Sustainable Edge

Solar has quietly become the single largest source of electricity in Europe, and in many emerging markets, clean energy is no longer a climate ambition but a matter of national energy security. In this episode of Sustainable Edge, Scatec CEO Terje Pilskog explains how renewables have moved beyond the ESG hype cycle into disciplined, profitable infrastructure, and why economics, not politics, is now driving the energy transition.In this episode of Sustainable EdgeRecorded live at the annual Pareto Energy conference in Oslo, host Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder at Position Green, sits down with Terje Pilskog, CEO of Scatec, which builds utility-scale solar, wind and storage in markets such as Ukraine, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil and the Philippines.Five years ago, renewable stocks rode an unprecedented valuation boom. Today, the hype has cooled, interest rates are higher, and developers have shifted their focus to profitability and sustainable cash flows. Terje shares how Scatec navigated that reset, from sharpening its focus on core markets and reducing corporate debt to lowering its cost of capital, and why he remains a climate optimist even as global political attention on climate has faded.Together, they explore why governments in emerging markets are choosing renewables without subsidies, whether recent Middle East conflicts mark a turning point for clean energy, what solar developers can learn from oil and gas majors, and how Scatec continues to operate in Ukraine amid ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure.Learn aboutFrom ESG hype to business fundamentals How Scatec responded to the post-2021 market reset by focusing on fewer markets, cutting debt and building a more resilient, profitable business.Why economics now drives the transition Why renewables no longer need subsidies, and how a single solar and battery project in Egypt saves the country hundreds of millions of dollars a year compared to LNG-fired power.Energy security as a strategic priority Why the war in Ukraine and the Iran crisis are stark reminders that dependence on imported fuel is a structural risk, and why more energy crises are likely ahead.The hidden cost of fossil fuel subsidies How subsidised electricity tariffs burden state budgets across Africa, and how renewables could free up resources for health and education.Managing risk in challenging markets How long-term power purchase agreements and sovereign guarantees protect revenues in high-risk countries.Lessons from oil and gas, and lessons back What renewable developers have borrowed from the oil majors on execution and risk assessment, and what the traditional energy sector could learn from a more nimble way of working.Responsible supply chains How Scatec uses due diligence, physical audits and full traceability to ensure its solar panels, batteries and turbines come from responsible value chains.Grid-friendly renewables in Europe How combining solar, wind and batteries creates a balanced 24/7 generation profile, supports grid stability and opens up new opportunities in markets like Romania and Poland.About Terje PilskogTerje Pilskog was appointed CEO of Scatec in 2022, having joined the company as EVP Project Development in 2013. Before Scatec, he held management positions at Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), which he joined from McKinsey & CoWith close to two decades in renewables, Terje has led Scatec through one of the most turbulent periods in the industry's history, steering the company towards profitability while continuing to build large-scale clean energy projects in some of the world's most complex markets.Why it mattersAs geopolitical instability exposes the risks of dependence on imported fossil fuels, renewables are increasingly being chosen for their cost competitiveness and their contribution to energy independence. Terje argues that the transition is now being driven by a strong business case, one that delivers climate benefits even when climate is not the primary motivation.This conversation offers business leaders a grounded view of how the renewable sector has matured, how risk can be managed in challenging marke

Climate risk is no longer a future scenario. It is already reshaping supply chains, economies, and business resilience. In this episode of Sustainable Edge, world-renowned climate scientist Johan Rockström explains why sustainability is no longer about compliance or reputation, but about managing risk, driving innovation, and ensuring long term competitiveness in a rapidly changing world.In this episode of Sustainable EdgeHost Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder at Position Green, sits down with Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, IPCC contributor, and the scientist behind the Planetary Boundaries framework.As climate impacts accelerate and businesses navigate growing geopolitical uncertainty, Johan shares why companies must rethink sustainability through the lens of resilience and long term value creation. Drawing on decades of scientific research, he explains why climate is only one part of a much broader systems challenge involving biodiversity, freshwater, oceans, and the stability of the Earth's life-support systems.Together, they explore how science can help business leaders make better strategic decisions, where companies continue to underestimate risk, and why the transition to a more sustainable economy is becoming increasingly driven by competitiveness, energy security, and resilience rather than environmental ambition alone.Johan Rockström explains why businesses that understand planetary boundaries will be better equipped to navigate uncertainty, strengthen resilience, and remain competitive as the global economy continues to transform.Learn about:Why sustainability is fundamentally about business riskHow climate change and planetary boundaries are creating operational, financial, and supply chain risks that boards can no longer afford to ignore.Beyond climateWhy biodiversity loss, freshwater scarcity, healthy oceans, and ecosystem stability are becoming critical business issues alongside decarbonisation.Resilience as a competitive advantageHow renewable energy, diversified supply chains, and systems thinking can strengthen businesses against geopolitical shocks and market disruption.The business case for planetary boundariesWhy understanding environmental limits helps companies make smarter strategic decisions and build long term value.The importance of predictable policyWhy businesses need stable regulatory frameworks to accelerate investment and innovation in the transition.The hidden risks leaders overlookWhy intact nature and healthy oceans remain some of the biggest blind spots in corporate sustainability strategies.Innovation through constraintsHow sustainability challenges are driving new technologies, business models, and opportunities for growth.From quantity to qualityWhy the next generation of business success will depend less on increasing consumption and more on delivering greater value with fewer resources.About Johan RockströmJohan Rockström is one of the world's leading climate scientists and serves as Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). He is an author of the IPCC reports and internationally recognised for developing the Planetary Boundaries framework, which defines the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate.For more than two decades, Johan has advised governments, businesses, and international organisations on climate science, resilience, and sustainable development. His work has fundamentally shaped how leaders understand the relationship between environmental stability, economic prosperity, and long term business success.Why it mattersAs climate impacts become more visible and geopolitical uncertainty reshapes the global economy, businesses face increasing pressure to build resilience while remaining competitive. Johan argues that sustainability should no longer be viewed as a separate agenda, but as an essential part of managing risk, driving innovation, and securing future growth.This conversation offers business leaders a science based perspective on how to navigate one of the defining challenges of our time and why understanding planetary boundaries may become one of the most important strategic capabilities for the decade ahead.

