The Sustainability Agenda: Recent Episodes
CIBC
Welcome to The Sustainability Agenda by CIBC Capital Markets. A podcast series focusing on the evolving complexities of the sustainability landscape. With a view on addressing current issues in a concise format to help you navigate and take action.
Paul Grod of Rodan Energy joins host, Tom Heintzman, to explore the role of demand response in managing decentralized power, including how commercial battery energy storage systems participate in electricity markets, and the benefits of connecting, dispatching, and coordinating distributed energy assets into a fully managed virtual power plant. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Semih Oztreves of Zenobē Energy Limited joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy & Climate Finance, to explore the pivotal role of battery energy storage systems in enhancing grid resilience, the challenges and opportunities facing developers, and the future outlook for the sector. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Tyler Farrell of RMI joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy & Climate Finance, to discuss how U.S. grid operators are managing large load interconnection requests, including allocating the costs for large interconnections, how this phenomenon is shaping transmission investments, and why system-wide transmission planning is needed to make the wisest investments for the long term. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Daniel Sax of Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy & Climate Finance, to discuss why a Canadian space and defence company is developing micro nuclear reactors for remote and mission-critical applications, and how the case for resilient power can strengthen Canada’s energy security and sovereignty – from arctic development to lunar ambitions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Michael Bernstein of Clean Prosperity joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy & Climate Finance, to discuss key provisions of the Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding on industrial carbon pricing. They explore the agreement’s strengths, weaknesses, and market impacts, and whether it ‘makes the grade’ in advancing credible, long-term decarbonization for Alberta’s oil and gas sector. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
The Energy Shift hosts, James Wright and Ines Serrao, join Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy & Climate Finance, to discuss their observations and key takeaways from this year’s 3rd annual CIBC Electrification Summit which focused on North America’s electrification transformation amid unprecedented electricity demand. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Philippe Dunsky of Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy & Climate Finance, to discuss electrification policy and progress in Canada, and how the country can harness its clean electricity advantage to attract capital, drive industrial growth and enhance economic competitiveness. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Jonathan Goldberg of Carbon Direct joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy & Climate Finance, to discuss key observations from this year’s CERAWeek energy conference, and why the most compelling investment opportunities sit at the intersection of AI proliferation and energy efficiency. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Richard Ma of CIBC Capital Markets joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy & Climate Finance, to discuss the key takeaways from CIBC’s inaugural Nuclear Summit, including observations on the strategic importance of nuclear for Canada’s economic development. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Jonathan Rhone and Natalie Khtikian of CO280 join Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy and Climate Finance to discuss how CO280 is accessing project finance capital and building long-term revenue and trusted partnerships for carbon removal projects in the pulp and paper industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Dr. Julio Friedmann of Carbon Direct joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy and Climate Finance to discuss the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in decarbonizing power, the case for CCS deployment in natural gas-fired generation, and the opportunities and benefits for businesses deploying CCS initiatives. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Na’im Merchant of Carbon Removal Canada joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy and Climate Finance, to discuss how the carbon removal sector has evolved in the context of changing political dynamics in the U.S. and Canada, the latest national polling results revealing to what extent Canadians support carbon removal initiatives, and the sector’s outlook over the medium term. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Amber Kirby and Aaron White of CIBC join Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy and Climate Finance to discuss the key takeaways from the 3rd annual CIBC Carbon Summit, and how participants are navigating the carbon management landscape, including financing mechanisms and carbon dioxide removal approaches, in response to evolving policies. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Bo Qin of BNEF joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability at CIBC Capital Markets to discuss the current state of voluntary and compliance markets, the challenges they face, and the key drivers shaping the price outlook for North American and global carbon markets in 2025 and beyond. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Dan Maleski of Redshaw Advisors joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability at CIBC Capital Markets, to discuss the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The discussion explores recent developments to EU carbon pricing policy, CBAM’s evolving implications on global trade, and what companies can do to manage increasing carbon costs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Tim Thomson of Charm Industrial joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability at CIBC Capital Markets, to discuss why Canada is an attractive market for carbon removal. They explore how Charm, a U.S.-based developer, views the similarities between the Canadian and U.S. markets, the challenges and opportunities to scaling their carbon removal approach in Canada, and how Canadian government policies are attracting developers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Roman Dubczak, Deputy Chair of CIBC Capital Markets, joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss how the business landscape for sustainability is evolving, how companies are recalibrating the conversation, and the emerging opportunities for a sustainable, low-carbon future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Ahmad Ghahreman of Cyclic Materials joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the recycling of rare earth elements, such as magnets from end-of-life products like electric motors and other electronics. The discussion explores the innovative technology which supports a circular supply chain that is transforming how industries source critical materials, the geopolitical context for supply security, and how Canada can compete in critical minerals and rare earth elements. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Keegan Tully of PowerON joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the case for electrifying fleets, such as buses for mass transit, commercial vehicles and marine transportation; the solutions helping transport operators to manage the transition to electric vehicles (EVs); and the benefits of EV fleets in reducing risk, lowering emissions and maximizing cost savings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Michael Ginsberg of Tokamak Energy joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the promise of nuclear fusion - the challenges and opportunities to commercialize fusion technology, and it’s potential to transform future energy markets as a source of virtually limitless, clean, safe and secure energy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
In this episode of The Sustainability Agenda, host Tom Heintzman speaks with Kim Lauritsen, Senior Vice President at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), about the transformative potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in meeting Ontario’s growing energy demands and advancing global decarbonization efforts. Kim highlights the benefits of SMRs, including their scalability, modular design, and ability to complement renewables, while also discussing OPG’s plans to deploy GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMRs at Darlington and expand expertise internationally. The conversation underscores the importance of leveraging Ontario’s strong nuclear supply chain, fostering Indigenous partnerships, and driving innovation to position Canada as a leader in clean energy and nuclear technology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
James Scongack of Bruce Power joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the opportunities for nuclear power innovation and expertise to meet rising electricity demand, including lessons learned from a multi-billion-dollar reactor refurbishment program and from partnerships with Indigenous stakeholders that will help to expand new nuclear capacity for the future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Gayatri Desai of CIBC Corporate Banking Europe joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss key takeaways from CIBC’s 2nd annual Electrification Summit, including observations on global electrification trends in the UK, Europe and the U.S. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Nat Bullard of Business Climate and former Chief Content Officer at BloombergNEF, joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the latest global trends driving the energy transition, and the progression and trajectory of electrification. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Rob Alexander of AlumaPower joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss battery storage systems, including the advances in battery storage technology, the use cases for zero-emissions long duration energy sources to meet rising electricity demand, and where the industry is headed. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Josh Wong of ThinkLabs AI joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss AI-driven approaches to grid management, including how this is helping to overcome traditional challenges to energy distribution, examples of long term and real time applications, and the impact of this automation on energy transition. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Teresa Sarkesian of the Electricity Distributors Association joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss electricity distribution, including the ways in which the demands on the distribution grid are changing, how local hydro utilities are navigating these challenges, and where the capital for grid modernization is coming from. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Apoorv Sinha of Carbon Upcycling Technologies joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets, CIBC Capital Markets to discuss how carbon dioxide can be used as a resource to cement the foundation for a low-carbon economy and the role it can play in industrial decarbonization. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
David Janashvili of CIBC Capital Markets joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the potential implications of Trump’s second term on venture capital investment for US climate tech startups, how companies are adapting access to capital, and what our clients need to know as they engage in this space. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Mitchel Selby of Shopify joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) buyer’s perspective in supporting first-of-a-kind (FOAK) carbon removal projects, including how buyers select projects and other important considerations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Dr. Spencer Meyer of BeZero Carbon joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets, CIBC Capital Markets, to discuss carbon ratings, including what it takes to assess carbon projects, how it helps carbon credit buyers to mitigate risk, and where the carbon ratings industry is headed. Learn more about the research mentioned in this episode here: https://cibccm.com/en/insights/podcasts/the-role-of-carbon-credit-ratings-providing-essential-market-infrastructure/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Zachary Kane of Oka joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets, CIBC Capital Markets to discuss how carbon insurance can help sellers and corporate buyers allocate their carbon credit risk, the benefits of doing this, and where the carbon insurance industry is headed. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Ana Carolina Avzaradel Szklo of VCMI joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets, CIBC Capital Markets to discuss the Claims Code of Practice, a rulebook helping to guide companies on how they can credibly make voluntary use of carbon credits as part of their climate commitments. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Michael Berends of ClearBlue Markets joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets, CIBC Capital Markets to discuss the role of carbon pricing, including a closer look at Canada’s carbon pricing policies, the potential impact of political uncertainty on its related programs, and how it is helping companies to accelerate decarbonization investments.
