Sustainable Views

Pension funds control trillions in global savings. But should they be doing more to support climate action? In this episode of Sustainable Views, the team explores the growing debate over fiduciary duty and whether pension trustees can, or should, prioritise sustainability alongside financial returns. Philippa Nuttall discusses with Elizabeth Meager and Florence Jones recent legal opinions suggesting that climate risk is a financial risk, meaning it may already fall within pension funds’ legal responsibilities.Florence examines new developments in the UK, where the government is encouraging consolidation of smaller pension schemes into large megafunds capable of investing in infrastructure, clean energy and other long-term assets.Beyond the UK, the episode looks at political and legal battles in the US and regulatory approaches in the EU, highlighting how ESG and climate considerations are becoming increasingly contested.As lawsuits, politics and policy debates intensify, the episode asks a key question: can pension capital help finance the climate transition, or will legal uncertainty continue to slow progress?You can watch this podcast on Sustainable Views or YouTube.Read more here:Trillions in US pension assets out of reach for local climate projectsESG engagement stops at sovereign bond marketEU vastly underestimates debt impact of climate change, report showsEditor’s note: where does sustainability end and defence begin?Timestamps:00:00 - Fiduciary and government roles in pensions02:29 - What the UK government is hoping happens with pensions06:46 - Global pension perspectives12:24 - Future of investmentsSustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How should businesses navigate human rights in a more fragmented world?In this episode of Sustainable Views, editor Philippa Nuttall sits down with Michael Clements, Executive Director for Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, to discuss the growing expectations on companies to protect workers, manage supply chain risks and respond to political and regulatory pressure. From mandatory due diligence to reputational risk and stakeholder activism, we explore how the human rights agenda is evolving — and what it means for boards, investors and sustainability leaders today.Read more here:The material risks of human rights in the reconstruction of GazaDue diligence act means companies ‘give a damn’Investors will use ESG data if it is decision usefulDo sustainability disclosures change corporate behaviour?Simplified ESRS more ‘decision-useful’ for business and investorsSustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philippa Nuttall is joined by US reporter and acting deputy editor, Elizabeth Meager and UK reporter Florence Jones to discuss the evolving role of corporate responsibility and corporate reporting. Corporate reporting is still mainly focused on climate impacts and emissions. Under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, for example, companies must also report on nature and social indicators, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, when it comes into force, should shine a greater spotlight on human rights abuses.In the US, despite fear of retribution from the Trump administration, companies are being challenged to speak out more. With new issues around the use of AI and how companies should be responding as the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol or ICE expands its role, pressure on businesses to take a stance is growing.Additional reading:ICE’s expansion leaves US companies with a choice they cannot dodgeAs companies adopt AI, can investors trust corporate reporting?00:00 Intro1:10 Companies response to ICE5:03 Reputational risk6:44 Corporate reporting8:20 Impact of AI14:05 New ESG regulation16:33 AI climate reportingSustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025 was a tough year for sustainability. With Trump's attacks on green energy, to uncertainty over regulation and subsidies, the direction of travel is becoming less predictable for governments and businesses alike.In this episode, Sustainable Views editor Philippa Nuttall is joined by Elizabeth Meager and Florence Jones to explore how the sustainability landscape is evolving in 2026, with companies and countries adjusting strategies, managing risk and investing in solutions that continue to attract support, including regenerative agriculture and carbon credits. We also look at where momentum is still building globally, and what this means for sustainability and investors in the year ahead.00:00 - Sustainability at the start of 202603:08 - The US sustainability transition09:10 - Tax and carbon credits17:30 - Future sustainability trends to watchRequired reading:Despite fragmentation, the energy transition is advancingWind and solar generated more power than fossil fuels in 2025 in EU milestoneMicrosoft looks to soil carbon credits as its emissions surgeSustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sustainable Views team discuss the chaos of 2025 and what to expect from the coming year in sustainability, litigation, technology and environmental policy.At the end of the year the full Sustainable Views editorial team gathered to talk about the biggest sustainability stories of 2025. From environmental rollbacks in the EU and US to climate attribution science in the courts, data centres’ energy use and tropical forests, the team runs through what they saw and what it means for businesses.Philippa, Elizabeth, Florence, Erin and Aniket also look ahead to 2026, detailing what they will be keeping an eye out for, where further deregulation is likely, and what businesses need to know as they kick off a new year.00:00 - Sustainability and policy making in 202506:13 - UK energy and nature debate11:58 - Litigation and AI trends17:50 - COP30 and the future outlookWant to learn more about #sustainability policy in 2025 and beyond? Subscribe to Sustainable Views here.Required reading:Companies need coherence — fragmentation is still a structural riskEU 2040 target deal sets the stage for carbon pricing reforms in 2026Can fiduciary reform close the gap between pension climate rhetoric and reality?Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As COP30 in Belém, Brazil comes to a close, Sustainable Views editor Philippa Nuttall sits down with reporter Florence Jones to unpack the key outcomes of this year’s pivotal climate summit. In this episode, they break down the biggest announcements, assess which climate commitments made headlines, and explore what was left out of the final COP30 agreement, from finance to fossil fuels.Philippa and Florence also look ahead to the future of COP negotiations, examining how the structure of the conference may evolve and which voices could shape global climate policy in the years to come.For deeper analysis on global climate diplomacy, sustainable finance and ESG regulation, visit Sustainable Views.Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast — available on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube — and catch new episodes every month.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Sustainable Views, editor Philippa Nuttall is joined by acting deputy editor Elizabeth Meager and reporter Florence Jones to preview COP30, the next major UN climate conference set to take place in Brazil.They explore what’s at stake as world leaders, negotiators and activists gather to assess progress since the Paris Agreement and whether countries are on track to meet their 2030 climate goals. They also discuss the key themes expected to dominate the talks, from climate finance and adaptation to the role of emerging economies in the global energy transition.Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast, available on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. A new episode is released each month.