Sustainability Now
Environmental, social, and governance news and investment research brought to you weekly covering major market trends and new research insights. With topics ranging from climate impact on investment portfolios, corporate actions, trending investment topics, and emerging ESG issues, hosts Mike Disabato and Bentley Kaplan of MSCI ESG Research walk through the latest news and research that is top of mind for the week.
Episodes
297 episodes
Borderline Traceable: Tariffs Meet the Transparency Test
Newly imposed U.S. tariffs have triggered market volatility and strategic recalibrations across industries. In this episode, we explore the role of supply chain traceability in managing risk — from regulatory exposure to sustainability trade-of...
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14:53
In Times of Crisis, Sustainability Matters
As I type this, we are in the midst of a market sell off. So, it’s a perfect time to look at what happened to our ESG indexes during the last market sell offs. Worrisome times!Host: Mike Disabato, MSCI ESG ResearchGuest: Xinxin Wa...
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12:30
Can Bombs and Bullets Be Sustainable?
Does the defense industry have an ESG problem? Is there such a thing as an ethical bomb? These are questions emerging as the European Union ramps up investment in its defense sector as part of a broader rearmament effort. In this episode, we ex...
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17:35
It's the Egg-conomy, Stupid
Egg prices in the US have soared, but is avian flu the only culprit? This week, we crack open the structural issues in the egg industry, from supply chain vulnerabilities to price-fixing allegations. Plus, what it all means for investors — and ...
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18:06
EU's Omnibus Proposal: What You Need to Know
In February 2025, the EU Commission proposed the first Omnibus Package of sustainability rules, with the aim of simplifying and reducing EU sustainability reporting requirements. But did it work? Has the outcome been "good" or "bad"? And what a...
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28:22
Are Banks Ready for Climate Risks?
Banks face growing pressure from regulators to assess the risks climate change poses to their loan portfolios. Some regions, like Europe, are tightening standards, while others, like the U.S., remain hesitant. Our latest research reveals that b...
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15:29
Crude Awakenings: The Shifting Energy Landscape
Oil and gas are in, renewables are out — at least, that’s what the headlines say. But what’s really happening in energy markets? We take a closer look at shifting U.S. policies, investor reactions, and how global energy trends might shape the f...
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23:07
How to Make Money and Not Lose Money (Historically)
The quest for higher returns with lower risk is a fundamental principle of successful investing. Study after study shows that investors can use sustainability data to identify more profitable, less risky companies with higher long-term returns....
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13:49
Demystifying Climate Scenarios
What are climate scenarios? Can I do them myself, or do I need a supercomputer and an advanced degree to make them work? They are certainly important in this day and age, especially as once-in-a-lifetime destructive events seem to be becoming t...
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17:32
Where is the Next Fire?
Fires continue to rage in Southern California, destroying homes and businesses and leaving thousands stranded. But Los Angeles and its surrounding areas are unfortunately not unique when it comes to wildfire risk. So where is the next fire like...
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12:50
High Rollers or Higher Risks? Gambling Goes Digital
One of Australia's biggest casinos is in big trouble, plagued by money laundering investigations and a dwindling pool of domestic gamblers. We look at whether the rise of online gambling may make problems like these redundant in future, and wha...
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15:41
The Sustainability and Climate Trends to Watch for 2025
Join us as we cover the sustainability and climate trends that our team thinks will shape the year head. We talk about the energy transition opportunities that are emerging in private markets, rising social risks and the tech giants, falling da...
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18:15
The First Ever (Public) Price Forecast for Airline's Carbon Credits
We put out the world’s first price forecast for Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)! In it we analyzed the potential demand, supply and prices for credits under CORSIA, and how much the scheme could cost t...
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18:41
What the Market Thinks: A Climate Risk Survey
What do market participants actually think is going to happen to their assets due to climate change? And when do they expect it? And do they think we will ever abandon fossil fuels? Well to answer those questions (and any others!), you need a s...
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17:18
Powering AI: The Nuclear Option
Energy-hungry data centers are the backbone of AI. And as big tech companies look to meet rising demand for AI capabilities, their emissions are ticking up. So, are net zero ambitions at risk? Or can they be saved by a decades-old energy source...
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16:26
The World Electric Vehicles May Create
VW announced it would shut at least three of its German plants, axe tens of thousands of jobs and slash pay by 10%. This is notable because VW is the powerhouse of Germany which typically has been the EU’s industrial engine – meaning jobs, mean...
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24:59
Finally! A Global Carbon Market!
Well not yet. But on October 11, a UN expert group reached a compromise on key elements of a global carbon trading system. If it passes (we go into this, don’t worry), it will resolve nearly a decade of talks on a what is seen as a fundamental ...
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14:28
A/Cs and Adapting to Climate Change
Heat waves are getting longer and more intense. And although mitigating climate change will remain a long-term priority, investors will also be thinking about adaptation technologies. The humble air conditioner is an off-the-shelf solution, but...
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15:04
Does the Environmental Pillar Matter?
Today is the last part of a three part series we've done for ESG now: we examine whether investors should care about incorporating environmental data into equity analysis. In previous episodes we discussed the social pillar and the governance p...
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18:47
So, About That Climate Transition...
It’s climate week in The Big Apple! And the perfect time to take a look at different investment approaches to a low-carbon transition. We talk through financial risks and opportunities for companies, transition funds, and how the things are pla...
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19:16
Asset Risks in a Time of Flood
Flooding is one the costliest of all natural hazards and climate change is raising the stakes. In this episode, we discuss the need for precise asset locations and forward-looking climate models to figure out your risk exposure. Ho...
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15:31
The 2024 Proxy Season
The 2024 proxy season has come and gone. In recent years, environmental and social proposals were abundant and saw record high support among shareholders. But what about this year? In this episode we take you through our findings from the 2024 ...
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14:07
Investing in the Fight Against Superbugs
Antimicrobial resistance is getting worse. Set to impact healthcare, agriculture and insurance, it’s a phenomenon worth paying attention to. On this episode, we take a look at whether there’s an investment case for fighting back against the sup...
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16:04