Japan is emerging as a potential leader in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) — and is developing another next-generation decarbonization technology: CO2-absorbing concrete. In this episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Yasutake Homma speaks with Junichiro Miura, deputy director at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, about the current status of CCUS and CO2-absorbing concrete, as well as their future prospects. Why are these technologies critical for achieving a decarbonized society yet still not widely adopted? What are Japan’s plans for international expansion, and what implications could these developments have for industry? This episode was recorded on Oct. 15.

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As carbon “super sponges” and vital climate-resilience tools, mangroves highlight how nature underpins economic stability. With more than half of global GDP reliant on healthy ecosystems, nature loss poses substantial risks and opportunities. In this episode of ESG Currents, BI ESG analysts Grace Osborne and Chris Ratti speak with the WWF’s Global Lead of the Carbon Finance & Markets Taskforce, Rueban Manokara and John Morton, Executive Managing Director of Nature Finance and Investment, to explore the business case for nature, the temporal challenges of nature-based investments and the power of blended finance in helping to close the $700 billion nature-funding gap. This episode was recorded on Sept. 25.

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Green bonds may have transformed the world by volume, but blue bonds are poised to change it by depth. In this episode of ESG Currents, BI EMEA ESG Integration Analyst Grace Osborne speaks with Shargiil Bashir, chief sustainability officer and executive Vice president at First Abu Dhabi Bank, discuss how blue bonds are mobilizing capital toward protection of critical marine ecosystems. They explore how the UAE is moving from ambition to action, leveraging blended finance and innovating to meet climate and water goals in one of the world’s driest regions.

This episode was recorded on Sept. 16.

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According to the IEA’s 2025 Global Methane Tracker, methane is responsible for around 30% of the current rise in global temperature. Mitigating methane, which has more than 80x the warming potential of CO2 over a 20-year period, is critical to addressing climate change. In this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence’s director of ESG research Eric Kane speaks with Olya Irzak, founder and CEO of Frost Methane, about the company’s efforts to destroy, valorize and measure emissions from manure ponds and other sources. They also talk about the volatility of voluntary carbon markets, raising capital, the current climate policy landscape and more.

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Shareholders aren’t financial investors, but actual owners of a company. They have several tools at their disposal to push corporate leaders to focus on long-term sustainability of the business: electing the board of directors, voting on routine matters, or even submitting proposals for other shareholders to vote on. But are these shareholder rights a strength of capitalism, or are executives spending too much time engaging with a wide range of shareholders and not enough time on their day jobs? On this week’s episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ESG Analyst Rob Du Boff speaks with Sanford Lewis, director and founder of the Shareholder Rights Group and a leading national expert on shareholder proposals.

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Stronger ecosystems that bolster investor confidence have become essential to global carbon markets' growth. "Carbon markets can only scale at the speed of trust," says Oi-Yee Choo, CEO of Singapore-based Climate Impact X (CIX), tells Conrad Tan, Bloomberg Intelligence ESG integration analyst. Choo explains what's needed to build this trust, why the gap between compliance and voluntary carbon markets is narrowing, and how countries' focus on their own needs risks fragmenting markets further. They also discuss how Asia's mix of suppliers and buyers of carbon credits could support deeper, more liquid carbon markets that support the decarbonization ambitions of governments and companies worldwide.

This episode was recorded on Sept. 8, 2025.

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Weather drives nearly $1 trillion in annual spending-pattern shifts — boosting long john sales in Miami on a 60-degree day while slowing them in Minnesota. In this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence senior climate analyst Andrew Stevenson speaks with Planalytics CEO Fred Fox about how companies such as Lowe’s are using weather insights to improve bottom-line results.

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Modern portfolio theory tells us that company-specific risks can be reduced through the magic of diversification. But what about market-wide risks, like climate change and income inequality? On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, BI Senior ESG Analyst Rob Du Boff speaks with Jon Lukomnik, managing partner of Sinclair Capital and a pioneer in corporate governance. They discuss how shareholders can use ESG analysis and corporate engagement to minimize systematic risks that threaten all investments. This episode was recorded on July 31.

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Extreme weather is taking toll on farm output worldwide, with record droughts and wildfires driving up prices in markets for cocoa, cattle and coffee. In this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence senior climate analyst Andrew Stevenson is joined by Dave Farnham, chief data scientist at ClimateAi, to discuss how better data can help minimize climate costs.

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The IMO's draft net zero framework's implications for new marine fuels and technologies as well as the top challenges for shipowners and fuel producers are explored in the latest ESG Currents episode. Strong demand will develop for hydrogen-derived fuels, with ammonia likely to be the "scalable solution," Tristan Smith, Professor of Energy and Transport at UCL Energy Institute tells Conrad Tan, Bloomberg Intelligence ESG integration analyst. Smith, whose institute is known for its research guiding international shipping decarbonization, also explains why liquid natural gas could be a dead end for the shipping industry.

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