Eric Cooperström of Manulife Investment Management joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets, CIBC Capital Markets to discuss investment solutions with a natural capital thematic, including an investment strategy focused on forests for their carbon credit value, and how timberland assets are helping to diversify risks and generate new revenue streams.
Nathan Monash and Hugo Bonilla of Lundin Mining join Tarah Masniuk, Executive Director, Sustainable Finance, Global Corporate Banking, CIBC Capital Markets, to discuss environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges in the mining industry, what Lundin Mining is doing to meet its sustainability ambitions, and how sustainable finance is helping them to move the needle.
Luisa Fuentes of CIBC Capital Markets joins Tom Heintzman, Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the key takeaways from CIBC’s inaugural Electrification Summit, including observations on financing electrification in North America and beyond.
Philippe Dunsky of Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director & Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the progress of electrification policy in Canada, the work of the Canada Electricity Advisory Council, and its recommendations to federal government that could accelerate investment in sustainable electricity systems.
Greg Payne of Mackenzie Greenchip joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director & Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the opportunities and challenges of investing in grid suppliers and operators, and the game changers that can help to accelerate a clean grid.
John Redfern of Eavor Technologies joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director & Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss how a geothermal technology-based energy company is creating a scalable form of clean, baseload, or dispatchable energy for heating, cooling and electrical power, and the challenges and opportunities for the geothermal industry.
Marion Hill of DNV joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director & Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss the outlook for energy transition in North America, how energy demand is evolving across different sectors of the economy, and how this may be influencing the pace of corporate decarbonization.
Frank Pottow of GCP Capital Partners joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director & Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability, to discuss where the world’s energy mix currently stands, what is driving energy demand, and how various forms of energy may evolve between now and 2050.
Dominique Barker of Lithium Royalty Corp joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability to discuss the latest developments in the market demand for electric vehicles, how this is impacting lithium’s growth projections, and where Canada’s ambitions stand in building a secure and sustainable lithium supply chain.
Felix Boudreault of Nordis Capital joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, CIBC Global Markets to discuss investment solutions with a carbon thematic, including a compliance market carbon fund, enabling investors to position for the transition and net zero carbon emissions.
Greg Adams joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability to discuss the market for nature-based credits, how these are evolving, and how one carbon project developer is delivering high-quality carbon removal credits to corporate buyers.
Sean Samson of EV Nickel joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability to discuss the development of a Clean Nickel business, the investment case for Clean Nickel production, how prices can be differentiated by carbon, and what is needed to scale its production.
Paul Needham of Arca joins Tom Heintzman, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Energy Transition and Sustainability to discuss the case for carbon mineralization as a climate solution, the technologies transforming CO2 from the air into solid carbonate minerals, and the potential marketplace benefits for companies producing carbon-negative minerals and metals.
Francisco Leon of California Resources Corporation joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets to discuss the opportunities and challenges of carbon capture and storage (CCS) for project developers, and how the Carbon TerraVault project is attracting investor attention and helping to scale CCS in California.
Ryan Fan and Tom Heintzman of CIBC Capital Markets discuss the key takeaways from CIBC’s inaugural Carbon Summit and the importance of the carbon markets for companies on a net zero journey.
