- 05 Oct 2022
- Climate Rising
Deloitte’s Climate Practice
Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader at Deloitte, shares how Deloitte’s professionals work with companies to help them manage climate risks and pursue opportunities. She talks about how Deloitte’s climate work helps companies improve their strategy, operations, finance, and reporting—and how Deloitte is developing and hiring people to build its sustainability & climate practice. She also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader, Deloitte
- 21 Sep 2022
- Climate Rising
McDonald’s’ Climate Change Efforts
In this special episode produced jointly with the Degrees podcast, Jenny McColloch, McDonald’s Chief Sustainability Officer, shares the challenges of meeting decarbonization goals at one of the world’s largest food service companies. She talks about how their climate action has evolved, and the critical role of their suppliers and franchisees, who operate 90% of McDonald’s restaurants. Jenny also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. Co-hosted with Yesh Pavlik Slenk. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org EDF Degrees podcast host: Yesh Pavlik Slenk, Senior Manager, Climate Corps Guest: Jenny McColloch, Chief Sustainability Officer, McDonald’s
- 07 Sep 2022
- Climate Rising
How Environmental Defense Fund Engages Companies on Climate Policy
Victoria Mills, Managing Director of Environmental Defense Fund’s EDF+Biz program discusses how some companies are starting to advocate for more stringent climate policies as they see climate change affecting their operations, supply chains, and communities. She also describes how EDF acts as both advisor and catalyst to their engagement, shares some challenges and opportunities of working with companies on climate policy, and offers advice for those interested in pursuing a career in climate and business. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org Guest: Victoria Mills, Managing Director, Environmental Defense Fund+Business
- 24 Aug 2022
- Climate Rising
How CDP Drives Corporate Climate Disclosure
Paul Dickinson, Founder Chair, CDP, shares how CDP works with investors to drive companies toward greater transparency by disclosing carbon emissions and other environmental indicators. He talks about how CDP is evolving in the face of new disclosure regulation, corporate disclosure trends, including expanding CDP’s reach to include water and forestry. Paul also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Paul Dickinson, Founder Chair, CDP.
- 10 Aug 2022
- Climate Rising
How Ceres Supports Corporate Boards to Accelerate Climate Action
Steven Rothstein, Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets, shares how Ceres works with corporate boards to facilitate systemic change in private sector climate action, including why boards are a critical part of the equation. He also talks about how the recent proposed SEC disclosure rule could change boards’ roles on climate change, and offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Steven Rothstein, Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets
- 27 Jul 2022
- Climate Rising
How RMI Collaborates with Companies to Accelerate the Energy Transition
Jules Kortnenhorst, CEO of RMI, shares how RMI works with companies in the transportation, cement, and steel sectors to encourage the rapid energy transition necessary to mitigate climate change. He also talks about RMI’s global partnerships, innovative energy programs, and accelerators—and describes how his experience in the HBS MBA program shaped his career journey, and offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Jules Kortenhorst, CEO, RMI
- 13 Jul 2022
- Climate Rising
How World Wildlife Fund Partners with Companies on Climate Change
Carter Roberts, President/CEO of World Wildlife Fund-US, shares what successful climate collaborations between companies and environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs) look like in practice, and how ENGOs can help by sharing their expertise and even pushing companies to take bolder action on climate change. Carter also talks about how being an HBS MBA student shaped his career in the private sector and nonprofit space, and offers advice for others interested in careers in climate and business. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Carter Roberts, President and CEO, World Wildlife Fund-US
