Could Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche’s late-stage antibiotic trials signal new hope against antibiotic‐resistant pathogens? On this special REPLAY episode (originally aired August 2024), we take a deep dive into the state of antimicrobial resistance, from hospital wards to farm fields. As these microscopic threats drive up healthcare costs, jeopardize food security, and reshape insurance risk worldwide, understanding the crisis has never been more critical. But while the need to act is clear, the solutions remain complex. In this episode, we examine whether there’s a compelling investment case for fighting back, and what that could mean for the future of global health.

Host: Bentley Kaplan

Guest: Namita Nair

In this episode, we dive deep into the critical role of adaptation finance in helping Asia face the escalating impacts of climate change. As the region experiences rising temperatures and extreme weather events, the demand for resilience-building solutions is greater than ever. With a growing population, rapid urbanization, and a heavy reliance on agriculture, Asia is uniquely vulnerable, but also primed for innovation and growth in climate resilience. Tune in to understand the challenges, opportunities, and investment potential in climate adaptation for Asia’s future.

Episode reading list: https://www.msci-institute.com/themes/climate/how-adaptation-finance-can-help-asia-withstand-a-hotter-future/

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Umar Ashfaq, MSCI Sustainability Institute

Tariffs and tangled supply chains: This week, we explore how commercial aerospace and defense companies are navigating a new wave of trade restrictions. From Boeing to Lockheed Martin, what do transparency and oversight mean when the stakes — and the sky —are high? 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

From car factories to aluminum smelters to textiles, the purported goal of the Trump administration is to 'reshore' American manufacturing. Its a goal, in part, supported by his predecessor, Joe Biden, who enacted the CHIPS act to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to America. So, let's say manufacturing does come back and companies expand their current factories to meet demand.  What climate-driven risks—water shortages, extreme heat, or flooding—will these sites face, and where will those hazards hit hardest? We’ll explore the answers on this episode of Sustainability Now!

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Katie Towey, MSCI ESG Research

Newly imposed U.S. tariffs have triggered market volatility and strategic recalibrations across industries. In this episode, we explore the role of supply chain traceability in managing risk — from regulatory exposure to sustainability trade-offs. 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Aura Dron, MSCI ESG Research

As I type this, we are in the midst of a market sell off. So, it’s a perfect time to look at what happened to our ESG indexes during the last market sell offs. Worrisome times!

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Xinxin Wang, MSCI ESG Research

Does the defense industry have an ESG problem? Is there such a thing as an ethical bomb? These are questions emerging as the European Union ramps up investment in its defense sector as part of a broader rearmament effort. In this episode, we examine whether these concerns are well-founded or simply a dubious proposition. 

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Olga Emelianova, MSCI ESG Research 

Egg prices in the US have soared, but is avian flu the only culprit? This week, we crack open the structural issues in the egg industry, from supply chain vulnerabilities to price-fixing allegations. Plus, what it all means for investors — and your breakfast. 

Host: Bentley Kaplan, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Cole Martin, MSCI ESG Research

In February 2025, the EU Commission proposed the first Omnibus Package of sustainability rules, with the aim of simplifying and reducing EU sustainability reporting requirements. But did it work? Has the outcome been "good" or "bad"? And what are these new rules set to do to the future of sustainable finance in the EU? Listen to this episode of ESG now to find out!

NOTE: The first 12:10 of this episode provides a background of what the Omnibus proposal actually proposes. If you just want our takes on the good, the bad, and the future of this proposal, skip that section!

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guest: Simone Ruiz-Vergote, MSCI ESG Research

Banks face growing pressure from regulators to assess the risks climate change poses to their loan portfolios. Some regions, like Europe, are tightening standards, while others, like the U.S., remain hesitant. Our latest research reveals that banks with high exposure to industrials—especially in APAC—could see default risks rise by 50% over the next decade. Will global banks adapt, or are we heading toward a financial blind spot? Find out on this episode of ESG now!

Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG Research

Guests: Anja Ludzuweit and Guilherme de Melo Silva, MSCI ESG Research