Larry She and Tom Heintzman of CIBC Capital Markets discuss different types of carbon markets and their prices, the influences that shape pricing, why liquidity is a challenge and how the markets are addressing price volatility.
Phil De Luna of Deep Sky joins CIBC Capital Markets’ Tom Heintzman to discuss the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies landscape, the ‘what, why who and how’ behind some of the most cutting-edge engineered solutions, and how these technologies will impact the energy transition.
Dr. Matthew Potts of Carbon Direct joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets to discuss a new criteria for high quality carbon dioxide removal (CDR). They explore the current challenges facing CDR, and how the common set of shared principles can help project developers and purchasers scale the CDR market.
David Janashvili and Tom Heintzman of CIBC Capital Markets, join Siddharth Samarth, Managing Director & Head, Sustainable Finance to discuss key observations from this year’s Climate Week NYC 2023 conference, and the important takeaways to help companies accelerate climate action.
Duncan Rotherham of Deloitte joins CIBC Capital Markets’ Tom Heintzman to discuss key trends in the carbon markets, how these are influencing the ‘velocity’ of decarbonization and transition efforts, and what this means for companies over the short and long term.
Michael Bernstein of Clean Prosperity joins CIBC Capital Markets’ Tom Heintzman to discuss the current challenges posed by carbon price uncertainty, the opportunities for a Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCFD) regime in Canada, and what this means for large emitters.
Charles-Antoine St-Jean joins Bindu Dhaliwal, Senior Vice President, ESG and Corporate Governance at CIBC to discuss the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) Sustainability Disclosure Standards, how they are expected to be implemented in Canada, the role of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board, and what corporations should consider being prepared for.
Jonathan Belair of Power Sustainable Lios joins Ijeoma Madueke, Executive Director, Sustainable Finance, CIBC Capital Markets, to discuss the agri-food sector, including climate change’s influence on food supply strategies, the role of Controlled Environment Agriculture, and how food companies can contribute to food system resilience.
Katarina Wangler Björk of Doconomy joins Ryan Fan, Managing Director and Vice Chair, Global Markets to discuss Doconomy’s carbon calculator – what it does, how it is changing consumer and business behaviours, and why it’s an important tool for climate action.
Ghada Nafie of Litus joins The Hon. Lisa Raitt, Vice Chair, CIBC Capital Markets, for a multi-part series profiling female entrepreneurs enabling Canada’s energy transition. They discuss break-through solutions for selectively harvesting lithium from aqueous sources, and what this means for lithium producers and the future industry.
Beatriz Molero Sanchez of SeeO2 Energy joins Lisa Raitt, Vice-Chair, CIBC Capital Markets, for a multi-part series profiling female entrepreneurs enabling Canada’s energy transition. They discuss carbon capture utilization and storage (‘CCUS’) technology that breaks down CO2 emissions into clean fuels, how this can be used for generating power or heat, and the benefits for high-emitting industries.
Ling Bai of VL Energy joins Lisa Raitt, Vice Chair, CIBC Capital Markets, for a multi-part series profiling female entrepreneurs enabling Canada’s energy transition. They discuss the next level of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Predictive Emissions Monitoring Systems (PEMS) and how this helps companies to achieve cost efficiency, regulatory compliance, and sustainability.
Natasha Kostenuk of Ayrton Energy joins The Hon. Lisa Raitt, Vice Chair, CIBC Capital Markets, for a multi-part series profiling female entrepreneurs enabling Canada’s energy transition. They discuss the opportunities and challenges of hydrogen storage and transportation, and how new technology can enable clean distributed energy generation.
Goda Aglinskaite of ClearBlue joins Dominique Barker, Managing Director and Head of Sustainability Advisory to discuss the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – what it means for EU and non-EU producers in carbon-intensive industries and the implications for global trade.
Henry Boucher of Sarasin & Partners joins Dominique Barker to discuss the stewardship role assets managers can play in sustainable investing – from changing the conversation on achieving returns, to active engagement with investee companies on ESG-related disclosures, and why it’s important.
