ESG Quick Takes

ESG Quick Takes

by ESG Book

Investing Science

Season 1

3 - The Big Disruptor of the Finance Industry

In the third episode of Arabesque's Decoding Sustainable Finance, Ulrika is joined by Yasin Rosowsky, Co-CEO of Arabesque AI, to discuss AI and how it is transforming the world of finance.

Quick Take 2 - Taking corporate sustainability local: the case of NYC

In this episode of Decoding Sustainable Finance Quick Takes, we look at the role of finance and businesses in local sustainability efforts – zooming in on NYC. Our guest is Marianna Koval from NYU Stern’s Center for Sustainable Business, who tells us about the challenges she faces in pushing for corporate sustainability in the densest city of the US, and where she sees the most potential for progress. Find more about Marianna’s work with NYU on the Invest NYC SDG Initiative website.

2 - The Rise of Climate Investing

In the second episode of Arabesque's Decoding Sustainable Finance, Ulrika is joined by Thomas Schafbauer, Partner at Arabesque Asset Management, to discuss climate investing and its impact on both finance and sustainability.

Quick Take 1 - The Evolving Language of Climate Change

For our first Quick Takes, we look into how we talk about climate change, and how that changed over time. "Climate change" is a loaded term. Its just two words, but people have very different connotations. What are the messages implied in how we talk climate change and the environment, and what can we do to have a more constructive conversation around the issue? For answers, we spoke with Min Low, product manager at Arabesque, who recently published on this topic of the changing language of climate change.

1 - The Evolving Regulatory Landscape

In the first episode of Arabesque's Decoding Sustainable Finance, Ulrika is joined by Inna Amesheva, Arabesque Director of ESG Regulatory Solutions, to discuss the ever-changing regulatory landscape.

The SEC's Climate Disclosure Rule on Pause: What Happens Next?

In April 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission paused the implementation of its recently released climate disclosure rules requiring companies to report on climate-related risks and emissions, as it awaits a court review of the new rules following a series of legal challenges by several states and business groups. In this ESG Quick Takes episode, host Isabel Verkes speaks to Pamela L. Marcogliese, Partner and Head of US Corporate Advisory and Governance at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, on what happens next with the SEC Climate Disclosure Rule, and the implications of the pause for US corporations and investors.

NYU Stern Professor Alison Taylor: Higher Ground - How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World

In this new ESG Quick Takes episode, host Isabel Verkes speaks to NYU Stern Professor Alison Taylor, author of the new book ‘Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World’. Discussing the themes of the book, Professor Taylor argues that amid stakeholder demands and transparency pressures, we can no longer treat ethics as a legal and reputational defence mechanism. Offering vivid stories and examples, Professor Taylor brings this complex, risky environment alive to provide a blueprint for how leaders should rethink and reshape their practices. How can CEOs cut through the noise to set robust environmental and social priorities? When should they speak out on contentious social and political issues - and how? What does it really take to build a healthy organisational culture? And how are we to approach corporate values when society is so divided? Tune in to as Professor Taylor explains how business can navigate this paradigm shift, build trust, and achieve long-term strategic advantage in a turbulent world.

Todd Cort on the links between sustainability metrics and financial performance, and why the debate continues.

In this new ESG Quick Takes episode, host Isabel Verkes speaks to Yale University's Todd Cort on the links between sustainability metrics and financial performance. Despite various studies over the past decade showing a correlation between financial returns and ESG performance, do we have sufficient data showing the causal links explaining that relationship? Dr. Cort discusses some of the challenges around ESG and financial materiality, and how the debate is continuing to evolve. Faculty Director of Yale University’s sustainability program, Dr. Cort works at the intersection of sustainability and investor value. Over the course of 20 years, in consulting and academia, he has applied a scientific and economic lens to corporate social and environmental responsibility (or sustainability) in order to identify the tools, mechanisms, metrics and indicators that create the greatest value for investors, businesses and society.

Professor Ioannis Ioannou: Why there is no such thing as a sustainable company (it's complicated...)

In this ESG Quick Takes episode, host Isabel Verkes speaks to Ioannis Ioannou, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School, and a world-leading expert in sustainability leadership and corporate responsibility. During the episode, Ioannis explains the evolution of the corporate sustainability movement over the past two decades, how it continues to be shaped by a series of major global trends, and why there is no such thing as a ‘sustainable’ company. Tune in to hear Isabel and Ioannis discuss sustainability disruption, the recent ESG backlash and culture wars, and how we should view the purpose of the modern-day company.

Damilola Ogunbiyi on Clean Energy in Emerging Markets - Anticipating COP28

Energy access and clean energy development in emerging markets will be at the forefront of COP28 this year. In this episode, ESG Book's Isabel Verkes speaks to Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (UN SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. Ahead of COP, listen to Damilola's expert take on why there is a lot to win on clean energy access in emerging markets, and why we have many reasons to be hopeful. For more info on Sustainable Energy for All, click here.

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