In this thought-provoking episode of Future of Finance, host Georges Dyer sits down with Matt Orsagh, co-founder of the Arketa Institute and former Senior Director at the CFA Institute, to explore the emerging frontier of ecological economics and the imperative of moving beyond traditional growth-based economic models. Drawing on decades of experience in finance and sustainability, Matt outlines the vision behind Arketa’s mission: reimagining finance within planetary boundaries and transitioning to a post-growth economy that prioritizes well-being, community, and environmental limits. The conversation explores the shortcomings of GDP as a success metric for economic success, the flaws of neoclassical economic models, the promise of policies like universal basic income and the four-day workweek, and the practical implications for finance professionals. With urgency and clarity, Matt argues for a transformation not just in our financial systems, but in our cultural definitions of prosperity and purpose.

Episode resources (links to books, articles, organization mentioned in the episode)

Keywords

Post-Growth Finance, Ecological Economics, Sustainability, Planetary Boundaries, ESG Investing, Degrowth, Community Wealth, Systemic Risk, Finance Reform, Arketa Institute

In this episode of Future of Finance, host Georges Dyer speaks with Joe Sumberg, Managing Partner and Head of Real Estate at Galvanize Climate Solutions. They dive into how the real estate sector, responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions, presents major opportunities for profitable decarbonization. Joe shares his journey from Goldman Sachs to launching Galvanize’s real estate group, discusses why retrofitting existing buildings beats new "green" developments, and explains the critical role of incentives, technology, and policy in achieving net zero buildings. They also explore the complex interplay of utilities, local regulations like New York City's Local Law 97, and climate resilience in shaping investment strategies. Joe emphasizes that real estate sustainability must be performance-driven, with profitability and resilience at the core, not greenwashing.

Real Estate Decarbonization, Climate Resilient Investing, Net Zero Buildings, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Sustainable Real Estate, Energy Transition, Climate Policy and Real Estate, Building Retrofits, ESG Investing, Local Law 97

In this episode, Georges Dyer is joined by Heather Beatty, founder and CEO of ScopeFour Capital, to discuss climate-focused investing and how public markets can play a pivotal role in driving the transition to a net-zero economy. Heather shares insights on identifying companies that offer real-world climate solutions through two key frameworks: Project Drawdown and the Crane Tool. She explains how her approach differs from traditional climate strategies and highlights sectors critical for decarbonization, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy. Heather also touches on the importance of capital allocation, challenges in scaling climate solutions, and the role of policy and regulation in shaping this transition. This conversation provides an in-depth view of how finance can combat climate change and why investors need to act swiftly to meet global emissions reduction targets.

Climate Finance, Net-Zero Economy, Public Markets, Decarbonization, Climate Solutions, Project Drawdown, Climate Investing, Capital Allocation, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability

Welcome to The Roundup Recap, your quick way to catch up on the most important updates in sustainable and impact investing, all in one bite-sized episode. This mini-podcast, summarized by AI, distills the core insights from the Weekly News Roundup of the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) into a radio-style conversation.

To be clear - real humans on the IEN team curate and compile the latest news and updates into our weekly email newsletter.  We then put into the AI platform NotebookLM, which generates this audio podcast -- the voices you hear are not real people, but they do an eerily effective job at bringing our News Roundup to life.

Each week, we sift through the latest developments—whether it's breaking news, key articles, or notable trends—and pull out the information that truly matters. The format is designed for busy professionals who want to stay informed without wading through all the details.

Want to receive the Weekly News Round-Up to your inbox every week? Subscribe here!

This week’s roundup explores the growing convergence of finance and sustainability, spotlighting how carbon markets are evolving into a serious asset class, particularly for institutional investors seeking both returns and climate alignment. The episode highlights a deep dive from the Future of Finance podcast, new insights from Schroders suggesting impact can be a source of alpha, and community-centered work like that of the Blackfeet-led Piikani Lodge Health Institute. It also covers key upcoming events—including IEN’s virtual forum and a DEI-focused Chatham House Rule discussion—alongside timely topics like data centers' energy demands, shareholder engagement wins, and the intersection of AI, human rights, and ESG policy. Together, these stories reflect a dynamic and increasingly complex impact investing landscape where doing good and delivering returns are not just compatible—they're becoming interlinked.

In this episode of the Future of Finance podcast, host Georges Dyer sits down with Mike Azlen, founder and CEO of Carbon Cap Management, to explore the powerful role carbon markets can play in addressing climate change. With a deep background in asset management, Mike’s analytical approach and thorough research led to a deep personal commitment to finding effective ways to address the climate crisis. Mike shares how market-based approaches to reduce carbon emissions can deliver strong returns for investors and drive GHG emission reduction. The conversation dives into how carbon pricing works, the opportunities for institutional investors, and the broader implications of internalizing environmental externalities in the financial system. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of climate, finance, policy, and systemic change.