Debra Chen, Producer and Host of The Great Fail podcast series, joins Dominique Barker to discuss the lessons learned from companies who have failed, and why companies need closer engagement with their investors on sustainability to avoid the next Great Fail.
Roman Dubczak of CIBC Capital Markets joins Dominique Barker to discuss the growth of Sustainability Advisory, how we are evolving the conversation with our clients, and our priorities for 2023.
Dr. Torill Bigg of Tunley Engineering joins Dominique Barker to discuss Carbon Reduction Planning, and how businesses of all sizes can assess their carbon footprint, develop and implement a credible roadmap to net-zero.
Linda Scala of CIBC Enterprise Risk Management joins Dominique Barker to discuss the key takeaways from the Finance and Biodiversity Day at the COP15 Convention on Biological Diversity, and what it means for financial institutions.
Bruce Ander of Markham District Energy joins Dominique Barker to discuss why District Energy is important to the transition in Canada and the opportunities for city-owned utilities.
In anticipation of COP15, join Camille Maclet and Dominique Barker for the second episode of our multi-part natural capital series as they discuss nature-related financial disclosures, the upcoming post-2020 global biodiversity framework and what it could mean for the private sector.
The economy and societal well-being are highly dependent on nature, but, nature is being lost at an unprecedented rate. In anticipation of COP15, join Dr. Gemma Cranston and Dominique Barker for the first episode of our multi-part natural capital series, as they discuss this emerging topic concerning businesses and financial institutions.
Annalee Bloomfield of Sustain.Life joins Dominique Barker to discuss sustainability software that supports businesses in managing their climate impact; and the challenges and opportunities for small to medium-sized enterprises to integrate sustainability, and measure and report on their carbon emissions.
Paul Judge of GE Renewable Energy joins Dominique Barker to discuss Lessons from the Wind Industry - from key technological innovations, challenges and opportunities, to the parallels drawn from scaling other carbon removal technologies like Direct Air Capture
Bindu Dhaliwal, VP of Environmental, Social, Governance at CIBC, joins Dominique Barker to discuss CIBC’s Power Generation target and how it advances CIBC’s Net Zero ambition.
Craig Stewart from the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and Dr. Blair Feltmate from the Intact Center on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, join Dominique Barker, and special co-host, Natalia Moudrak from Aon, to discuss Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy (“NAS”), its impacts on the Canadian economy and society, and its global relevance as we head into COP27.
James Wright and Frank Palladino of CIBC Capital Markets join Dominique Barker to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”), its impacts on the U.S. energy transition, and what it means for our clients going forward.
Carbon removal technologies will enable the world to meet its critical emission removal targets. Anna Stukas, VP of Business Development at Carbon Engineering, joins Dominique Barker to discuss advancing direct air capture technology.
The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Offsetting: https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-01/Oxford-Offsetting-Principles-2020.pdf
Mission Possible Partnership Sector Transition Strategy (MPP-STS) report on making net zero aviation possible: https://missionpossiblepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Making-Net-Zero-Aviation-possible.pdf
Airbus and seven major airlines have signed Letters of Intent (LoI) to explore opportunities for a future supply of carbon removal credits from direct air carbon capture technology: https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-07-airbus-air-canada-air-france-klm-easyjet-international-airlines
Chris Leeds, Head of Carbon Markets Development at Standard Chartered Bank, joins Dominique Barker to discuss integrity in the voluntary carbon markets, highlighting the Core Carbon Principles, Integrity Council on Voluntary Carbon Markets (IC-VCM) and Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI).
A discussion on the current state of carbon removal policy in the EU and UK, including natural strategies and engineered solutions, with Eli Mitchell-Larson, Launch Director at Carbon Gap and Researcher at Oxford Net Zero.
Net-Zero to Net Negative: A Guide for Leaders on Carbon Removal: https://www.weforum.org/whitepapers/net-zero-to-net-negative-a-guide-for-leaders-on-carbon-removal
The meaning of net zero and how to get it right: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01245-w
Returning for another episode, Dr. Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist and Chief Carbon Wrangler at Carbon Direct, joins Dominique Barker to uncover the future of carbon capture and removal technologies and the participation of corporates in this space.
