What does accountability look like in a world shaped by AI, geopolitics, and rising stakeholder expectations? In this episode, Robin Hodess of GRI explores how the role of sustainability reporting is shifting and why companies that treat it as strategic data, not compliance, will be better positioned to compete.

Host Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder at Position Green, sits down with Robin Hodess, CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), to explore how corporate accountability is being reshaped in a world defined by geopolitical tension, technological disruption, and rising expectations.

 As the original standard setter for sustainability reporting—emerging from initiatives that followed major environmental crises like Exxon Valdez—GRI has played a central role in defining how companies measure and communicate their impact. But today, the landscape is far more complex. Accountability is no longer limited to environmental damage. It now includes issues such as data privacy, AI, social inequality, governance, and the broader role of business in society.

Robin Hodess unpacks how sustainability reporting is evolving from a compliance exercise into a critical source of strategic insight. She explains why businesses must move beyond fragmented frameworks and focus on what truly matters, using data to navigate risk, identify opportunities, and make better decisions.

Learn about:

• From reporting to decision making: Why sustainability data is becoming essential for strategy, risk management, and long-term business growth
• The expanding scope of accountability: How issues like AI, data centres, nature, and social impact are redefining what companies are responsible for
• Complexity vs clarity: Why more frameworks and regulation have created confusion and how leaders can focus on what truly matters
• Materiality in practice: How companies can prioritize the most relevant impacts without being overwhelmed by the breadth of ESG topics
• Global fragmentation and standards: What rising geopolitical tensions mean for reporting requirements and why harmonisation matters more than ever
• The business value of transparency: Why 73 percent of studies show a positive link between sustainability reporting and financial performance
• Leadership and credibility: How companies can rebuild trust by moving beyond claims and focusing on evidence, progress, and accountability

Robin Hodess is the CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the world’s leading standard setter for sustainability reporting. With a career spanning finance, ethics, and global governance, she has held senior roles at Transparency International and other international organisations. Robin brings a long term perspective on corporate transparency, accountability, and the role of business in addressing global challenges. Under her leadership, GRI continues to shape how companies measure, manage, and communicate their impact in an increasingly complex world.

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

As geopolitical tensions rise and regulatory frameworks become more fragmented, many executives are questioning how far their responsibility should extend across global value chains. This conversation explores where accountability really sits today and why the debate around human rights, competitiveness, and transparency is reaching an inflection point for global business.

Marcos Neto unpacks new research from UNDP that directly challenges the assumption that human rights due diligence comes at the expense of financial performance. Drawing on a multi year analysis of more than 200 global companies across sectors including apparel, extractives, automotive, ICT, and agriculture, he shares what the data actually shows and why ignoring human rights can pose a real risk to long term value creation.

Learn about:

• Human rights and financial performance Why companies with stronger human rights practices see higher returns on assets and why declining performance carries measurable financial risk

• The myth of lost competitiveness What the evidence says about investor reactions, cost concerns, and profitability

• From policy to decision making Why human rights only matter when embedded into core business processes rather than treated as a reporting exercise

• Regulation, investors, and accountability How responsibility is shaped not only by law but by stakeholder expectations and risk management

• Emerging human rights risks What leaders should watch as business models evolve across areas like AI, data centres, critical raw materials, and reshoring

• Materiality in practice How executives can focus on what truly matters without trying to solve every problem in the world

Marcos Neto is Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director at UNDP, where he leads work on private sector engagement, sustainable finance, and governance. With more than three decades of experience across civil society and international institutions, Marcos works at the intersection of business, human rights, climate, and development. He has been closely involved in advancing global standards on disclosure, due diligence, and the integration of sustainability into corporate decision making.

Resource from this episode

https://www.undp.org/publications/human-rights-vs-competitiveness-false-dilemma

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

Behind every life saving inhaler sits a hidden climate footprint. In this episode, Bespak challenges the status quo, exploring how respiratory products can be redesigned for a low carbon future and why tackling propellant gases and supply chain emissions is one of pharma’s biggest untapped opportunities.

In this episode

Chris Hirst unpacks how Bespak is approaching sustainability at the most granular level: materials, formulations, manufacturing processes, and supplier collaboration. He explains why ESG at Bespak is not a side initiative, but a core business strategy, one that strengthens competitiveness, trust, and long-term value creation.

Learn about:

• Strategic transformation:

Bespak was carved out to become an independent company, strengthening its ability to innovate, move faster, and focus on long-term value creation. How being part of the EQT portfolio makes sustainability a core priority and reinforces responsible growth.

• Sustainability in healthcare manufacturing:

How a traditionally hard-to-decarbonize sector is reducing its footprint and where the biggest opportunities for impact lie.

