ESG Currents

Epizode

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  How NordicNinja Backs Climate Tech 12.08.2026 25min

  As global heat waves become more frequent and severe, climate-technology startups are playing an increasingly important role in innovation needed to accelerate decarbonization and create new economic opportunities. Financing these emerging companies has become a critical task for climate-focused venture capital funds. In this episode of the Sustainability Currents podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Yasutake Homma is joined by Tomosaku Sohara, founder of NordicNinja, a climate-technology venture capital firm. They discuss the growing role of climate-technology investors, how portfolio companies are tackling climate change through innovation, and how government policies are shaping the future of the climate-technology ecosystem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Building Performance, Next Asset Value 05.08.2026 37min

  Rising insurance costs, climate risk and new performance expectations are changing how commercial real estate is valued. In this Sustainability Currents episode, Bloomberg Intelligence Thematic Strategist Melanie Rua speaks with Breana Wheeler, director of operations for BREEAM USA about how independent building assessments are helping investors and owners evaluate resilience, operational efficiency and long-term asset value. They discuss why verified performance data is becoming increasingly important, how retrofits can improve both financial returns and resilience, and how AI and data centers are reshaping energy and water management. This episode was recorded on July 31. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Climate, AI and Other Key Themes for 2H 29.07.2026 58min

  Bloomberg Intelligence’s ESG Currents is now Sustainability Currents, reflecting a broader focus on the investment risks and opportunities emerging from themes including climate change, water scarcity, consumer expectations, and regulatory scrutiny. In this special episode marking the relaunch, BI’s director of Sustainable Finance Research, Eric Kane, brings together the full team for its 2026 midyear outlook. Melanie Rua, Andrew John Stevenson, Rob Du Boff, Gail Glazerman, Grace Osborne, Conrad Tan, Yasutake Homma, Chris Ratti, and Shaheen Contractor discuss key themes ranging from climate adaptation and resilience, sustainable debt, the ESG implications of AI, shareholder activism, water scarcity, sustainable-labeled funds and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Sciens Water on Making Water an Investable Asset 22.07.2026 36min

  Water underpins nearly every sector of the economy, yet institutional investment remains limited. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Alexander Loucopoulos, partner at Sciens Water, joins Bloomberg Intelligence thematic strategist Melanie Rua to discuss how private capital can turn fragmented water markets and long-term infrastructure needs into investable opportunities. They discuss what sets water apart from other real assets, how AI-driven power demand is increasing pressure on water systems, where regulation is creating investment opportunities, and why local expertise matters when investing across utilities, treatment, reuse and infrastructure. Recorded July 21.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Geopolitics and the Changing Energy M&A Landscape 15.07.2026 18min

  Geopolitical tensions, commodity-price volatility and policy uncertainty have made energy dealmaking more complex, but they haven’t brought it to a halt. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Jalal Nadeem, a faculty member at the Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances and an M&A deal-structuring expert, joins Shaheen Contractor, Bloomberg Intelligence senior sustainable finance research analyst, to explore the evolution of energy transactions. They discuss where M&A activity is emerging across the energy transition, why innovative deal structures are becoming more common, how AI is reshaping negotiations and what investors should watch as the landscape continues to shift.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  B Lab on Balancing Fiduciary Duty, People & Planet 08.07.2026 43min

  More than 10,000 companies have been certified as B Corps, which requires them to change their legal structures to ensure their boards consider all stakeholders, not just shareholders; measure and manage impact; and commit to continuous improvement. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Clay Brown, chief standards officer at B Lab, joins Eric Kane, Bloomberg Intelligence director of ESG research, to discuss how companies balance fiduciary responsibilities with commitments to people and the planet. They also explore the biggest risks and opportunities for B Corps today, how the B Corp standards have changed over time, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Impax Asset on Why Asia’s Climate Risks Matter 01.07.2026 23min

  From technology to food, global supply chains depend on Asia, making climate risks there relevant to investors everywhere. In this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence sustainable-finance analysts Grace Osborne and Conrad Tan speak with Nana Li, Head of Sustainability and Stewardship for Asia Pacific at Impax Asset Management, about why sustainability in Asia is more than a compliance exercise. From China’s industrial transition and clean-technology leadership to Japan’s governance reforms, they discuss why understanding the region’s diverse investment drivers is essential for building resilience, capturing opportunity and generating alpha.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Standards Uniting Global Sustainable Finance 24.06.2026 38min