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Sustainable Views, editor Philippa Nuttall is joined by acting deputy editor Elizabeth Meager and reporter Florence Jones to discuss the rising trend of climate litigation. With the backlash in Europe and the US against more stringent climate regulations, individuals and activists are turning to the courts to fight for climate justice.This episode looks at some of the recent landmark cases brought against governments and companies as well as the emergence of attribution science and how that may help strengthen legal cases brought against polluters.Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast, available on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. A new episode is released each month.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In September, Sustainable Views Acting Deputy Editor Elizabeth Meager attended New York Climate Week. In this episode she sits down with Sustainable Views editor Philippa Nuttall to discuss the key themes that emerged and what they reveal about the state of climate policy and finance.While corporate and political ambition was on display, many conversations focused on implementation gaps, financing difficulties, and the challenging political climate in the US when it comes to environmental and energy policy.Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast, available on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. A new episode is released each month.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In July, Sustainable Views carried out a survey of sustainability professionals to understand how the sector has been evolving after a tumultuous 12 months.Sustainable Views editor Philippa Nuttall sits down with acting deputy editor Elizabeth Meager and data journalist Aniket Narawad to discuss the results of the survey and to drill down into how sustainability is being viewed in corporations in 2025 and how the role of sustainability officer is changing.Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast, available on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. A new episode will be available each month.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the aftermath of the devastating floods that hit central Texas in July, Sustainable Views editor Philippa Nuttall spoke to acting deputy editor Elizabeth Meager about US climate policy and the insurance industry.As the federal government aggressively deregulates on climate, the costs of natural disasters are continuing to increase, and climate change is making them both more frequent and more extreme.While insurance companies are ostensibly on the frontline, both they and market analysts insist the industry is well insulated, for a number of reasons. What many view as an insurance crisis may actually be a broader societal, systemic crisis.Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast, available on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. A new episode will be available each month.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A summer of high temperatures and more extreme storms has laid bare some of the issues within our global food system. But why is it so hard to enact reforms to improve what we eat and how we make our food?Sustainable Views' Elizabeth Meager speaks with Florence Jones about what steps the UK government is taking after high temperatures and unpredictable weather exacerbated food prices, with staples like potatoes increasing 22 per cent between January and February 2024. Florence also looks back on Leon restaurant founder Henry Dimbleby's food strategy review in 2021 and what has changed since one of the more punchy reviews seen in Westminster in the past few years.Editor Philippa Nuttall explains how the EU is facing the impact of climate change on farming, with the recently passed EU budget giving some sense of the direction of travel. But it is not just in the fields that climate change is being felt. Increasing drought is making transport along the Rhine and other key routes more difficult and changing consumers habits is the area no legislator seems to want to broach.Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast, available on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. A new episode will be available each month.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As London Climate Action Week begins, Sustainable Views’ Philippa Nuttall speaks with Elizabeth Meager and Florence Jones about whether the UK government is following through with its rhetoric around climate action.Four years ago at COP26 in Glasgow, then-prime minister Boris Johnson and his chancellor, Rishi Sunak, shouted loudly about the UK’s climate leadership and making the country the world’s first net zero financial centre but a series of other events meant priorities changed.In the recent spending review, chancellor Rachel Reeves agreed upon investment towards Britain’s energy transition, but the government’s other policies have raised fears about how green its policies really are.Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast, available on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. A new episode will be available each month.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been 100 days since Donald Trump entered the White House for a second time — on an election ticket that promised the end of renewable energy subsidies and embracing "coal, beautiful coal". But how else has Trump and his administration approached sustainability policy? And is the backlash already under way?Sustainable Views editor Philippa Nuttall, acting deputy editor Elizabeth Meager and policy researcher Erin Donnelly discuss reporting on Trump's first 100 days and how Sustainable Views' Trump watch is following the changes in policy. Erin explains how the EPA has had a fundamental reframing under new chief Lee Zeldin, while Elizabeth explains how the fightback against some of the policies being put in place may come from state or international level.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sustainable Views editorial team summarises what happened this year and the trends we see for 2025.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patricia Espinosa, former UNFCCC executive secretary and now chief executive of onepoint5 consultants, and Eliot Whittington, chief systems change officer at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, dissect COP29, what it means for businesses and why private sector voices should be in the room.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At COP28 last year, world leaders agreed to “transition away” from fossil fuels. Rui Teixeira, executive board member and CFO of EDP, and Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson discuss whether any progress has been made since then and what needs to happen at COP29. Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While companies have got used to reporting on their emissions, understanding their impacts on nature and the risks of biodiversity loss to their products and processes is rather new. Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund, and Roberto Marques, former CEO of cosmetics company Natura and board member of Sysco Corporation and the We Mean Business Coalition, discuss nature and business ahead of COP16 in Colombia. Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was barely a woman to be seen in the official photograph of the world's climate leaders at COP28. This is a problem when half of the world's population is female. We spoke to former Canadian environment minister Catherine McKenna and Aron Cramer, CEO and president of sustainability consultancy BSR, about how they believe more women can be brought into the climate space and how this can change the dynamics around climate action.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The need for the global economy to transition to net zero is now a reasonably settled debate, but there remain many questions about how to finance it. Sustainable Views spoke to two sustainability finance leaders about how to get funds flowing and overcome the so-called “valley of death” for scaling clean tech.Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.