• Innovation and the low-carbon transition:

Re-engineering essential products like inhalers to cut emissions without compromising patient safety or performance.

• Regulation and responsibility:

How emerging sustainability regulations are shaping R&D priorities, transparency, and long-term business strategy.

• Customer and partner expectations:

Supporting pharma and healthcare customers in meeting decarbonization goals through smarter design and sustainable supply chains.

• Culture and execution:

What it takes to align people and teams to deliver real change during both business transformation and sustainability transitions.

About Chris Hirst 

Chris Hirst is the CEO of Bespak, a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), specializing in inhaled and nasal drug delivery devices and drug-device combination products.

With a deep background in pharmaceutical manufacturing and operations, Chris has led Bespak’s transformation into an independent company with a strong focus on low-carbon innovation, supply-chain collaboration, and science-based climate targets. Under his leadership, Bespak has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and is positioning itself as a partner of choice for sustainable respiratory solutions.

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

What happens when the future of energy meets the reality of climate targets?
In this episode of The Sustainable Edge, host Joachim Nahem sits down with Tomas Qvickström, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Fortum, to explore how major energy players are balancing security, scale, and sustainability in the race to decarbonize.

Tomas Qvickström explains how Fortum is contributing to the clean energy transition in the Nordics and Poland through a balanced energy mix, development of renewables and a comprehensive approach to sustainability that goes beyond emissions. From the drivers of electrification, to helping customers decarbonize through data and guarantees of origin, this episode goes inside the energy systems shaping our climate future.

Learn about:

• Balancing the grid: Why the Nordic "energy plate" model combines flexible, firm, and renewable sources like hydro, nuclear, and wind to power a stable transition.
  
  

• A credible decarbonization path: How Fortum is integrating science-based climate targets and biodiversity goals directly into business strategy and finance.
  
  

• From grid to socket: Why clean energy production doesn't guarantee clean consumption, and how Fortum helps customers track and reduce Scope 2 emissions.
  
  

• Bottlenecks to scale: What's really slowing down renewable investments and how long-term offtake agreements, smart cases for implementation, and policy support can unlock progress.

Tomas Qvickström is Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Fortum, a €16 billion Nordic energy company. He leads Fortum's work on climate, biodiversity, and sustainable finance, helping integrate ESG targets across operational planning and decision-making. Tomas brings a fact-based, systems-level view to one of the world's most complex sustainability challenges: powering the clean transition at scale.

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

What happens when the thrill of motorsport meets the urgency of climate action? In this episode of The Sustainable Edge, host Joachim Nahem sits down with Jennifer Babington from Envision Racing, Operations Director and General Counsel to explore how sport can fuel global momentum for sustainability.

Jennifer Babington reveals how Envision Racing is embedding sustainability into every lap, from freight emissions and clean tech innovation to fan engagement and sponsorship integrity. She takes us behind the scenes of Formula E's three-step climate strategy, and shares how the team is driving measurable change both on and off the track.

Learn about:

• Sustainability at speed – Formula E's framework to measure, reduce, and offset carbon emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.
  
  

• A credible net-zero pathway – How the series plans to cut Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 50% and Scope 3 by 27.5% by 2030, reaching net zero by 2040.
  
  

• Innovation through competition – Why motorsport's transition to electric, circular, and regenerative technologies is shaping the future of clean mobility.
  
  

• The power of platform – How a global audience of 491 million and races in 150+ countries amplify the message of sustainability and action.
  
  

• Race Against Climate Change – How Envision Racing is using gamified engagement, partnerships, and pledges to turn awareness into real-world impact.
  
  

Jennifer Babington is the Operations Director and General Counsel at Envision Racing, a leading team in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. With a background in corporate law and operations leadership, she oversees Envision Racing's sustainability strategy, governance, and stakeholder engagement. Jennifer's work bridges the gap between elite sport and environmental responsibility, proving that high performance and sustainability can, and must go hand in hand.

Inspired by the ideas shared on Sustainable Edge?
Learn more about Envision Racing's Race Against Climate Change and make your own pledge. A tree will be planted for every donation.
https://envision-racing.com/sustainability/

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

In this bite-sized episode of Sustainable Edge, host Joachim Nahem talks with Alison Taylor, clinical professor at NYU Stern School of Business and author of Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World. Alison shares why small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have a unique opportunity to lead on sustainability—without falling into the tick-box trap that often dominates corporate ESG strategies.

Alison explains how SMEs can leverage their agility and focus to build authentic, impactful sustainability strategies. Learn why fewer cultural complexities and a sharper focus on core material issues can help smaller companies not only drive meaningful change but also avoid the reputational risks facing larger corporations. Discover how B2B companies are uniquely positioned to embed environmental and social benefits into their business models while navigating existential challenges.