- 18 May 2022
- Climate Rising
How New Belgium is Fighting Climate Change One Pint at a Time
Katie Wallace, Chief ESG Officer of New Belgium Brewing Company, and Adam Fetcher, Senior Director of Communications and Public Engagement, discuss how climate change’s impacts on their operations and ingredients led them to engage with policymakers and take their climate message to their beer customers. They share how the company has integrated climate action into its operations and supply chain, how they encourage customers to hold companies accountable for the climate plans, and offer advice for those interested in pursuing a career in climate and business. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guests: Katie Wallace, Chief ESG Officer, New Belgium Brewing Company & Adam Fetcher, Senior Director of Communications and Public Engagement, New Belgium Brewing Company
- 04 May 2022
- Climate Rising
How Footwear Startup Allbirds is Decarbonizing Fashion
In this bonus episode, sustainable footwear brand Allbirds co-founder and co-CEO Joey Zwillinger, Prof. Michael Toffel, and Cold Call host Brian Kenny discuss the growing environmental impact of the fashion industry, and how Allbirds is balancing a critical tension between sharing its know-how and material innovations with competitors to scale its efforts to decarbonize fashion, while also retaining brand differentiation. This was originally broadcast on the HBS Cold Call podcast episode profiling the HBS case, “Allbirds: Decarbonizing Fashion,” which Prof. Toffel wrote with Ken Pucker and Eren Kuzucu. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Joey Zwillinger, co-founder and co-CEO, Allbirds
- 20 Apr 2022
- Climate Rising
XPRIZE: Accelerating Climate Change Solutions
Marcius Extavour, XPRIZE’s VP-Climate and Energy, discusses how his organization designs competitions to spur innovations for carbon removal and carbon utilization (converting greenhouse gasses into products). In discussing the Carbon XPRIZE and Carbon Removal XPRIZE competitions, Marcius explains how the prize model fosters solutions that address certain climate problems. He describes what makes for a successful climate-tech pitch, and shares specific resources for those interested in innovating and investing in climate tech. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
- 06 Apr 2022
- Climate Rising
How Harvard is Going Fossil-Fuel Free
Jaclyn Olsen, Associate Director of Harvard’s Office for Sustainability, and Erin Craig, Vice President of 3 Degrees, a climate solutions firm hired by Harvard, discuss the University’s goal to be fossil-fuel neutral by 2026 and fossil-fuel free by 2050. Jaclyn and Erin discuss Harvard’s carbon footprint, its efforts to reduce emissions and realize health benefits, and its emerging strategy on carbon offsets. And they share with us their advice for those interested in entering a climate and business career. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guests: Jaclyn Olsen, Associate Director of Harvard University’s Office for Sustainability and Erin Craig, Vice President of 3Degrees.
- 23 Mar 2022
- Climate Rising
Strengthening Carbon Offsets: The Oxford Offsetting Principles
Myles Allen, Professor of Geosystem Science at the University of Oxford and Director of the Oxford Net Zero initiative, discusses the controversy over carbon offsets and how the Oxford Offsetting Principles can help organizations reduce risk and improve transparency in their use of carbon offsets to support their net zero goals. Myles also talks about what the University of Oxford is doing to address its own emissions, and shares the advice he gives his students interested in embarking on climate change careers. For transcripts and other resources, visit; climaterising.org. Guest: Myles Allen, Professor of Geosystem Science in the School of Geography and the Environment and Department of Physics at the University of Oxford, and Director of the Oxford Net Zero initiative.
- 09 Mar 2022
- Climate Rising
The Aspen Institute’s Shipping Decarbonization Initiative
Ingrid Irigoyen, Director of the Aspen Institute Shipping Decarbonization Initiative, discussesthe importance of decarbonizing global maritime shipping, the opportunities and challenges, andhow the Aspen Institute is working with Amazon, IKEA, Unilever, Michelin, and othercompanies to accelerate the effort. Ingrid also talks about how her background in mediationhelps her convene and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and she reflects on why a career inclimate mitigation is a rewarding long-term strategy. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Ingrid Irigoyen, Director, Aspen Institute Shipping Decarbonization Initiative; AssociateDirector, Ocean and Climate, for the Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program
- 23 Feb 2022
- Climate Rising
Supply Chain Decarbonization: Walmart’s Project Gigaton
Kathleen McLaughlin, Chief Sustainability Office at Walmart, Inc. and President of the WalmartFoundation, discusses how Walmart plans to achieve its goal to avoid a gigaton–a billion metrictons–of greenhouse gas emissions in its global supply chain by 2030. She shares some of thechallenges and opportunities of operating on such a large scale and offers advice for thoseinterested in working in the business and climate change space. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Kathleen McLaughlin, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer,Walmart, Inc.; President, Walmart Foundation
- 09 Feb 2022
- Climate Rising
How BlocPower is Decarbonizing Buildings
Donnel Baird, founder and CEO of BlocPower, a climate tech startup, describes why decarbonizing the buildings sector is both a challenge and an opportunity, why he chose this corner of the climate tech space, and how BlocPower is working with the city of Ithaca to electrify its entire building stock. Donnel shares lessons learned on his journey as an entrepreneur and a few recommendations for launching climate tech startups. Guest: Donnel Baird, founder and CEO, BlocPower. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.
- 26 Jan 2022
- Climate Rising
The HP Way to Net Zero
Ellen Jackowski, HP’s Chief Impact Officer, describes the company’s climate targets and how HP is shifting its business model to respond to climate change. She explains how HP is both engaging their employees in the effort and meeting customer demands for increased climate action. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
- 19 Jan 2022
- Climate Rising
Making Infrastructure Climate Ready: Alice Hill, Council on Foreign Relations
In early 2021, a severe winter storm knocked out Texas’ power grid for days, leaving millions shivering in the dark and killing hundreds of residents. Other states have also been caught off guard by extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. This episode of the Deep Background podcast features , Alice Hill who led the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s effort to develop its first-ever climate resilience plan, being interviewed by Harvard Law School professor Noah Feldman. Hill explains what Texas’ electrical grid collapse means for the United States’ infrastructure at large. She also makes recommendations to start preparing infrastructure to be more resilient to extreme weather events. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
- 12 Jan 2022
- Climate Rising
Climate Change Lessons from the U.S. Navy: Forest Reinhardt & Michael Toffel
Climate change poses two very different challenges to the U.S. Navy. First, the Navy has to buttress its billions of dollars of shoreline assets against rising sea levels. Second, it has to plan to be called on more often to address both military threats and humanitarian crises caused by climate change. In this episode of HBR Idea Cast, Climate Rising host Harvard Business School professor Mike Toffel and his colleague Forest Reinhardt discuss how the U.S. Navy is both addressing climate change and adapting to it. They explain what the private sector can learn from the Navy’s scientific and sober view of the world. Reinhardt and Toffel are the authors of the Harvard Business Review article, “Managing Limate Change: Lessons from the U.S. Navy”. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org Resources: S. Department of Defense report: DOD Installation Exposure to Climate Change at Home and Abroad (April 2021)
- 05 Jan 2022
- Climate Rising
Rebecca Henderson: Can Capitalism Address Climate Change
As the impacts of climate change mount, questions have arisen about whether the capitalist economic system we have in place is able to adequately address them. But what if, rather than upending the system, we recognized the power capitalism offers when it is properly regulated? In this episode of the Ask a Harvard Professor podcast, Harvard Business School Professor Rebecca Henderson talks through her own efforts to reconcile the climate crisis with her faith in the ingenuity of capitalism. “I believe that at the moment, our capitalism is also neither free nor fair,” she says. “The free market works when everyone can take part, and prices reflect real costs”—when polluters have to pay the cost of emitting fossil fuels. Henderson walks us through her vision for reimagining the system to address climate change by returning to its roots and building just and sustainable capitalism. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org
Bain’s Climate Consulting
Cate Hight, an expert partner in Bain’s Sustainability & Responsibility and Energy & Natural Resources practices, shares how the company’s strategy, operations, customer value, and transformation work help enable their consulting and private equity clients identify opportunities associated with climate change and mitigate climate risks. She also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Cate Hight, Expert Partner in Sustainability and Responsibility and Energy and Natural Resources practices, Bain.