The Sustainability Story

The Sustainability Story presented by CFA Institute is an audio interview series of conversations with thought leaders in the world of ESG integration and sustainability. The topics include anything and everything about where finance intersects with environment, governance, sustainability, social, climate change, biodiversity, human capital management, sustainable investing, impact investing, regulations, standards, and more. Host Matt Orsagh, CFA, CIPM is a senior director of capital markets policy at CFA Institute. His paper, Climate Change Analysis in the Investment Process was named “Best ESG Paper” by Savvy Investor in 2021. In each episode he asks his guests to tell the story of how we got here and where we are going in the journey to financial sustainability. To reach the host email advocacy@cfainstitute.org.

Transition Engineering – A Practical Look at What Will Work, and What Won’t in a Low Carbon Transition

Aug 3, 2022

We talk with Susan Krumdieck, Professor and Chair in Energy Transition at Heriot-Watt University, about transition engineering. We discuss how transition engineering will change how we approach sustainability issues and impact our economy. We talk about why hydrogen will not lead the clean energy transition and how we...

ESG and Private Markets, Sustainability in Africa

Jul 20, 2022

We talk with Dean Alborough, Head of ESG at Old Mutual Alternative Investments. We discuss how private markets integrate sustainability risks and opportunities. We also talk about the current state of sustainable investing and sustainable policy in Africa.

Degrowth – The Myth of Ever Expanding Growth Has Met Its Limits. Is Degrowth the Answer?

Jul 6, 2022

We talk with Timothee Parrique, doctor in economics and researcher at Lund University. We discuss degrowth, what it is, what it isn’t and how our obsession with GDP and growth are flawed measures of progress. We talk about why “green growth” is not the answer to the climate and biodiversity challenges we face and...

ESG Ratings – What they were meant to do, how they are misused

Jun 22, 2022

We talk to Matt Moscardi, CEO of FreeFloat Media. We discuss the creation of ESG ratings and how they have been used correctly and incorrectly through the years. We talk about the future of ESG, Sabermetrics for corporate boards, and Italian Rugby players with podcasts.

Storytelling: Our Future Depends on the Stories We Tell

Jun 9, 2022

We talk with Terence Barry, Founder and Owner of Brand and Story. We discuss how stories help us understand and explain our world as well as persuade others. We talk about climate change and other environmental challenges we face, and how storytelling can help us spur the action we need.