Is nature's value truly reflected in today's corporate strategies? Stephanie Cárdenas from Deloitte has dedicated her career to elevating nature and biodiversity in the business world, drawing on her background growing up in Ecuador and working in the Galapagos Islands. In this episode she shares her insights on why incorporating nature into corporate agendas is not only crucial but can also drive substantial economic and environmental benefits.

Our discussion covers:

• The concept of "nature positive" strategies and their potential to create jobs and boost global GDP

• Practical approaches for businesses to mitigate environmental impacts

• The importance of regulatory frameworks like CSRD and TNFD in shaping corporate sustainability efforts

• The role of the financial sector in supporting biodiversity

• Effective stakeholder communication in ESG initiatives

Further resources from Deloitte:

Putting nature and biodiversity loss on the business agenda

 The chairperson’s guide to valuing nature

 How banks can help achieve nature-positive outcomes and preserve biodiversity

Sustainability Action Report

Food Regulation Highlight: 5 Key takeaways on the new EU Deforestation Regulation

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The War Below by our guest Ernest Scheyder delves into the complexities of obtaining critical minerals needed for the green energy transition. Through Scheyder's investigative lens, the book travels the maze of obstacles faced by mining companies, highlighting how the extraction of minerals like lithium, nickel, and copper is often accompanied by technical, regulatory,  environmental, and ethical challenges. Scheyder pushes us to consider the profound choices that lie ahead for ensuring a responsible energy transition.

Episode Highlights:

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Commercial buildings are the source of a surprising 38% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and a Finnish startup is deploying solutions to capture it around the world. Using direct air capture technology, Soletair Power’s devices for HVAC systems are turning buildings from major carbon sources into carbon sinks, which absorb more CO2 than they emit. In this episode, Soletair CEO Petri Laakso shows how commercial property owners and construction companies can reduce this carbon footprint, and offer their tenants both a pathway to net zero and a healthier working environment for their employees.

Episode 7 Highlights:

1. Understanding Direct Air Capture: why DAC is essential to reverse the impacts of climate change.

2. The Role of Carbon Capture: the distinction between traditional carbon capture methods and direct air capture. 

3. Greener Buildings: buildings contribute to a substantial portion of global CO2 emissions, so tackling their emissions can play a vital role in achieving global emissions reduction targets.

4. Enhanced Indoor Air Quality and Energy Savings: multiple benefits of incorporating DAC technology into buildings. Beyond carbon capture, cleaner indoor air has been shown to improve cognitive performance, and is a main driver of employee satisfaction. 

5. Market Potential for Direct Air Capture: the market potential for Soletair's solution is significant, with plans to scale up installations and target net-zero and net-negative emissions in buildings.

LINKS:

Soletair’s story on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quNZki5Vln0

New York City legislation on clean indoor air:

https://www.nyc.gov/site/sustainablebuildings/ll97/local-law-97.page

Study on indoor air quality for employees:

https://hbr.org/2023/11/its-time-for-companies-to-monitor-workplace-air-quality

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Welcome to a special recap episode of the Inside ESG podcast, where we reflect on the significant insights and discussions from our journey through the complex world of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues over the past six months.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaways:

- The importance of recognizing and addressing obvious risks to sustainability, as illustrated by the Gray Rhino concept.

- The critical balance between harnessing natural resources for energy transition and preserving environmental and social integrity.

- The challenges in the EV battery supply chain, including the scarcity of key minerals and the role of innovation and recycling in addressing these issues.

- The significance of robust ESG reporting and sustainability indexing in evaluating and improving corporate sustainability practices.

- The potential of green hydrogen as a versatile and clean energy source for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors.

Looking Ahead:

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of Inside ESG where we'll continue to delve into the evolving landscape of ESG challenges and solutions. Subscribe to our podcast to join the conversation and be part of the journey toward a more sustainable and equitable world.

