The Business Case for Environmental Disclosure

What stood out at Climate Week NYC 2026? Novata's Partnership Manager, Maddie Shiff, turns the tables on Sustainable Intelligence host Josh Green for a look back at the biggest themes from the week, from the growing role of AI in sustainability to the rising focus on physical and technology-related risks.

Environmental disclosure is often viewed as a compliance exercise. But new research from CDP suggests it can be much more: a driver of resilience, risk management, and business value.In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Josh Green sits down with Sue Armstrong Brown, Global Director of Environmental Impact and Thought Leadership at CDP, to discuss the findings of CDP’s latest Disclosure Dividend Report. They explore why companies are seeing a median return of $8 for every $1 invested in addressing environmental risks, how disclosure is evolving into a strategic management tool, and what sustainability leaders can do to make the business case internally.

AI adoption is accelerating, but governance hasn't always kept pace. In this episode, Josh Green sits down with Novata's Adrienne Wong to discuss the Responsible AI Essentials Framework, a practical starting point developed by Novata for organizations looking to govern AI responsibly. They explore why AI governance is becoming a business imperative, the risks and opportunities organizations should be thinking about today, and the simple, actionable steps leaders can take to build trust while preparing for an evolving regulatory landscape.

To celebrate Novata's fifth anniversary, this special episode of the Sustainable Intelligence podcast brings together "voicemail"-style reflections from Novatans across the company, alongside a conversation with our Co-CEOs and Co-Founders, Alex Friedman and Josh Green. Through personal stories, memorable moments, and lessons learned, we look back on the milestones that have shaped the past five years, reflect on how far we've come, and share our vision for what's ahead. 

What makes sustainability data truly useful? Context. In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Josh Green sits down with Caitlin Pentifallo, Novata's Head of Product for AI Data Products, to discuss Novata's largest benchmark release to date, featuring more than 49,000 benchmarks and 1.24 million underlying data points.Together, they explore why benchmarks have become essential for private markets investors, how Novata balances data quality with scale, and what this year's data reveals about the continued maturation of sustainability reporting. Caitlin also shares how AI and automation are transforming benchmark generation, why "best fit" benchmarks help investors make more informed decisions, and what the future holds as sustainability data becomes increasingly standardized.

What does the data tell us about where ESG reporting is heading? In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Aaron Zweig, Senior Metrics and Regulations Associate at Novata, joins the podcast to share key findings from the 2026 ESG Metrics Guide, which he helped produce. He unpacks how investor expectations are shifting across DEI and workforce metrics, environmental reporting beyond carbon, and the emerging focus on AI governance. Listen as Aaron reflects on what it means for the field to move from data collection to action, and shares practical advice for ESG practitioners navigating a complex and more demanding landscape.  

In this episode of the Sustainable Intelligence podcast, Dr. Robert Eccles joins us to explore the shifting sustainability landscape in the private markets. Drawing on decades of experience at the forefront of the field, Bob reflects candidly on what the sustainability community has gotten wrong in its approach to climate change, and what it will take to get it right. He also unpacks how to connect sustainability efforts to real financial impact, why human and AI collaboration holds promise for the ESG data landscape, and what keeps him optimistic about the road ahead.

In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Laura Callaghan, Head of EMEA Advisory at Novata, joins us to dive into the EU Taxonomy and what it means for businesses right now. Laura shares what the Taxonomy was designed to do, who it applies to, and why it’s hard to tackle without the right tools and expertise. Listen to hear how companies can move beyond box-checking to find real business value in doing this work well and what’s ahead for ESG and sustainability reporting. 

In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Evan Greenfield, Managing Director and Head of ESG at BCI Private Equity, joins to discuss his latest whitepaper, ESG Value Creation in Private Equity: From Rhetoric to Returns, developed in collaboration with Stanford University’s Long-Term Investing Initiative. British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is one of Canada’s largest institutional investors, managing a ~C$300 billion portfolio on behalf of 32 public sector and institutional clients. Drawing on real-world case studies, Evan explains how financially material ESG initiatives can drive EBITDA improvements, reduce operational risk, and strengthen exit readiness. He also shares a practical framework for embedding sustainability across the investment lifecycle, from diligence to exit.

In this episode of Sustainable Intelligence, Novata Co-Founder and Co-CEO Josh Green shares his path into sustainability and the experiences that have shaped his perspective. As he prepares to step in as interim host, Josh reflects on what it takes to build trust as a founder, how his career in sustainability began, and the critical role data plays in driving meaningful progress.