  Green-bond rules are spreading across governments, but fragmentation may emerge as a hurdle for sustainable finance. Different legal frameworks across jurisdictions are raising questions about how issuers and investors can move capital across borders without added complexity. On this week’s ESG Currents, Aldo Romani, head of sustainable finance, and Tomomitsu Maruta, sustainable finance officer, both in the Finance Directorate at the European Investment Bank, join Bloomberg Intelligence’s Chris Ratti to discuss how the Green Bond Principles and European Green Bond Standard have helped sustainable-debt markets evolve by improving clarity around labeled-bond structuring. Recorded June 18.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How Climate Data Helps Homeowners Assess Costs 17.06.2026 34min

  As climate change intensifies, physical risks to property are mounting. On this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence sustainable-finance senior analysts Gail Glazerman and Andy Stevenson speak with Daryl Fairweather, chief economist of Redfin, about how homebuyers are responding to physical risks, the challenges for home affordability — especially insurance costs — and how markets are adapting, including signs of climate migration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Malaysia's EPF on Safeguarding Workers' Retirement 10.06.2026 33min

  How does a sustainability focus support a pension fund's duty to safeguard the retirement future of a country's workers? What does effective engagement with companies look like? In this ESG Currents episode, Shahida Jaffar, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund, joins Bloomberg Intelligence ESG analyst Conrad Tan to discuss the key principles guiding EPF's engagement with investee companies and why it sees the defense of biodiversity and natural capital as a critical priority. She also shares why she's optimistic that AI can help sustainability professionals better understand company impacts and dependencies on nature. EPF had 1.44 trillion ringgit ($360 billion) in total investment assets at end-March. This episode was recorded on May 22.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Investing in the $20 Trillion Climate Economy 03.06.2026 27min

  Global costs related to climate events, including damage, insurance premiums, maintenance and repair, have exceeded $20 trillion since the year 2000, according to Bloomberg Intelligence’s Climate Damages Tracker. This massive wealth transfer provides the context for BI’s Climate Economy 2026 Outlook report. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Andy Stevenson, BI senior climate analyst and lead author of the report, joins Eric Kane, BI’s director of ESG research, to discuss how companies engaged in adaptation and resilience are benefiting from increased recovery spending and outperforming their benchmark. They also talk about opportunities in mitigation, the methane problem and what climate damages could look like over the next decade. This episode was recorded on June 2.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Transition Builds Resistance in Emerging Markets 27.05.2026 29min

  Emerging markets are central to the global sustainability transition and increasingly at the forefront of innovation in sustainable finance, from debt-for-food swaps to biodiversity-linked sovereign bonds. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Nicolas Jaquier, a portfolio manager on the emerging markets fixed income team at Ninety One, where he co-manages the Emerging Market Sustainable Blend strategy, joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s Chris Ratti and Grace Osborne. They discuss the resilience of emerging markets through recent market shocks, the growing evidence that countries investing proactively in the transition are less exposed to oil-price volatility, and why a dynamic approach is increasingly important for investors navigating these markets. This episode was recorded on April 28. Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Burnt Island Ventures on Investing in Water 20.05.2026 45min

  Water demand is set to outpace supply by 40% by 2030, and scarcity is spurring broad changes across the global economy, giving rise to companies that aim to provide solutions for the growing crisis. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Tom Ferguson, founder and managing partner of Burnt Island Ventures, joins Eric Kane, Bloomberg Intelligence’s director of ESG research, to discuss emerging opportunities in desalination, industrial treatment, reuse and more. They explore how AI is powering software solutions and compressing the cycle time for hardware iterations. They also discuss the importance of investing in companies that aren’t dependent on policy and the current path to liquidity for the companies that Burnt Island Ventures invests in. The episode was recorded on May 8.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How Japan’s Governance Code Reshapes the Market 14.05.2026 31min

