Powering the Future: Data Centers at the Crossroads of AI and Sustainability
Release Date: 11/20/2025
Pressure Points: Liquidity, Complexity, and the Rise of Private Credit | Look Forward Ep. 37
Look Forward
Private credit has grown from a post-financial-crisis gap-filler into a roughly $2 trillion market — and with investor redemptions and AI disruption fears making headlines, it's facing fresh scrutiny. Host Molly Mintz is joined by S&P Global Ratings' Matthew Mitchell, Managing Director for Structured Finance, and Evan Gunter, Managing Director and Head of Private Markets Research, to unpack where the real pressure points lie. The Look Forward Podcast is powered by the . The S&P Global Institute is the center for enterprise-wide thought leadership that brings together...
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The AI-Energy Paradox: Balancing Innovation with Sustainability | Look Forward Ep. 36
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Artificial intelligence is accelerating demand for data center power at a pace that is reshaping the global energy agenda. In this episode of the Look Forward podcast, host Aries Poon speaks with Tony Lenoir, data center expert at S&P Global, about whether AI growth can coexist with decarbonization goals — and how hyperscalers are rethinking their energy strategies in response. The Look Forward Podcast is powered by the . The S&P Global Institute is the center for enterprise-wide thought leadership that brings together expertise from across S&P Global to provide insights on...
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India Forward: Navigating Global Shocks and Energy Security | Look Forward Ep. 35
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In this episode of the Look Forward podcast, S&P Global experts Deepa Kumar and Gauri Jauhar examine how the Middle East conflict is stress-testing India’s economy through energy dependence, trade exposure, remittances, currency pressure, inflation, and geopolitical balancing. They discuss why this shock is more multi-layered than past crises and how India’s resilience is being challenged even as government support, infrastructure spending, and private-sector cost absorption continue to provide buffers. The conversation also explores how India is using the crisis to accelerate...
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Inflection Points: Is it a New Energy World? | Look Forward Ep. 34
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In this episode of the Look Forward podcast, host Naki Mendoza speaks with Daniel Yergin, vice chair of S&P Global Energy, founder and chair of CERAWeek, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Prize, The Quest, and The New Map. Together, they examine a volatile moment for global energy, shaped by conflict in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz disruption, shifting supply chains, and renewed focus on energy security. The Look Forward Podcast is powered by the . The S&P Global Institute is the center for enterprise-wide thought leadership that brings together expertise from across...
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Partner Perspectives: Precision in a Shifting Bond Landscape
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In this episode of Partner Perspectives, a special miniseries within the Look Forward podcast, host Molly Mintz explores the rapid evolution and enduring resilience of global fixed income markets. Drawing on S&P Global and Vanguard’s joint research, , the conversation examines how geopolitical disruption, technological innovation, and new market innovations and infrastructure are transforming the bond market for issuers, investors, and portfolio managers alike. Alexandre Birry of S&P Global Ratings provides the macro-credit perspective, explaining that...
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Partner Perspectives: Decoding Concentration Risk, Index Design, and the Next Era of Choice
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In this episode of Partner Perspectives, a special miniseries within the Look Forward podcast, the conversation explores one of the most foundational yet rapidly evolving forces in modern investing: indexing. Drawing on S&P Global and Vanguard’s joint research, , this episode examines how market concentration, changing corporate leadership, and expanding index tools are reshaping the way investors access markets and build portfolios. Tim Edwards of S&P Dow Jones Indices opens with a historical perspective on U.S. equity concentration—noting that by mid-2025...
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Partner Perspectives: Inside the Forces Driving Resilience and Expansion in Private Markets | Look Forward Ep. 31
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In this premiere episode of Partner Perspectives, a special miniseries within the Look Forward podcast, host Molly Mintz examines how private markets are reshaping capital formation, portfolio construction, and long-term investment strategy. Drawing on S&P Global and Vanguard’s joint research, , this conversation explores why companies are staying private longer, how private equity has expanded in scale and influence, and what today’s higher-rate environment means for returns and risk. Vanguard’s Bill Stout outlines an optimistic but measured view on private...
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Middle East Tensions: Power, Pressure Points, and Pathways | Look Forward Ep. 30
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In this episode of the Look Forward podcast, host Aries Poon is joined by Carlos Pascual, Head of Geopolitics and International Affairs at S&P Global’s Energy Division, to examine the Middle East conflict through a wider geopolitical lens. Drawing on decades of experience in diplomacy, energy security, and international affairs, Carlos explains why this crisis matters far beyond the region.
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Middle East Tensions: Global growth, inflation, and risk | Look Forward Ep. 29
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In this episode of Look Forward, host Aries Poon discusses the macroeconomic implications of the Middle East conflict with Paul Gruenwald, Global Chief Economist at S&P Global Ratings. Paul explains how the crisis has evolved through three stages, flow shock, supply shock, and market shock—with the current focus on physical shortages and depleted buffer stocks, especially in energy-importing countries with limited resilience. He highlights that the conflict has neutralized earlier growth tailwinds, increasing downside risks and complicating the policy landscape...
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Post-CERAWeek: Power, Policy and the Electrotech Age | Look Forward Ep. 28
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Energy has moved back to the center of corporate strategy and public policy—and AI is a major reason why. In this episode of the Look Forward Podcast from S&P Global, host Aries Poon is joined by S&P Global experts Aneesh Prabhu, Ashutosh Singh, and Raoul LeBlanc to discuss the fast-changing energy reality now confronting utilities, investors, and governments. Related Research: More Look Forward:
info_outlineIn this episode of the Look Forward Podcast, host Molly Mintz reconnects with the audience as she dives deep into the critical role of data centers in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Joined by experts Kelly Morgan and Brian Partridge from S&P Global's 451 Research and authors from our latest Look Forward Report, "Navigating the US data center power crunch: On-site solutions offer a faster path to power," the discussion explores the unprecedented demand for data center capacity fueled by generative AI and its implications for the U.S. economy.
As data centers become the backbone of the digital economy, we examine the challenges they face, including energy consumption, sustainability goals, and the pressure on the power grid. Our experts share insights on the investment boom in digital infrastructure, the potential risks associated with capital intensity, and the innovative solutions being explored to meet the growing energy demands."
Additionally, we look beyond U.S. borders to understand how regions like the Middle East are positioning themselves as emerging data center hubs. Tune in for a forward-looking conversation that highlights the transformative impact of data centers on global markets and the future of technology.