Sustainable connections: Recent Episodes

ERM

ERM's podcast, Sustainable Connections, examines the sometimes surprising connections necessary to make sustainable business a reality - across sectors and systems, resources and frameworks, and up and down an organization. Hosted by Mark Lee, Director of The Sustainability Institute by ERM, and featuring conversations with some of the most innovative and boundary-pushing minds in the field, we explore the latest in the sustainability agenda, including net zero, nature positive, equity, biodiversity and more. ERM experts then lend their insights into mapping out what these initiatives will realistically require to be integrated and operationalized at pace and scale.

In this episode of the Sustainable Connections podcast, host Mark Lee speaks to ERM colleagues Ricardo Zibas, Linden Edgell, and Alexandra Guaqueta as they share their reflections from COP30 in Belém, Brazil. This episode was recorded on Tuesday 18 November, towards the end of COP, and explores the summit’s unique focus on implementation, just transition, and the integration of climate, nature, and people.

Listen to learn more about:

What sets COP30 apart from previous COPs
The role of the private sector and implications for companies
How momentum from Belém can drive action ahead of COP31

Related links

ERM COP30 takeaways week one
What will Brazil’s implementation COP deliver?
Business Leaders Guide to a Just Climate Transition

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by Darren Stralow, CEO of Bellevue Gold, and Dr Mary Stewart, ERM’s Lead Partner for Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change in Australia. Together, they explore Bellevue Gold’s journey to becoming the world’s first net zero gold mine and discuss the evolving role of sustainability in the mining sector. From regulatory shifts and investor expectations to decarbonization strategies, their discussion delves into how Bellevue Gold is navigating industry challenges while pursuing innovative approaches to sustainability and responsible mining.

Their conversation covers:

Sustainability as a strategic advantage
Decarbonizing gold: avoid, eliminate, reduce, offset
The future of sustainability in mining

Related links:

Mission Critical: Resilient mines for a modern society
Episode 33: We are all miners: Rethinking mining investment featuring Appian Capital
Sustainability that pays: Defining a credible business case for investing in sustainability in mining and metals

In our first video Sustainable Connections podcast, host Mark Lee speaks with ERM colleagues Linden Edgell, Sabine Hoefnagel, and Liam Walsh about their experience at and impressions of Climate Week New York 2025.

Listen and watch to hear their views including:

The overall mood as compared to prior years and to London Climate Action Week a few months ago.
A summary of key topics and themes, from the roles of investors and customers in providing capital and shaping demand for low-carbon products and services, to how companies are working to address the social impacts of decarbonization and adaptation and the ways carbon markets are evolving.
The differences in regional and sectoral approaches to climate solutions and what businesses need to do to adapt their strategies to successfully navigate varied policy and societal terrain.
New ways technology and innovation are spurring development of more sustainable products and services capable of winning greater market share.
How sustainability leaders need to evolve their leadership style to support the market transformation that building a net-zero carbon future requires.
Expectations for how issues swirling at Climate Week may shape COP30 in Belém, Brazil this November.

Watch the full episode on Youtube

Find out more about ERM at Climate Week NYC

In this episode, Mark Lee speaks to Silvio Lima, Head of Corporate Affairs, ESG and Community Engagement at Appian Capital Advisory and Conor Grieve, Principal Consultant at ERM, to discuss how mine development can be made more sustainable. They explore how approaches like technical arbitrage, ESG integration, and social integration are reshaping the mining investment landscape.

Their conversation covers:

· How technical arbitrage can unlock value

· Using ESG as a strategic lever in mining investment

· The importance of building community trust through social integration

· Lessons from Mineração Vale Verde

Related links:

Sustainability that pays: Defining a credible business case for investing in sustainability in mining and metals

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by ERM colleagues Mathias Lelievre, Linden Edgell and Andrew Probert to unpack their key takeaways from London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2025. Together, they reflect on evolving business approaches to sustainability quantification and implementation, and explore how climate strategy is adapting during current global geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Their conversation covers:

Climate strategy in a shifting business environment
Shifting from broad goals to measurable actions
People-centred transition and global-local balance

Related links:

Volatility to value creation: Five key takeaways from London Climate Action Week 2025

Navigating change: Delivering sustainability value in a volatile world

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by Vicente Saiso Alva, Global Vice President of Sustainability at Cemex, and Greg Koch, Technical Consulting Director at ERM, to discuss Cemex’s recent achievement of zero freshwater use and how companies can better manage water risk in their operations.