In this episode we mentioned Inside ESG Advisory Services, which provides expert advice in ESG strategy and integration, performance against different metrics and frameworks, and workshop design and facilitation. To learn more, visit ⁠insideesg.com/advisory⁠ or email ⁠[email protected]⁠. 

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Inside ESG Podcast host Maureen Upton engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Matt McMonagle, CEO and Founder of NovoHydrogen, unveiling the role of green hydrogen in the decarbonized energy mix.

Main Points:

1. Hydrogen and Climate Perspective:

Matt discusses the critical importance of hydrogen in addressing climate issues, emphasizing the need to transition from fossil fuel-derived hydrogen to cleaner alternatives.

2. Understanding Clean Hydrogen Types:

The discussion unfolds to decipher the "hydrogen rainbow" and the distinctions between various hydrogen types - gray, blue, and green. Matt dives into the carbon intensity of production pathways, highlighting NovoHydrogen's focus on green hydrogen.

3. Versatility and Use Cases of Hydrogen:

Explore the diverse applications of hydrogen across industries, from refining and ammonia production to metal finishing and transportation. Matt emphasizes the importance of identifying the right applications for green hydrogen.

4. Project Spotlight: Powering Urban Landscapes with Green Hydrogen:

Matt shares insights into a groundbreaking project in New Jersey, electrically connected to New York City, showcasing how green hydrogen can replace natural gas in peaker plants, ensuring a reliable and resilient energy supply for the bustling city.

5. Green Hydrogen in Challenging Sectors:

The conversation delves into the potential of green hydrogen in challenging sectors, such as the mining industry. Matt provides a glimpse into NovoHydrogen's project to fuel a haul truck fleet with green hydrogen for a US mining company.

6. NovoHydrogen's Business Model:

Matt explains NovoHydrogen's unique business model, focusing exclusively on green hydrogen and adopting a distributed approach. The emphasis is on minimizing midstream transportation, ensuring proximity, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

7. Macroeconomic Tailwinds and Challenges:

The episode explores the macroeconomic factors propelling the hydrogen industry forward, such as legislative support and infrastructure investments. Matt also addresses challenges, including the impact of interest rates and geopolitical instability.

8. Key Takeaways for Stakeholders:

Matt underscores the importance of recognizing green hydrogen as a key solution while acknowledging the nuanced nature of its applications. He encourages stakeholders to adopt a holistic perspective, combining various decarbonization strategies for a comprehensive approach.

Conclusion:

As the conversation concludes, Matt expresses the need for collaboration and a diverse toolkit of solutions to achieve decarbonization goals. Join us in this enlightening episode, gaining valuable insights into the world of green hydrogen and its pivotal role in shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future.

In this episode we mentioned Inside ESG Advisory Services, which provides expert advice in ESG strategy and integration, performance against different metrics and frameworks, and workshop design and facilitation. To learn more, visit insideesg.com/advisory or email [email protected]. 

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How do ESG factors influence the sustainability of electric vehicle (EV) batteries throughout the supply chain? In this episode, hear from Dr. Charlotte Selvey Miller, Head of Sustainability at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, as she delves into the world of EVs, batteries, and their interconnectedness with sustainability. 

Explore how ESG reporting is shaping the landscape of battery supply chains and the broader EV industry. Charlotte unveils the crucial metrics defining environmental, social, and governance impacts within this dynamic sector. Discover how Benchmark's data-driven approach assesses companies across numerous metrics, shedding light on their net-zero plans, gender balance initiatives, and the important role of in-house ESG teams.

Uncover the challenges and surprises within life cycle assessments for batteries, and the critical role they play in the sustainability journey of EVs. Charlotte shares valuable insights gleaned from Benchmark’s Battery Gigafactories conferences, highlighting labor issues, workforce development challenges, and contrasting global policies influencing EV demand and mineral supply.

Join us for an enlightening discussion on ESG's profound impact on EVs, batteries, and the sustainable future of transportation.

