Sustainable connections

In this episode of the Sustainable Connections podcast, host Mark Lee speaks to ERM colleagues Ricardo Zibas, Linden Edgell, and Alexandra Guaqueta as they share their reflections from COP30 in Belém, Brazil. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 18 November, towards the end of COP, and explores the summit’s unique focus on implementation, just transition, and the integration of climate, nature, and people. 

Listen to learn more about:

• What sets COP30 apart from previous COPs
• The role of the private sector and implications for companies
• How momentum from Belém can drive action ahead of COP31 

Related links

• ERM COP30 takeaways week one
• What will Brazil’s implementation COP deliver?
• Business Leaders Guide to a Just Climate Transition

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by Darren Stralow, CEO of Bellevue Gold, and Dr Mary Stewart, ERM’s Lead Partner for Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change in Australia. Together, they explore Bellevue Gold’s journey to becoming the world’s first net zero gold mine and discuss the evolving role of sustainability in the mining sector. From regulatory shifts and investor expectations to decarbonization strategies, their discussion delves into how Bellevue Gold is navigating industry challenges while pursuing innovative approaches to sustainability and responsible mining.

Their conversation covers:

• Sustainability as a strategic advantage 
• Decarbonizing gold: avoid, eliminate, reduce, offset
• The future of sustainability in mining

Related links:

• Mission Critical: Resilient mines for a modern society
• Episode 33: We are all miners: Rethinking mining investment featuring Appian Capital
• Sustainability that pays: Defining a credible business case for investing in sustainability in mining and metals

In our first video Sustainable Connections podcast, host Mark Lee speaks with ERM colleagues Linden Edgell, Sabine Hoefnagel, and Liam Walsh about their experience at and impressions of Climate Week New York 2025. 

Listen and watch to hear their views including:

• The overall mood as compared to prior years and to London Climate Action Week a few months ago.
• A summary of key topics and themes, from the roles of investors and customers in providing capital and shaping demand for low-carbon products and services, to how companies are working to address the social impacts of decarbonization and adaptation and the ways carbon markets are evolving.
• The differences in regional and sectoral approaches to climate solutions and what businesses need to do to adapt their strategies to successfully navigate varied policy and societal terrain.
• New ways technology and innovation are spurring development of more sustainable products and services capable of winning greater market share.
• How sustainability leaders need to evolve their leadership style to support the market transformation that building a net-zero carbon future requires.
• Expectations for how issues swirling at Climate Week may shape COP30 in Belém, Brazil this November. 

Watch the full episode on Youtube 

Find out more about ERM at Climate Week NYC

In this episode, Mark Lee speaks to Silvio Lima, Head of Corporate Affairs, ESG and Community Engagement at Appian Capital Advisory and Conor Grieve, Principal Consultant at ERM, to discuss how mine development can be made more sustainable. They explore how approaches like technical arbitrage, ESG integration, and social integration are reshaping the mining investment landscape.

Their conversation covers:

·       How technical arbitrage can unlock value

·       Using ESG as a strategic lever in mining investment

·       The importance of building community trust through social integration

·       Lessons from Mineração Vale Verde

Related links:

Sustainability that pays: Defining a credible business case for investing in sustainability in mining and metals

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by ERM colleagues Mathias Lelievre, Linden Edgell and Andrew Probert to unpack their key takeaways from London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2025. Together, they reflect on evolving business approaches to sustainability quantification and implementation, and explore how climate strategy is adapting during current global geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Their conversation covers:

• Climate strategy in a shifting business environment
• Shifting from broad goals to measurable actions
• People-centred transition and global-local balance

Related links:

Volatility to value creation: Five key takeaways from London Climate Action Week 2025 

Navigating change: Delivering sustainability value in a volatile world

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by Vicente Saiso Alva, Global Vice President of Sustainability at Cemex, and Greg Koch, Technical Consulting Director at ERM, to discuss Cemex’s recent achievement of zero freshwater use and how companies can better manage water risk in their operations.

Their conversation covers:

·       Cemex’s zero freshwater use achievement

·       Responding to increasing water scarcity

·       Collaborating with stakeholders to manage water

·       Investment and innovation in water

Related Links:

Cemex 2024 Integrated Report

In this episode, Mark Lee speaks to Johann Weicht, Jennifer Klie and Aiste Brackley about the latest updates to the EU Omnibus regulation. The Omnibus proposals aim to streamline the CSRD, CSDDD, EU Taxonomy and CBAM are expected to bring significant changes to the regulated sustainability disclosure and due diligence landscape. The episode delves into what these changes mean for businesses and how companies can best navigate compliance.  

Their conversation covers: 

• What is the EU Omnibus and why is it so important?
• What are the main changes to each policy?
• Key recommendations for companies
• The impact of the EU Omnibus and next steps 

Please note that this conversation was recorded on Friday 4th April 2025. 

Related content: 

• EU Omnibus update: European Parliament agrees to ‘stop-the-clock,’ but the EU Omnibus debate continues
• Reporting & Disclosure
• EU Omnibus Policy Alert

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by Anne-Laure Brison, Senior Manager of Circular Products and Materials at World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD); Titta Rosvall-Puplett, Chief Sustainability Officer at Syensqo; and Cristina Pellegrino, ERM Global Industry Leader of Chemicals, to discuss “Towards Planet Positive Chemicals, A Chemical Transformation Roadmap” report created by WBCSD, ERM and nine leading chemical companies. 

Their conversation covers:

·       Current challenges confronting the chemical industry

·       Portfolio transformation and how it can be achieved  

·       What does nature positivity mean for the chemical industry

·       The importance of value chain collaboration  

Related content:

Towards Planet Positive Chemicals: WBCSD ‘s Chemical Transformation Roadmap

Mark Lee talks with the authors of ERM’s Annual Trends Report - Aiste Brackley, Andrew Angle, Rebecca Green and Ricardo Zibas – about the key business sustainability trends to expect across the globe in 2025, from climate change to AI, and how companies can respond. 

Their conversation covers:  

• Changes to the sustainability landscape in 2025 
• Progress towards the Paris Agreement climate goals 
• Managing supply chain challenges 
• AI and technology trends driving the sustainability agenda 
• How to drive sustainability through collaboration 

Related Links:

2025 Annual Trends Report: The Path Forward for Sustainable Business
2025 Annual Trends Webinar

The Asia Pacific (APAC) region holds immense potential for wind energy. From 2024 to 2030, APAC is expected to account for 61% of global new wind capacity. As the industry looks to ramp up the pace of new capacity installations, the APAC region has an important role in delivering the wind energy needed for the global net zero transition.  

Mark Lee talks to Feng Zhao, Chief Research Officer at the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), and Breanne Gellatly, Renewables Partner at ERM, about what needs to be done to accelerate wind energy in Asia Pacific. They also discuss their new report on building the Asia Pacific wind energy supply chain for a 1.5°C world. 

Their conversation covers: 

• Current challenges of accelerating wind energy development in APAC 
• Tackling wind supply chain and installation bottlenecks in APAC 
• Opportunities for APAC countries to scale up wind supply chains 
• How different stakeholders can collaborate to reach APAC wind targets  

Related link 

Building the Asia Pacific wind energy supply chain for a 1.5°C world - Global Wind Energy Council