Their conversation covers:

· Cemex’s zero freshwater use achievement

· Responding to increasing water scarcity

· Collaborating with stakeholders to manage water

· Investment and innovation in water

Related Links:

Cemex 2024 Integrated Report

In this episode, Mark Lee speaks to Johann Weicht, Jennifer Klie and Aiste Brackley about the latest updates to the EU Omnibus regulation. The Omnibus proposals aim to streamline the CSRD, CSDDD, EU Taxonomy and CBAM are expected to bring significant changes to the regulated sustainability disclosure and due diligence landscape. The episode delves into what these changes mean for businesses and how companies can best navigate compliance.

Their conversation covers:

What is the EU Omnibus and why is it so important?
What are the main changes to each policy?
Key recommendations for companies
The impact of the EU Omnibus and next steps

Please note that this conversation was recorded on Friday 4th April 2025.

Related content:

EU Omnibus update: European Parliament agrees to ‘stop-the-clock,’ but the EU Omnibus debate continues
Reporting & Disclosure
EU Omnibus Policy Alert

In this episode, Mark Lee is joined by Anne-Laure Brison, Senior Manager of Circular Products and Materials at World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD); Titta Rosvall-Puplett, Chief Sustainability Officer at Syensqo; and Cristina Pellegrino, ERM Global Industry Leader of Chemicals, to discuss “Towards Planet Positive Chemicals, A Chemical Transformation Roadmap” report created by WBCSD, ERM and nine leading chemical companies.

Their conversation covers:

· Current challenges confronting the chemical industry

· Portfolio transformation and how it can be achieved

· What does nature positivity mean for the chemical industry

· The importance of value chain collaboration

Related content:

Towards Planet Positive Chemicals: WBCSD ‘s Chemical Transformation Roadmap

Mark Lee talks with the authors of ERM’s Annual Trends Report - Aiste Brackley, Andrew Angle, Rebecca Green and Ricardo Zibas – about the key business sustainability trends to expect across the globe in 2025, from climate change to AI, and how companies can respond.

Their conversation covers:

Changes to the sustainability landscape in 2025
Progress towards the Paris Agreement climate goals
Managing supply chain challenges
AI and technology trends driving the sustainability agenda
How to drive sustainability through collaboration

Related Links:

2025 Annual Trends Report: The Path Forward for Sustainable Business
2025 Annual Trends Webinar

The Asia Pacific (APAC) region holds immense potential for wind energy. From 2024 to 2030, APAC is expected to account for 61% of global new wind capacity. As the industry looks to ramp up the pace of new capacity installations, the APAC region has an important role in delivering the wind energy needed for the global net zero transition.

Mark Lee talks to Feng Zhao, Chief Research Officer at the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), and Breanne Gellatly, Renewables Partner at ERM, about what needs to be done to accelerate wind energy in Asia Pacific. They also discuss their new report on building the Asia Pacific wind energy supply chain for a 1.5°C world.

Their conversation covers:

Current challenges of accelerating wind energy development in APAC
Tackling wind supply chain and installation bottlenecks in APAC
Opportunities for APAC countries to scale up wind supply chains
How different stakeholders can collaborate to reach APAC wind targets

Related link

Building the Asia Pacific wind energy supply chain for a 1.5°C world - Global Wind Energy Council

Mark Lee talks with ERM leaders ‌Sabine Hoefnagel, ‌Linden Edgell and ‌James Stacey about their reflections from the COP29 climate talks in Baku and what the event means for businesses in terms of moving forward with climate strategy and implementation.

Their conversation covers:

What was anticipated going into Baku
Progress in hard-to-abate sectors and carbon markets
The role of private finance and transition plans
Nature and adaptation plans
Progress on renewables
Looking ahead towards COP30 in Brazil

Mark Lee talks to Vamsi Alla, Managing Director in J.P. Morgan's Corporate Advisory and Sustainable Solutions team, and Pradipta Parhi, an Executive Director in J.P. Morgan’s Climate Technology, Innovation and Strategic Investment team, about their new report with ERM exploring the critical challenges and opportunities surrounding water resilience in the US.