Carbon markets, Climate change, Sustainable finance, Carbon Cap Management, Mike Azlen, Institutional investors, Carbon pricing, Environmental externalities, World Carbon Fund, Market-based climate solutions, Cap and Trade 

Welcome to The Roundup Recap, your quick way to catch up on the most important updates in sustainable and impact investing, all in one bite-sized episode. This mini-podcast, summarized by AI, distills the core insights from the Weekly News Roundup of the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) into a radio-style conversation.

To be clear - real humans on the IEN team curate and compile the latest news and updates into our weekly email newsletter.  We then put into the AI platform NotebookLM, which generates this audio podcast -- the voices you hear are not real people, but they do an eerily effective job at bringing our News Roundup to life.

Each week, we sift through the latest developments—whether it's breaking news, key articles, or notable trends—and pull out the information that truly matters. The format is designed for busy professionals who want to stay informed without wading through all the details.

Want to receive the Weekly News Round-Up to your inbox every week? Subscribe here!

In this April 3, 2025 edition of The Roundup Recap, we distill the top stories from IEN’s Weekly News Roundup into a fast-paced, AI-narrated conversation for impact-focused investors. This week’s highlights include a deep dive into fossil-free retirement investing with Sphere, rising calls for transparency around corporate political activity, and how institutions like Oberlin College and the Russell Family Foundation are leading by example. We also explore the evolving role of AI in sustainability, shifting global policy landscapes, and upcoming events like the IEN Virtual Forum and Oberlin's Impact Investing Symposium. Whether it’s shareholder engagement, market-driven clean energy growth, or adaptation in the face of climate risk, this episode connects the dots on the forces reshaping sustainable finance.

In this episode of Future of Finance, host George Dyer speaks with Alex Wright-Gladstein, founder and CEO of Sphere, a mutual fund company revolutionizing retirement investing by offering fossil fuel-free options. Many people unknowingly invest in fossil fuels through their 401(k)s, as plan administrators often default to funds with heavy industry exposure. And many plans don’t even offer options that would give people the choice to avoid the sector if they want to. Alex shares insights on the financial risks of fossil fuel investments, the growing demand for sustainable investing, and the power of divestment. She also provides actionable steps for individuals to push for fossil fuel-free options in their retirement plans.

Sustainable investing, Fossil fuel divestment, ESG funds, 401(k) investments, Retirement savings, Impact investing, Mutual funds, Climate finance, Sphere investments, Green finance, Climate investing, Fossil fuel free investing 

Welcome to The Roundup Recap, your quick way to catch up on the most important updates in sustainable and impact investing, all in one bite-sized episode. This mini-podcast, summarized by AI, distills the core insights from the Weekly News Roundup of the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) into a radio-style conversation.

To be clear - real humans on the IEN team curate and compile the latest news and updates into our weekly email newsletter.  We then put into the AI platform NotebookLM, which generates this audio podcast -- the voices you hear are not real people, but they do an eerily effective job at bringing our News Roundup to life.

Each week, we sift through the latest developments—whether it's breaking news, key articles, or notable trends—and pull out the information that truly matters. The format is designed for busy professionals who want to stay informed without wading through all the details.

Want to receive the Weekly News Round-Up to your inbox every week? Subscribe here!

Episode Resources

In this episode of The Future of Finance, host Georges Dyer welcomes Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt, a pioneering scientist and sustainability expert, to discuss the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD). They explore how businesses, investors, and policymakers can use a systems-thinking approach to address sustainability challenges and identify opportunities for innovation. Dr. Robèrt shares insights from his decades of work, including the founding of The Natural Step and the Masters in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability (MSLS) program. The conversation delves into the role of finance in enabling systemic change, the importance of strategic boundary conditions, and how AI can support sustainability planning.

Sustainability, Strategic investment, Systems thinking, Finance and sustainability, The Natural Step, Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD), Sustainable innovation, AI in sustainability, Circular economy, ESG investing

In this episode of Future of Finance, host Georges Dyer speaks with Tom Ferguson, founder and managing partner at Burnt Island Ventures, to explore the critical intersection of water and finance. With climate change exacerbating global water challenges, Tom discusses how water innovation presents both a moral imperative and an investment opportunity. He shares insights on the pressing need for resilient water infrastructure, the role of venture capital in water-related startups, and groundbreaking innovations like subsea desalination and AI-powered utility management. The conversation also touches on the financial implications of water scarcity, the importance of affordable access, and the overlooked role of water in global emissions. 

Water innovation, Climate resilience, Venture capital, Water scarcity, Desalination, Sustainable finance, Water infrastructure, Utility management, Emissions reduction, Future of water

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