How carbon offsetting could be part of a net zero ambition
Release Date: 04/25/2022
How and why should CEOs put sustainability at the core of business
EY Sustainability Matters
This special episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast is introduced by Nadia Woodhouse from the EY New Economy Unit (NEU), which focuses on the long-term, systemic shifts toward a new, regenerative economy. Nadia presents a thought-provoking dialogue with two influential leaders in sustainability: Helena Helmersson, former CEO of the fashion giant H&M Group, and Jonathon Porritt, a writer, environmentalist, advocate for sustainable development and a member of the advisory council for the NEU. The discussion centers around the pressing need for businesses to adopt regenerative...
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How companies can address human rights risks in global supply chains
EY Sustainability Matters
Despite the popular belief that slavery is a thing of the past, it is estimated that slavery affects around 50 million people globally. Human exploitation for labour and other forms of modern slavery are embedded within the supply chains of many of the products and services that we choose to consume regularly, whether we are buying clothes, electronics, or even a bar of chocolate. This is becoming an increasing concern for business as well. Mounting pressure from both legislative bodies that introduce new regulations and a new generation of consumers, who seem to be willing to pay more for...
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How businesses can drive sustainability in a volatile political landscape
EY Sustainability Matters
In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast hosted by Bruno Sarda, the discussion centers around the vital collaboration between the public and private sectors in advancing sustainability efforts. Bruno welcomes Ruth Ahchow, EY Global Government and Public Sector Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services, who elaborates on the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as key mechanisms for sustainable development, showcasing successful examples from around the world, including the Asia-Pacific region. Bruno and Ruth discuss how recent political shifts in...
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How music artists and labels can innovate for a better planet
EY Sustainability Matters
In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, host Bruno Sarda and guests dive into the intersection of sustainability and the music industry. Discussing the topic with Bruno are: Joel Makower, Chairman and Cofounder of the Trellis Group (formerly GreenBiz) and the Strategy Director & Industry Council Chair of the Music Sustainability Alliance, and Olga LaBelle, Vice President and Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at Warner Music Group. The speakers discuss the current state of sustainability in the music industry, innovative collaborations for...
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Why integrating sustainability is everybody’s business
EY Sustainability Matters
The relationship between business and sustainability is evolving. As awareness of its importance – and value – grows, so does the recognition that responsibility for addressing the subject is not confined to specific sustainability roles. Indeed, growing opinion is that every job within an organization can and should be considered a sustainability job. In this episode, EY Americas Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader Bruno Sarda sits down with Pia Heidenmark Cook, a former Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA and now senior board member, speaker and sustainability advisor, and...
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How to transform your business on a journey to a new economy
EY Sustainability Matters
With the world in the midst of a global polycrisis, the New Economy Unit (NEU) — a global research group at the EY organization — was established to look at the key economic forces at play and the leading business practices needed to create a sustainable future. Host Bruno Sarda discusses the NEU and a bigger idea of regenerative business transformation it represents with Matt Bell, EY Global Leader, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, and Anastasia Roussou, EY Head of New Economy Research Unit, in London. Moreover, the discussion covers the work the NEU does with the activist and...
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COP29: what’s at the top of the world’s sustainability agenda
EY Sustainability Matters
In this episode, Bruno Sarda, host of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, meets with prior guests to talk about the significant developments in sustainability over the past year, ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference or COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, later this November. Amy Brachio, EY Global Vice Chair for Sustainability, and Matt Bell, EY Global Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services, share their experiences from the 2024 New York Climate Week . They discuss the transition from addressing environmental issues in siloes to a comprehensive view that...
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How nature, biodiversity and human rights impact on global business
EY Sustainability Matters
With the upcoming 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, also known as COP16, this episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast explores the critical link between nature, biodiversity and human wellbeing. EY leaders Alex Banks and Ana Luci Grizzi join host Bruno Sarda to discuss the challenges and the key decisions that should be taken for meaningful progress to be made. The thought-provoking discussion emphasizes the need to integrate biodiversity conservation into our economic models and addresses the interconnected threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. Also highlighted is...
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How can innovation help drive sustainable food choices?
EY Sustainability Matters
When we sit down to enjoy a meal, at home or in a restaurant, we’re rarely aware of the environmental toll our food choices may take. However, the reality is that the journey from farm to table carries a significant environmental cost, often unseen but deeply impactful. This episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast delves deeper into the impact the global food system has on climate change, biodiversity and land use. It also explores how digital innovation can be leveraged to make food production more sustainable without sacrificing quality or taste. Join host Bruno Sarda, EY Americas...
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How the island of Palau is confronting the realities of climate change
EY Sustainability Matters
For the people of Palau, a nation of over 300 small islands in the Western Pacific, climate change is not a future threat, but an immediate and pressing reality. Rising temperatures and sea levels have changed their way of life and are already impacting communities. How are they confronting these changes, and what can the rest of the world learn from their experiences? In this episode, host Bruno Sarda is joined by Mikayla Etpison from the Palau Office of Climate Change, and Martine Crowe, a member of the EY team that codeveloped a broad climate strategy with the government of Palau. Mikayla...
info_outlineThe theme of Earth Day 2022 is “invest in our planet” — and can be seen as a direct call to businesses and investors to act on reducing their adverse environmental impact. In the lead-up to Earth Day, Jennifer Leitsch, Managing Director in the Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) practice at Ernst & Young, LLP, spoke to Cynthia Curtis, Senior Vice President for Sustainability at JLL, about the challenges and opportunities of ambitious net zero goals, and the actions the real estate and construction sector, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,[1] should take now to achieve them.
Earth Day 2022’s thematic shift from citizen activism to corporate action poses some important questions on industry actions and accountability. While carbon offsetting can often be described as one of the answers to a business’s carbon emissions, it is unlikely to be the only solution. And as offsetting measurements come under increased scrutiny, how can proposals such as the “Carbon Credit Quality Initiative,” spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund and the Environmental Defense Fund, help provide confidence in credible and verifiable offsets?
The collaborations among organizations can be an important step toward reaching net zero emissions. Public-private partnerships, governments and long-term policy changes could also be important to building a low-carbon economy, and helping incentivize more green business practices that are both ethical and lucrative.
Many industries are increasingly aware of the possibility to have a sustainable and thriving business. Cynthia and Jennifer discuss why it’s time for businesses of all shapes and sizes to act:
- Tackling climate change has become less about individual activism and more about corporate action.
- Global ambitions of carbon neutrality have led to an increase in carbon offsetting, prompting a greater need for a standardized calculation system.
- Offsetting can be part of the solution. Market-based guidelines, such as carbon tax, could significantly accelerate change across global business.
- Public-private partnerships can be important in building the low-carbon economy.
- While the real estate and construction sector has lagged in setting ambitious emissions targets, third-party organizations could be important to supporting responsible growth in the sector.