Their conversation covers:

· Water insights from COP16

· Company water resilience issues in the US

· Managing water risks and opportunities

· Water at COP29

Related links:The Future of Water Resilience in the U.S.

Mark Lee talks to Ben Madden, Chief Technology Officer at Hydrogen investment fund HYCAP, and Patrick Huber, Head of Project Finance at green hydrogen developer MorGen Energy, about the challenges and opportunities in hydrogen ecosystem development, including hydrogen generation, transport infrastructure and accessing new markets for hydrogen.

Their conversation covers:

Financing hydrogen ecosystems
How to identify viable hydrogen projects
Current European policy incentives for hydrogen
Engaging with communities on hydrogen infrastructure development
How to accelerate hydrogen ecosystems

Mark Lee talks to members of the NatureTech Alliance, including Salesforce, NatureMetrics and Planet, about their new report exploring how nature tech solutions can help companies to navigate a path towards nature positive. They also discuss the outcomes of the United Nations COP16 biodiversity conference.

Their conversation covers:

COP16 outcomes and implications for business
How to combine global and local nature data for business decision making
Strategies to overcome data fragmentation
Navigating the shift towards outcome-based metrics
Using nature tech to improve corporate disclosure

Related links:

The Nature Tech Revolution: The tools to move from ‘do no harm’ to ‘nature-positive'

Mark Lee talks to John Elkington, founder of Volans, about his latest book ‘Tickling Sharks: How We Sold Business on Sustainability’. They look back at how corporate sustainability has evolved over the past 50 years, anticipate how it will progress in the future and debate the most effective ways to engage business leaders on sustainability.

Their conversation covers:

How sustainability became a C-Suite issue
The future of corporate sustainability strategy and disclosure
How to engage senior leaders on sustainability

Related links

10 Tips on Tickling Sharks: #1 - by John Elkington (substack.com)

Mark Lee talks to ERM leaders and experts across climate markets, social performance and nature, about how Climate Week NYC 2024 shaped the global business sustainability agenda. They also discuss implications and expectations for the upcoming United Nations COP16 biodiversity and COP29 climate change conferences later this year.

Their conversation covers:

How to build trust in the voluntary carbon markets
The role of social performance in the low carbon transition
Integrating nature data into business strategy
How to measure and tackle inequality
What companies can expect at COP16 and COP29

Mark Lee talks to Dominic Barton, Chair at Rio Tinto, and Louise Pearce, Global Industry Lead for Mining and Metals at ERM, about the role of mining in the low-carbon energy transition.

Their conversation covers:

Rio Tinto’s environmental and social strategy
Decarbonizing mining and metals
How to increase metals and critical minerals supply
Derisking mining to attract investment

In our nineteenth episode, Mark Lee talks to Eli Aheto, Managing Director on the BeyondNetZero team at General Atlantic, and Manuela Fumarola, Consulting Director at ERM, about how private equity funds can take advantage of new opportunities to scale climate investment.

Their conversation covers:

Scaling investment in climate tech that offers cost savings to customers
Opportunities for climate investment in the agricultural sector
Measuring the impact of climate private equity investment
Climate private equity exit strategies

In our eighteenth episode, Mark Lee talks to Kevin Hagen, Interim CEO at the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), and Nikki Payne, North America Renewable Energy Lead at ERM, about the current pace and trajectory of renewable energy procurement and development in the US.

Their conversation covers:

Company strategies for procuring renewable energy
How to manage the rising cost of clean energy procurement
Challenges and solutions for updating the US grid
Scaling US offshore wind development
Stakeholder management best practice in energy and grid development

In our seventeenth episode, Mark Lee talks to Coy Garrison, Partner at international law firm, Steptoe, and Beth Wyke, Partner, Corporate Assurance at ERM CVS, about how companies can prepare for the new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) climate disclosure rules.

Their conversation covers:

Reporting boundaries and scope of the SEC climate rules
Interoperability of the SEC rules and other disclosure regulations worldwide
How to approach climate and wider sustainability assurance
Potential impacts of legal challenges to the SEC rules

In our sixteenth episode, Mark Lee talks to Amy Rosenthal, Senior Global Director for Conservation Initiatives at leading satellite imagery provider, Planet, and Michael Mangiante, Global Climate Risk Lead at ERM, about how nature mapping and data analytics can enable companies and governments to operationalize their nature strategies.

