Why businesses are leaning in at Climate Week NYC 2025
EY Sustainability Matters
What happens when over a thousand climate-focused events converge in one city? At Climate Week NYC 2025, the private sector showed up in force, bringing bold ideas, collaborative energy and a clear shift from strategy to delivery. In this episode of EY Sustainability Matters, host Matthew Bell shares insights from leaders across various industries-utilities, consumer goods, technology and agriculture-as well as NGOs interviewed on the sidelines of EY-hosted events. Hear how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming sustainability efforts, enabling smarter and faster decisions in the race...
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How to overcome fear in financing climate innovation
EY Sustainability Matters
This episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast is a rare opportunity to hear from two global thought leaders who have shaped sustainability strategies at the highest levels of business and international development, about the need for a move toward a regenerative economy, and the challenges and opportunities that will present. Nadia Woodhouse from the EY New Economy Unit (NEU) welcomes two distinguished thinkers: Sir Noel Quinn, former Chief Executive of HSBC, and Usha Rao-Monari, former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Development Programme and member of the EY...
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How national climate plans can reshape global investments
EY Sustainability Matters
Host Matt Bell explores the pivotal role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in shaping climate policy and investment strategies. He interviews four experts to get their insights. Joanna MacGregor, a senior advisor at the UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), explains how NDCs have evolved into comprehensive national climate plans that can drive economic growth and resilience. Antonina Scheer, Policy Fellow at the London School of Economics and Research Project Manager at the Transition Pathway Initiative Centre, discusses the challenges of financing climate action in emerging...
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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...
info_outlineThought leaders, global decision-makers and policymakers will be convening in Dubai in late-November for the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP28, to assess and address the state of global affairs on the climate agenda.
In this episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, host Bruno Sarda is joined in person by Amy Brachio, EY Global Vice Chair for Sustainability, and Matt Bell, EY Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader. They explore COP28 and the importance of the first-ever Global Stocktake - a checkpoint discussion on the progress made since the Paris Agreement adoption in 2015.
With just seven years left to cut emissions by half and limit global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world has reached a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change. Amy and Matt share their views on the possible learnings from the Global Stocktake, as well as on the business and government perspective of COP28, and why it is so vital for those stakeholders to be represented there.
With a record number of people - 90,000 - set to attend the summit, the podcast looks at the progress since last year’s COP. It also explains why, in these tumultuous times with one global crisis following another, more voices outside of governments must be part of the dialogue on climate change. The guests end on a hopeful note agreeing that the upcoming COP28 is likely to bring more positive outcomes and cross-sector collaborations.
Key takeaways include:
- COP28 includes the first Global Stocktake to assess progress to address and adapt to climate change on a country-by-country level.
- The dialogue and collaboration between government and business across sectors are vital for meaningful progress.
- Recent extremes in climate have created more urgency for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
- New reporting standards are driving greater transparency and accountability.
- Global tensions, economic uncertainty and political landscapes impact progress, but businesses are still driving climate action through net-zero commitments.
- EY and other businesses attending COP28 are looking to have an authentic impact and play a role in driving meaningful action.
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