Our previous episode “Charging Ahead: The Hidden Challenges of EV Battery Supply” featured Charlotte’s colleague Jessica Roberts, Head of Forecasting for Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

In this episode we mentioned Inside ESG Advisory Services, which provides expert advice in ESG strategy and integration, performance against different metrics and frameworks, or workshop design and facilitation. To learn more, visit insideesg.com/advisory or email [email protected]. 

Also in this episode we mentioned the Volta Foundation, the largest battery industry community, which hosts the Battery Brunch on LinkedIn and provides research, newsletters and career fairs. https://www.volta.foundation/

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Tune in for this preview of our upcoming episode with Dr. Charlotte Selvey Miller, Sustainability Head at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, as she mentions the gap between US and EU support for battery gigafactory development and trained workforce to staff them. Subscribe now so you don't miss out!

In this episode of Inside ESG, our host Maureen Upton is joined by Jessica Roberts, Head of Forecasting for Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Jessica shares insights into the intricate world of the lithium-ion battery supply chain, and you won't believe how many factors are at play.

Key Takeaways:

- Discover the critical components of the lithium-ion battery supply chain, including cathode and anode raw materials, battery chemicals, and more.

- Learn about the alarming shortages in these materials, which pose significant challenges to meeting the rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs).

- Understand the importance of recycling and its role in enhancing supply chain security.

- Explore the workforce shortage in the mining industry and how it impacts the supply chain.

But that's not all; Jessica delves into innovative solutions, such as adjusting battery pack sizes, to bridge the gap between supply and demand in the EV market. 

Don't miss this engaging discussion on the challenges and opportunities in the lithium-ion battery supply chain. Listen now to stay informed about the solutions that will drive the EV revolution.

To see Benchmark’s graphics illustrating the factors at play in the battery supply chain, visit the episode web page at https://insideesg.com/ev-battery-supply

In this episode we mentioned Inside ESG Advisory services, where organizations can access expert advice in ESG strategy and integration, performance against different metrics and frameworks, or workshop design and facilitation. To learn more, visit insideesg.com/advisory or email [email protected]. 

Also in this episode we gave a shout out to the Battery Brunch, a monthly event on LinkedIn from the Volta Foundation. 

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1. Subscribing to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you listen

2. Rating this episode and the show on all of your favorite platforms. 

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As our guest Jessica Roberts mentioned, we have an upcoming episode with her colleague Charlotte Selvey Miller, Benchmark’s Head of Sustainability - subscribe now so you don’t miss it.

Buckle up for an exclusive on-the-ground look at China's New Silk Road expansion in Kazakhstan from Zhanar Faizuldayeva, seasoned ESG consultant. Hear what she learned while auditing the historic IPO of the world's largest uranium producer Kazatomprom, and the hurdles the country will face in launching its nuclear power sector, which will be critical to meet net zero goals. Hear how Kazakhstan prepares to enter the global market for copper, increasingly seen as a critical mineral. Also, Zhanar tells how Russia's invasion of Ukraine rocked Central Asia's stability, with both positive and negative impacts:

How the flood of draft-age Russian men into Kazakhstan drove apartment rents to reach London prices, packed bars in Almaty and caused locals to say "it's raining men".

How supply chain disruptions made essential goods unavailable, from cleaning products to cat food.

How Kazakhstan and its neighbors have seen a resurgence in cultural heritage, fueling a return to local languages instead of Russian.

You won't want to miss this exclusive on-the-ground intelligence.

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This episode was hosted by Maureen Upton and features guest Zhanar

The focus on ESG is often through the lens of risk: its identification, mitigation, and management. Corporate board directors have begun using the term Gray Rhino - was the pandemic a Gray Rhino? How about the war in Ukraine? They're not talking about the pachyderm found in Africa and Asia, but rather the term coined by Michele Wucker, author of the international bestseller The Gray Rhino: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore. In this episode, Michele explains how sustainable development requires "Gray Rhino Wranglers", and her new work on the risk ecosystem.