Their conversation covers:

How to use satellite data to enable nature stewardship and disclosure
Identifying and taking action against nature crimes
Monitoring and verification of nature restoration projects

In our fifteenth episode, Mark Lee talks to Mirela Atanasiu, Executive Director and Head of Unit Operations at the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, a public-private partnership supporting research and innovation in hydrogen technologies in Europe, and David Hart, Global Hydrogen Lead at ERM, about how to accelerate the hydrogen economy.

Their conversation covers:

Research and development to improve hydrogen technology
Private-public partnerships to decarbonize heavy industry
Production and use cases for hydrogen across the globe

In our fourteenth episode, Mark Lee talks to Emily McKenzie, Technical Director at the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and Matt Haddon, Global Leader, Biodiversity, Water & Nature at ERM, about the latest developments in nature disclosure and how companies are responding.

Their conversation covers:

How C-suite execs are using TNFD to understand nature risks and opportunities
Improving data gathering and analysis to support nature management and disclosure
Expectations for the upcoming COP16 Biodiversity Conference in Colombia

Related links:
Sustainable Connections Podcast: Building nature into business strategy (erm.com)

In our thirteenth episode, Mark Lee talks to Mardi McBrien, Chief of Strategic Affairs & Capacity Building, IFRS Foundation, and Rob LaCount, North America Climate Change Advisory Lead, ERM, about aligning sustainability-related disclosure standards and integrating financial and sustainability accounting within companies.

Their conversation covers:

• Evolving sustainability-related disclosure regulations

• Upskilling finance and sustainability professionals to implement International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards

• How to harness sustainability reporting to improve business performance

Related links:

ISSB's first act (sustainability.com)

IFRS - ISSB: Frequently Asked Questions

In our twelfth episode, Mark Lee talks to Bruce Douglas, CEO, Global Renewables Alliance, and Dylan Mitchell, Global Commercial Director of Renewables at ERM, about how to triple global renewable energy capacity to at least 11,000 GW by 2030 to meet global climate targets.

Their conversation covers:

Accelerating grid transformation to connect renewable energy
Permitting innovation to scale renewables faster
Cross-sector learning and collaboration across the renewables value chain

Related links:

3xRenewables – Global Renewables Alliance

In our eleventh episode, Mark Lee talks to Adam Brennan, Group Director of Sustainability at global seafood processor and manufacturer Thai Union, and Yulia Dobrolyubova, Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change Lead, Asia at ERM, about how to tackle global seafood sustainability and achieve sustainable fisheries.

Their conversation covers:

Defining environmental and social criteria for sustainable fisheries
Methods to improve supply chain traceability and data quality
How to implement climate and nature targets in the seafood sector

In our tenth episode, Mark Lee talks to Mariana Rocha, Senior Investor Relations Manager at mining firm Vale, and Jonathan Molyneux, Head of ESG Strategy, Mining & Metals at ERM, to discuss how to engage with and respond to investors on ESG issues.Their conversation covers:

Responding to investors' ESG concerns
Raising capital to expand critical minerals production
Moving from ESG risk management to an ESG-driven growth strategy

In our ninth episode, Mark Lee is joined by Ken Mehlman, Global Head of Public Affairs at global investment firm KKR and Co-head of KKR Global Impact fund, and Sabine Hoefnagel, Global Leader of Sustainability & Risk at ERM, to discuss the evolving business case for ESG.

Their conversation covers:

The financial impacts of ESG for companies and investors
How to interpret and respond to the ESG backlash
Investor expectations of C-suite leadership on ESG

In our eighth episode, Mark Lee is joined by Candice Brenet, Head of Sustainability, and Antoine Bateman, Sustainability Senior Manager, at Ardian and Michael Eisenberg, Partner, ESG Services, at ERM to discuss private market impact investment strategies and evolving trends, with a focus on scaling energy transition and decarbonization investments. Their conversation covers:

How to measure and manage impact in private market investments
Engaging investors and companies to accelerate and scale impact
Integrating impact and decarbonization strategies across investment portfolios.

