyond carbon, and stronger industry-wide coordination.

35 min
March 18 Agreena: Regenerative Agriculture, Data, and Carbon Markets
Simon Haldrup, founder and CEO of Agreena, joins Climate
Rising to discuss how regenerative agriculture can scale beyond early adopters by focusing on farmer economics, data-driven decision-making, and flexible practice “toolboxes” rather than rigid labels. Based on Copenhagen, Agreena combines agriculture, finance and technology to work with 10,000 farmers across 20 countries.
The conversation explores why adoption remains challenging
despite long-term benefits, including thin margins, short planning horizons, and the risk of yield dips in the initial transition years. Simon also explains how Agreena uses satellite imagery, machine learning, and outcome-based verification to support both carbon credits and carbon insets, and how its two-sided platform aligns farmer incentives with corporate climate commitments. The episode closes with Simon’s perspective on the role of policy, finance, and technology in making regenerative agriculture the “new normal,” and advice for those interested in careers at the intersection of agriculture, climate, and systems thinking.
46 min
March 04 Scaling Regenerative Agriculture and Carbon Markets with Indigo Ag’s A.J. Kumar
Indigo Ag is one of the most active companies at the intersection of agriculture, carbon markets, and regenerative agricultural practices. A.J. Kumar, Vice President of Sustainability Sciences at Indigo discusses how the company is working with farmers, food companies, and carbon credit buyers to scale regenerative agriculture and unlock environmental and financial benefits.
He explains how Indigo supports farmers with both biological inputs and sustainability incentives—from seed coatings and microbial sprays to data-driven tools and market access for carbon credits. A.J. also outlines the challenges farmers face adopting new practices, how Indigo addresses concerns around additionality and permanence in soil carbon projects, and how advances in AI and remote sensing are changing what’s possible in sustainable agriculture.
This episode is a part of our series on Regenerative Agriculture, which includes two prior episodes featuring McKinsey & Company Partner Tom Brennan and our next episode with Agreena CEO & Founder Simon Haldrup. Visit climaterising.org to learn more
1 hr 3 min
February 18 Regenerative Agriculture at Scale with Tom Brennan at McKinsey - Part 2
Tom Brennan, a partner at McKinsey & Company, joins Climate Rising to unpack what regenerative agriculture means in practice and why it is increasingly central to conversations about climate resilience, farm economics, and food system risk. Drawing on McKinsey’s work with farmers, agribusinesses, and food companies, Tom explains how regenerative agriculture differs from more prescriptive models like organic farming, emphasizing outcomes such as soil health, reduced erosion, and long-term productivity.
Across this two-part conversation, Tom explores both the foundations of regenerative agriculture and the challenges of scaling it. He discusses how farmers evaluate new practices through the lens of risk and profitability, why the benefits of regenerative practices often show up most clearly in extreme weather years, and what slows adoption despite growing interest. He also examines the role of food companies, insurers, data, and emerging technologies in lowering barriers to adoption and supporting system-level change.

27 min
February 04 Regenerative Agriculture at Scale with Tom Brennan at McKinsey - Part 1
Tom Brennan, a partner at McKinsey & Company, joins Climate Rising to unpack what regenerative agriculture means in practice and why it is increasingly central to conversations about climate resilience, farm economics, and food system risk. Drawing on McKinsey’s work with farmers, agribusinesses, and food companies, Tom explains how regenerative agriculture differs from more prescriptive models like organic farming, emphasizing outcomes such as soil health, reduced erosion, and long-term productivity.
Across this two-part conversation, Tom explores both the foundations of regenerative agriculture and the challenges of scaling it. He discusses how farmers evaluate new practices through the lens of risk and profitability, why the benefits of regenerative practices often show up most clearly in extreme weather years, and what slows adoption despite growing interest. He also examines the role of food companies, insurers, data, and emerging technologies in lowering barriers to adoption and supporting system-level change.
Part 1 focuses on defining regenerative agriculture and why it matters for farmers and climate resilience.
Part 2 examines the economics, adoption barriers, and what it would take to scale regenerative agriculture across supply chains.
This episode is the first in our series on Regenerative Agriculture. We also have guests such as A.J. Kumar from Indigo Ag. Visit climaterising.org to learn more.
31 min
January 21 How Amazon Approaches Carbon Markets and Climate Neutralization
Jamey Mulligan, Head of Carbon Neutralization Science and Strategy at Amazon, joins Climate Rising to share how Amazon is tackling its net-zero climate goals, particularly through its engagement in the voluntary carbon market. Jamey explains Amazon’s three-part strategy under the Climate Pledge: emissions measurement, value chain decarbonization, and high-impact carbon mitigation. He describes Amazon’s major clean energy investments, its electric delivery fleet partnership with Rivian, and how it is developing long-term carbon credit procurement strategies.
Jamey also walks through Amazon’s approach to addressing the credibility crisis in carbon markets, including its launch of the Abacus carbon credit label in partnership with Verra and other climate experts, and he explains how Amazon is working to improve access to quality carbon credits for its value chain partners. Lastly, Jamey shares his advice for those who are looking to work in the field of carbon neutralization.
This is a bonus episode in our series on Voluntary Carbon Markets. Explore more of this series at climaterising.org

50 min
January 07 Financing Climate and Nature Together: AIIB’s Climate Strategy in Brazil and Beyond
In this episode of Climate Rising, Erik Berglöf, Chief Economist at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), shares how this relatively young multilateral development bank is helping emerging economies finance climate and nature-based solutions. Erik discusses AIIB’s approach to
climate policy—including infrastructure decarbonization, green finance, and biodiversity credits—and offers a behind-the-scenes look at its work with Brazil, including its $1B climate policy loan and support for the landmark Tropical Forest Forever Facility.
Erik explains the importance of integrating nature and climate in development finance, the need for finance ministries to lead coordination, and how countries like Brazil are using platforms like Eco Invest to blend public and private capital for nature and resilience projects.
This episode is part of our Global South series, which also includes episodes with JSW Steel, Tata Power from India and re.green, a carbon offsetting platform from Brazil. Visit climaterising.org for more.
50 min

About Climate Rising

From the publisher's feed

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,…