The ESG Podcast

We talk to TED Talk presenter and author of 'Sustainable Sustainability', Rajeev Peshawaria, about the concept he's coined called steward leadership. For Rajeev, interdependence, long-term view, ownership mentality and creative resilience are not adequately included in the G of ESG. Are leaders born, or made? Rajeev's response to that is worth listening to the podcast just for his answer alone.

The UK’s carbon emissions amount to something like 2% of the world’s carbon footprint, so is there any point the UK driving so hard to meet its net zero targets ahead of 2050? Hannah Scott, CEO of the business network Oxfordshire Greentech puts the case very eloquently, that of course there is…

David Ross is an international strategist and corporate peacemaker. He is founder of Phoenix Strategic Management and works with organisations, leaders and communities to help them successfully deal with their most complex – and often, controversial – issues. In his exceptional new book Confronting the Storm: Regenerating Leadership and Hope in the Age of Uncertainty David shares the knowledge  and wisdom from leaders across different geographies how best to face the challenges in the Age of Uncertainty, when everyone’s looking to you to lead them.

In today's podcast Ellie Besley-Gould, Director of Xynteo, looks at the current state of play for ESG in some of the world's largest corporations. In perhaps the best name drop of all time on the ESG Podcast Ellie also tells us how Jonathan Porritt recently told her, "We can't have nature without humans...". So, which humans, or large large corporations, are doing 'good growth' really well? You'll have to listen to her list, towards the end of the interview. 

In today’s podcast a returning interviewee, James Stander, the Founder of Sustainable Advantage, weighs up the criticisms of some carbon offsetting strategies and suggests an approach of his own, based on his significant expertise and years of experience.

Today we interview a subject who's had not one, but two, stellar business ideas. Dan Sherrard-Smith comes on today's ESG podcast offering a solution to dramatically reduce your carbon emissions, at a stroke. He is the founder of MotherTree. Previously, he was on the founding team of Look After My Bills which had the best ever deal on Dragons' Den and saved the British public £127m in three years. MotherTree's mission is to make it easy for values-led businesses to go green and save money on their pension, banks and bills. Listen how. He's amazing.

Adrian Sladdin, Founder and Director of EnviroEducation, and convener of the EGF, explains that whilst the gambling industry will be regarded by some as beyond redemption that shouldn't stop efforts to engage in dialogue with the sector, exploring ways in which it can be more ethical, without just tick boxing ESG criteria in an attempt to greenwash its image. What are the odds of a breakthrough in 2024? 10 - 1 or nearer 50/50? Have a listen.

In this podcast we talk to Paul Rekhi, Head of Carbon Services at Advantage Utilities, whose job it is to help businesses start tracking how much carbon they're emitting. Interestingly enough, while the motivation for many privately owned businesses have started doing this because it's the right thing to do, or they want to get ahead on forthcoming regulation, it can actually save them money. So that's three good reasons for listening. Oh, and Paul knows his stuff, too.

It's fashionable at the moment to take swipes at ESG investing, in particular politicians in the US have been quick to seize on any messaging that might save their constituents money in the short term. But for those of us more keenly interested in the long-term outcomes for society and the planet is there an alternative to ESG? In this podcast Tim Smith, one of the most respected observers of the Capital Markets and one of the founders of the ICCR in New York picks up the debate.

Who better to answer that question than Tom McInerney, an academic lawyer. He has taught and advised governments, international organizations, and NGOs on international law and rule of law reform for 20 years. An international lawyer and strategist, he has led numerous innovative initiatives to develop and improve the effectiveness of international law and regulation, advance rule of law, and further global development.