Alison Taylor is a clinical professor at NYU Stern School of Business and executive director at Ethical Systems. She is a leading voice on ethics, governance, and sustainable business practices. In her book Higher Ground, Alison offers a fresh perspective on how companies can rethink their role in society and build strategies that align purpose with long-term value creation.

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

Lindsay Hooper unpacks how climate disruption is redefining competitive advantage and what business leaders must do to avoid being left behind. She takes us inside the latest thinking from Cambridge, including her co-authored reports Survival of the Fittest: From ESG to Competitive Sustainability and Competing in the Age of Disruption.

• The shifting competitive landscape – Why sustainability is no longer a values issue, but a question of survival and market dominance.
• The ESG bubble burst – How confidence in consumer demand, capital flows, and political consensus has faltered, creating new risks for business leaders.
• From purpose to resilience – Why companies must now focus less on "hero projects" and more on systemic risk, resilience, and market-shaping strategies.
• Agency and advocacy – How companies – especially SMEs – can use their voice and influence to shape regulation, counter lobbying, and build markets of the future.
• Winners and losers in the transition – Which corporations and coalitions are innovating effectively, and why there's no single "right" model for success.

Lindsay Hooper is CEO of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). She has helped build CISL's global education portfolio, with more than 40,000 alumni worldwide, and works closely with boards, policymakers, and industry leaders to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy. A leading voice on the intersection of competitiveness and climate, Lindsay advises on systemic risk, market-shaping interventions, and the commercial implications of sustainability for global business.

• Competing in the Age of Disruption
• Survival of the Fittest: From ESG to Competitive Sustainability

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

In this bite sized episode of The Sustainable Edge, we explore why there's reason for optimism in the climate agenda, from accelerating policy to rapid clean tech adoption.

About David Carlin

David Carlin is a globally recognized authority on climate risk and ESG integration. As founder of Cambium Global Solutions and head of Climate Risk and TCFD at UNEP FI, he has worked with over 100 financial institutions worldwide.

A thought leader on sustainable finance, David champions the importance of credible climate commitments and actionable transition plans. His work spans advising governments, corporates, and financial institutions, shaping the future of climate governance.

You can watch the full episode here: Episode #14: Navigating climate risk: A Conversation with David Carlin on sustainable finance

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

Florian shares the story behind The Ocean Cleanup's rise — from early setbacks and viral breakthroughs to the partnerships, persistence, and purpose driving one of the world's most iconic environmental missions.

Learn about:

• The real story behind The Ocean Cleanup: How a global sailing expedition led Florian to co-founding a non-profit tackling plastic pollution at scale.
  
  

• Failure as fuel: How trial and error became The Ocean Cleanup's greatest advantage — and why Florian embraces iteration over perfection to make impact scalable.
  
  

• From awareness to action: How the team moved from visibility to measurable, system-changing impact.
  
  

• Scaling ambition: The role of business, capital, and storytelling in turning a grassroots project into a global operation.
  
  

Florian Dirkse is a Dutch entrepreneur, sailor, and co-founder of The Ocean Cleanup. After circumnavigating the globe by sailboat, he joined forces with Boyan Slat to launch a global effort to eliminate ocean plastic. Today, Florian is a sought-after speaker and a vocal advocate for taking bold action in service of environmental change.

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD:

In this episode of Sustainable Edge, host Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman at Position Green, sits down with Hilde Nordbø, Executive Vice President for Group Sustainability at DNB, Norway's largest financial services group. Together, they explore the critical role of banks in enabling — and accelerating — the green transition.

With experience at the intersection of banking, policy, and sustainability, Hilde shares how DNB is navigating EU regulation, addressing climate risks that directly impact their business, and remodelling their assessments of clients and customers with ESG factors embedded in the process.

Hilde Nordbø unpacks the unique position full-service banks occupy in the sustainability transition — as capital providers, asset managers, systemic actors, and increasingly, as de-facto standard-setters. This conversation takes you behind the scenes of DNB's sustainability strategy, including discussions on combating the risk of greenwashing, scope 3 emissions, and what "transition finance" really means in practice.

Learn about:

• The role of banks in the real economy.

• Inside DNB's transition plan.

• The credibility challenge.

• Client engagement vs. exclusion.

• Regulation and readiness.

Hilde Nordbø is Executive Vice President of Group Sustainability at DNB. She leads the bank's group-wide sustainability strategy and implementation, including climate targets, regulatory alignment, and sector-specific transition efforts. With a background in finance, ESG, and risk management, Hilde plays a key role in shaping DNB's contribution to the green transition in the Nordic region and beyond.

Resources from this episode:

From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line:

Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards:

Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD: