Sustainable Views

They are meant to help us transition to a greener economy but carbon offsets, and the markets where they are traded, are fraught with controversy. The quality of carbon credits is under scrutiny, as is their use by companies, which may purchase them in lieu of real action towards net zero. Consultancy McKinsey estimates that this space will be worth as much as $50bn by 2030. Used judiciously, carb...

From the environmental impact of certain materials to the huge waste problems caused by discarded clothing, the fashion industry is problematic. Even more so if social factors are taken into account – after construction, fashion is the world’s second biggest driver of modern slavery, according ot the Global Slavery Index. Women represent over three quarters of people involved in abuses. Yet sustai...

Though most of us would understand what the term ‘financial health’ means, there isn’t quite an official definition. That’s a problem if we want policymakers to pay attention to this area.  Ensuring we have enough money at the end of the month should be a concern not just for individuals, but for employers and financial regulators too.  This is what Queen Mȧxima of the Netherlands has be...

London mayor Sadiq Khan wants more power and financing for cities so they can deal with and find solutions to climate change. Cities, after all, are responsible for over two thirds of emissions and local administrations, says Khan, are seen as the “doers”, while national governments are the “delayers”. He thinks that mayors should be part of the UN climate conference negotiations. In fact, COP27,...

Ahead of this year’s UN climate conference, discussions over the responsibility of the world’s richest countries towards developing economies have intensified.  Emerging markets’ contribution to climate change is miniscule, but they are disproportionately hurt by its effects. Think of the catastrophic droughts, floods and hurricanes directly linked to man-made climate change that have crashed...

Silvia and Alison Taylor of NYU Stern School of Business look into the language of sustainability and find it still has a pretty loose grammar and highly convoluted syntax. Most native speakers do not even agree on a common interpretation of environmental, social and governance factors. The good news is: more of us are trying to learn this language. And Alison shares a few tips on how she teaches...

Confused about sustainability? You’re not alone. Environmental, social and governance factors, or ESG, are increasingly a headache for business, finance and world leaders alike. Now even policymakers are creating rules to govern this space. It’s hard to keep up and make sense of it all. So let us help you by sharing some of the most interesting views shaping this space. Join your host, Silvia Pavo...