Dr. Gabrielle Walker, founder of Valence Solutions and previous instructor at Cambridge and Princeton University, joins Dominique Barker to delve into carbon removals, discussing approaches to carbon sequestration and highlighting lessons learned by Microsoft on carbon removal durability.
Microsoft’s recent report on carbon removals can be found here: https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4QO0D
Dr. Gabrielle Walkers TED Talk can be found here: https://www.ted.com/talks/gabrielle_walker_what_you_need_to_know_about_carbon_removal?language=en
Robert Niven, Chair and CEO of CarbonCure, joins Dominique Barker for the third episode in our carbon series, with a discussion on how their carbon dioxide storage technologies will accelerate the decarbonization of the concrete industry.
Dominique Barker is joined by two experts in the climate-disclosure space, Kristyn Annis, Counsel at Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) and Armand Capisciolto, National Accounting Standards Partner at BDO Canada. They discuss the key elements of ISSB’s Climate Exposure Draft and the CSA’s Proposed National Instrument - 51-107 - Disclosure of Climate-related Matters.
Dr. Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist and Chief Carbon Wrangler at Carbon Direct, joins Dominique Barker for the second episode in our carbon series, with a discussion on the global carbon markets.
CIBC Human Capital Index is an equity index jointly developed by CIBC and Irrational Capital to target the “S” component of ESG. It is based on the Human Capital Factor which quantifies the link between company culture and equity performance.
Happy Earth Day! In the first episode of our multi-part carbon series, Dr. John Smol, a leading global climate scientist, joins Dominique Barker to set the stage on why decarbonization is so important, discussing the ecological impact of climate change in our everyday lives
The Closed Loop Partners’ fund strategies, research and partnerships on the circular economy. Tazia Smith, COO & Managing Director at Closed Loop Partners joins Dominique Barker for the final episode of the three-part series on the circular economy, ahead of the CIBC Circular Economy Roundtable on Wednesday, April 13.
TC Transcontinental discusses leading corporate initiatives and innovation around the circular economy, the importance of engaging with the ecosystem and the trends in sustainable product demand. In this episode, Magali Depras, Chief Strategy & CSR Officer at TC Transcontinental, joins Dominique Barker on the second of a three-part series focused on the circular economy, in advance of the upcoming CIBC Circular Economy Roundtable taking place on April 13, 2022.
We introduce the importance of the circular economy, and the roles of sustainable finance and policies in accelerating circular plastics transition in Canada. In this episode, Babatunde Olateju, Principal Research Associate of Sustainability at the Conference Board of Canada, joins Dominique on the first of a three-part series focused on the circular economy, in advance of our upcoming Circular Economy Roundtable taking place on April 13, 2022.
To learn more about the Just Transactions report mentioned throughout the episode, find the whitepaper here: https://www.cliffordchance.com/expertise/services/esg/esg-insights/just-transactions-a-whitepaper-on-just-transition-in-the-banking-sector.html
Natalia Moudrak, Managing Director and Climate Resiliency Leader at Aon’s Public Sector Partnership, joins CIBC’s Dominique Barker to discuss the role insurance can play in decarbonization efforts by scaling investments into innovative technology solutions.
Ian Pollick, Global Head of FICC Strategy at CIBC Capital Markets joins host Dominique Barker to provide key insights and explanations on the Bank of Canada and OSFI climate scenario analysis.
Bruce Power’s Kevin Kelly, Chief Financial Officer and EVP and James Scongack, Chief Development Officer and EVP, Operational Services, join Dominique Barker on The Sustainability Agenda to discuss Nuclear energy and the vital role it plays in achieving net zero by 2050.
Andrew Chen, Head of RMI’s Sustainable Aviation Team, joins Dominique Barker to discuss decarbonizing the aviation sector and the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA), an initiative by RMI and the Environmental Defense Fund to drive investment towards sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through a certification system.