  Japan’s Corporate Governance Code, first introduced in 2015, has driven significant changes across the market – strengthening shareholder value, enhancing investor engagement, protecting minority rights, promoting gender diversity, and supporting the transition to a decarbonized economy. A further revision expected in 2026 could accelerate progress across these areas. In this episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Yasunori Takeuchi, CEO and Representative Director of Corporate Action Japan, joins Bloomberg Intelligence ESG strategist Yasutake Homma to discuss the potential impact of the upcoming revision. They also explore what lies ahead for shareholders as Japan enters the annual general meeting season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Paying for Results - World Bank on Outcome Bonds 06.05.2026 36min

  Outcome bonds link investor returns to measurable results and are seeing increased issuance, led by institutions like the World Bank. In this ESG Currents episode, Bloomberg Intelligence ESG analysts Melanie Rua and Chris Ratti speak with Jorge Familiar of the World Bank Group and Stephen Liberatore of Nuveen Asset Management about how these structures are scaling. The discussion focuses on how investors price outcome risk alongside credit risk, how deals are structured - including the World Bank’s $120 million Spekboom restoration bond - and where these instruments fit relative to green and sustainability-linked debt. They also examine investor demand, reporting requirements, and the role of multilateral development banks in mobilizing private capital.  This episode was recorded on April 27.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Critical Evolution of Japan's Carbon Credit Market 29.04.2026 17min

  Carbon pricing is at the heart of Japan’s decarbonization strategy. With a government-backed initiative covering about 60% of national emissions and the full launch of the Green Transformation (GX) Emissions Trading System in 2026, Japan’s carbon market is entering a pivotal phase. In this episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Yuki Mori, General Manager of the Japan Exchange Group’s Carbon Credit Market, joins Bloomberg Intelligence ESG Strategist Yasutake Homma to explore the evolving role of JPX’s carbon credit market and what lies ahead. As carbon credit prices rise and global attention intensifies, the conversation also examines growing interest from international investors and the implications for Japan’s expanding carbon ecosystem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Debating Whether Climate Risk Is Already Priced In 22.04.2026 39min

  Two experts, one question: Is climate risk already priced in? On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence EMEA ESG integration analyst Grace Osborne hosts an Oxford-style debate. Dr. Jakob Thomae, co-founder and CEO of Theia Finance Labs, argues for the motion, while Dr. Ben Caldecott, founding director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group and a coordinating lead author on finance for the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report, argues against it. From green tech outperformance to central-bank stress tests, the signals are mixed. Greater information availability may help investors price climate risk, but radical uncertainty — from second-order effects to tipping points — remains far harder to capture. This episode was recorded on March 3.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Improving Carbon Management With Better Measures 15.04.2026 23min

  The Greenhouse Gas Protocol has become the de facto market standard for measuring and reporting carbon emissions. But does its focus on enterprise-wide reporting really lead to optimal decision-making? Carbon Measures, a coalition of industrial firms, is developing a new framework for product-level carbon accounting. On this week’s episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ESG Analyst Rob Du Boff speaks with Amy Brachio, CEO of Carbon Measures, to discuss why product-level intensity standards may help improve business decision-making for the climate transition. This episode was recorded on April 9.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Inside the RFP - Expectations for Asset Managers 08.04.2026 28min

  Sustainability is moving beyond high-level ESG rhetoric and becoming more embedded in how investment mandates and RFPs are structured — but what is actually changing in practice? In this episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Sarika Goel, global head of sustainable investment manager research at Mercer, joins Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ESG Analyst Shaheen Contractor to unpack how sustainability expectations are shifting within investment mandates and manager selection. They explore how ESG requirements are being reframed — and where expectations are tightening or softening. The discussion also examines how these shifts are influencing portfolio construction, from integration to thematic allocations and private markets exposure, as well as regional differences in mandates. Finally, they consider what has remained consistent despite the noise and what the next generation of mandates may look like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Pricing Water Risk and Scaling Climate Resilience 01.04.2026 37min

  As climate volatility intensifies, water risk is becoming a critical — and often mispriced — factor in investment decisions, particularly across agriculture and real assets. In this episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence’s Melanie Rua speaks with Catherine Burns of The Nature Conservancy’s NatureVest team and Alyssa Go of RRG Capital Management about how institutional capital is integrating water and climate resilience into investment strategies. They discuss the $900 million Sustainable Water Impact Fund, how nature-based infrastructure can reduce financial risk and what signals could indicate that water risk is being properly priced.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.