Related link:

Private Market Impact Investing: A Turning Point | World Economic Forum (weforum.org) - authored by Michael Eisenberg
Navigating ESG data scarcity challenges in Private Markets (sustainability.com)

In our seventh episode, Mark Lee talks to Julie Moorad, Senior Manager, Global Climate Action at Salesforce, and Caitlin Brown, Senior Consultant at ERM, about how businesses can better assess and respond to their nature-related risks and opportunities. Their conversation covers:

Creating a nature positive business strategy
Integrating nature into corporate climate action
How to apply the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework to understand business risk and opportunity

Related links:
Salesforce Nature Positive Strategy
Prepare to LEAP: Updates to the TNFD framework and planning for the future - Sustainability Institute by ERM briefing

In our sixth episode, Mark Lee talks to Nikki Bartlett, Chief Impact Officer at CDP, and Bertrand Millot, Head of Sustainability at global investment group Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), about the ERM Sustainability Institute's latest survey of how investors and companies rate ESG raters and their services. Their conversation covers:

How investors use ESG ratings in decision making
Company strategies to improve ESG ratings performance
The future evolution of ESG ratings

Related links:

Rate the Raters 2023: ESG Ratings at a Crossroads

In our fifth episode, Mark Lee talks to Jordan Peterson, Principal and Chief Disruptor of Affinity North, an indigenous-owned consultancy, about how companies can better engage with local indigenous communities when developing clean energy and other projects. Their conversation covers:

Company strategies to improve engagement with indigenous communities
How to include indigenous peoples in the just transition
Building indigenous community engagement into project planning

Mark also speaks with Michael Van Aanhout, Partner at Stratos, an ERM Group company, about how the renewable energy and extractive industries can rebuild trust with local communities.

In our fourth episode, Mark Lee talks to Sandy Nessing, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at American Electric Power, about managing the shift to low carbon energy in the US whilst meeting competing stakeholder demands. Their conversation covers:

Ensuring a just transition in communities where AEP decommissions coal plants.
Preparing for increasing ESG disclosure requirements.
Engaging with investors on corporate climate strategy.

Mark also speaks with Margie Flynn, Senior Partner at ERM, about how companies can manage rapidly increasing stakeholder expectations around sustainability.

In our third episode, Mark Lee talks to Rama Variankaval, Global Head of the Center for Carbon Transition at J.P. Morgan, about how J.P. Morgan will deliver on its commitment to align its financing with global climate goals. Their conversation covers:

J.P. Morgan’s work with ERM to create its Carbon Compass, a tool designed to help align its portfolio with the ambition of the Paris Agreement.
Strategies for engaging with clients on decarbonization.
The impact of US policy on financing the low carbon transition.

Mark also speaks with Rob La Count, North America Climate Change Advisory Lead at ERM, about ESG data and priorities for low carbon finance in 2023.

Related links:JPMorgan Chase's Carbon Compass

In Episode Two of the Sustainable Connections podcast, Mark Lee talks with Elizabeth Sturcken, Managing Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Environmental Defense Fund and leader of the EDF+Business team, which develops and implements joint projects with leading companies to create environmental change. Join this episode to learn about:

EDF's long history and unique approach to collaborating with business to solve sustainability challenges.
Recent research by EDF and ERM on what keeps companies from advancing their net zero ambitions more quickly.
The types of stakeholder engagement that Elizabeth believes companies need to embrace to thrive in a rapidly decarbonizing world.

Mark also speaks with Matt Haddon, ERM's Global Service Lead for Nature, Biodiversity and Water, about his experience working with EDF as well as with ERM clients on net zero obstacles and catalysts.

Related links:

EDF+Business

Net Zero: Obstacles and Catalysts for Business Climate Action

In our inaugural podcast episode, Mark Lee sits down with Giulia Carbone, Director of the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance at WBCSD, and Jessica Christianson, Head of sustainability at Bayer Crop Science. Their conversation covers:

Natural Climate Solutions and the C-Suite guide recently launched with The Sustainability Institute by ERM;
the connection between nature, biodiversity and climate agendas;
What quality natural climate solutions look like and the challenges in the vetting process; and
How collaboration is key to the necessary action on climate change and reversing the loss of biodiversity.

Mark also speaks with Aiste Brackley, Associate Director of the SustainAbility Institute by ERM, on the the key takeaways from the C-Suite guide and the partnerships that help make the Institute's work possible.