Episode 4 of a five-part mini-series in partnership with RMI’s Center for Climate-Aligned Finance. Dominique Barker is in conversation with Sarah LaMonaca who is the Lead on Utility Finance for the Center’s Global Climate team. They discuss the utilities industry and the Utility Transition Hub in addition to the challenges the industry and financial institutions face on transitioning to low carbon.
Episode 3 of a five-part mini-series in partnership with RMI’s Center for Climate-Aligned Finance. Dominique Barker is in conversation with Lucy Kessler who is on the Center’s Global Climate Finance team, discussing the steel industry and the steel climate aligned finance working group. They discuss decarbonization of the steel industry through the industry-designed framework which is under development.
The second episode of a five-part mini-series in partnership with RMI’s Center for Climate Aligned Finance. Dominique Barker in conversation with James Mitchell, Principal of RMI and Director of the CCAF, to discuss the shipping industry and the framework used for integrating climate considerations into lending decisions to promote shipping’s decarbonization, known as the Poseidon Principles.
First episode of a five-part mini-series in partnership with RMI’s Center for Climate Aligned Finance. Dominique Barker in conversation with Brian O’Hanlon, Senior Principal at RMI and Executive Director of the CCAF to discuss the overall objectives of the center and why finance can lead on sectoral decarbonization.
Robin Green and Ryan Fan join Dominique Barker to discuss the progress of Project Carbon and what this signals moving forward.
Susan Rimmer, Head of Global Corporate Banking at CIBC Capital Markets joins Dominique Barker to provide key takeaways from the 2nd annual CIBC Sustainability Conference: The Road to COP26.
Bindu Dhaliwal, VP of Environmental, Social and Governance at CIBC joins Dominique Barker to discuss Financial Institutions and Net Zero Ambitions.
Catharine Sterritt, Portfolio Manager, CIBC Asset Management joins Dominique to discuss the rise of the activist investor.
Christina Cho, Managing Director, Debt Capital Markets at CIBC, joins Dominique Barker to discuss SSAs and the importance of ESG in the bond market.
Dominique Barker in conversation with Robin Green and Ryan Fan from CIBC Capital Markets discussing voluntary carbon markets and the goals of Project Carbon, the growth of voluntary carbon markets, and why this project is needed today.
Dominique Barker in conversation with Adam Janikowski and Robert Todd discussing the opportunities and expectations in China to meet various sustainability targets as well as providing insight on China renewables.
Dominique Barker in conversation with Aaron White discussing trends in asset management, integration of ESG in currency, and CIBC’s product innovations relating to active investment management and guarding against greenwashing.
The PRI has become an increasingly important part of the responsible investing ecosystem, with collective assets under management represented by PRI signatories at well over US$100 trillion. The PRI released its three-year strategic plan 2021 – 2024 in April 2021. Dominique Barker in conversation with Fiona Reynolds, CEO of Principles for Responsible Investing, discussing the PRI’s strategic plan and blueprint for the future.
Dominique Barker in conversation with Chint Kulkarni discussing sustainable finance trends and the benefits of Sustainability Linked Loans for corporate partners and their strategies.
Dominique Barker in conversation with Roman Dubczak, David Williams, Mike Freeborn and Kelsen Vallee discussing CIBC’s strategy related to the recent change to our Global Investment Banking group.
Dominique is joined by Bill Bamber and Meric Koksal to discuss the CIBC Wealth Solutions Group’s latest products, including the Human Capital Index, and the Market-link GICs with an ESG tilt.
Dominique Barker in conversation with Linda Scala from CIBC Risk to define CIBC’s footprint and financed emissions, and discuss how it is measured.
Dominique Barker in conversation with Sid Samarth discussing the types of sustainable finance products being offered, and the transition risk in Canada.
Dominique Barker in conversation with the Honourable Lisa Raitt discussing the role of government in moving the sustainability agenda forward.
In the inaugural episode of the Sustainability Agenda, our host Dominique Barker, Head of Sustainability Advisory speaks with Roman Dubczak, Head of Global Investment Banking at CIBC Capital Markets, to discuss CIBC’s direction on Sustainable Finance.