Climate may have moved down the headlines, but the challenges facing businesses and society have not gone away. In this episode of Sustainable Edge, Nina Siemiatkowski, co-founder of Milkywire and Flat Capital, explores how capital can accelerate climate and nature solutions, why carbon removal is becoming a critical tool in the net zero transition, and what sustainability leaders can learn from the world of technology and venture capital.In this episode of Sustainable EdgeHost Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder at Position Green, sits down with Nina Siemiatkowski, co-founder and CEO of Milkywire, entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Flat Capital.Nina's journey is anything but conventional. After a successful corporate career, she became a wildlife photographer, spending years documenting ecosystems and biodiversity in Africa. Those experiences exposed her to the realities of biodiversity loss and climate change and ultimately inspired her to build Milkywire, a company dedicated to helping organisations fund high impact climate and nature solutions.Today, Nina operates at the intersection of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and technology. Through Milkywire, she helps companies navigate climate and nature investments, while through Flat Capital she invests in some of the world's most influential technology companies, including OpenAI and SpaceX. Her unique perspective offers valuable insights into how capital, innovation, and long term thinking can help drive the next phase of the sustainability transition.Nina Siemiatkowski shares her perspective on the future of climate action, carbon markets, nature restoration, and entrepreneurship. She explains why sustainability remains a long term economic opportunity despite shifting political priorities and changing market sentiment.Learn about:Capital as a catalyst for climate action Why funding climate and nature solutions remains one of the biggest untapped opportunities for businesses and investors.The future of carbon removal How durable carbon removal is evolving from a niche market into an essential component of credible net zero strategies.Beyond emissions reductions Why businesses need to think not only about reducing emissions, but also about restoring nature and supporting climate solutions.Scaling climate solutions like technology companies What climate entrepreneurs can learn from the growth journeys of successful technology businesses.The risks of premature scaling Why many founders overestimate market readiness and how to balance ambition with discipline.Profit and impact go hand in hand Why long term impact requires financially sustainable business models.Climate, AI, and the battle for capital What today's investment trends reveal about conviction, innovation, and future market opportunities.Reasons for optimism Why Nina believes the sustainability transition is continuing, even if it is happening more quietly than before.About Nina SiemiatkowskiNina Siemiatkowski is the co-founder and CEO of Milkywire, an impact firm helping companies design and manage programs that support climate and nature goals. Milkywire works with leading organisations to fund high quality climate solutions, biodiversity initiatives, and carbon removal projects around the world.Nina is also the co-founder of Flat Capital, a publicly listed investment company that invests in frontier technology companies including OpenAI and SpaceX. Having also witnessed the growth of Klarna from close range, she brings a rare combination of experience across entrepreneurship, investing, technology, and sustainability.A passionate advocate for climate and nature, Nina continues to explore how capital can be directed toward solving some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.Why it mattersAs businesses navigate economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change, sustainability can sometimes feel less urgent than it did just a few years ago. Yet climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource constraints continue to shape the long term outlook for economies and markets.Nina argues that the next phase of the transition will be defined not by promises, but by execution. Companies, investors, and entrepreneurs that understand how to combine innovation, capital, and long term thinking will be best positioned to create value while contributing to a more resilient future.Resource from this episode: https://milkywire.com/white-papers/operational-net-zero

As geopolitical tensions rise and sustainability faces growing scrutiny, some long term investors are doubling down instead of pulling back. In this live episode of Sustainable Edge, Siri Sachs of the Wallenberg ecosystem and Johan H. Andresen of FERD explore how resilience, competitiveness, ethics, and sustainability shape investment decisions in a world where uncertainty has become the new normal.In this episodeSiri Sachs and Johan H. Andresen share how family ownership structures can enable long term thinking and why sustainability remains deeply tied to resilience and competitiveness, even in a more fragmented global landscape.Learn about:Long term investing in uncertain times Why some investors continue backing large scale green transitions despite market volatility and political uncertaintySustainability and competitiveness How climate investments are increasingly viewed as essential for future industrial strength and resilienceRisk taking and transformation: Why family owned businesses can take longer term bets that public markets often avoidPurpose beyond profit: How responsibility, social impact, and ethics influence investment decisions and talent attractionEngagement versus exclusion: Why active ownership and supplier engagement can sometimes drive more meaningful change than divestmentAI and ethical leadership: How investors are thinking about the opportunities and risks tied to artificial intelligence and autonomous systemsRegulation and execution: Why predictable frameworks matter, but overregulation can risk slowing competitiveness and innovationThe future of Nordic leadership: How collaboration, trust, and long term ownership models could help shape a more sustainable economyAbout Siri SachsSiri Sachs is a Board Member at Wallenberg Investments and part of the sixth generation of the Wallenberg family. The Wallenberg ecosystem includes foundations, industrial holdings, and global companies such as ABB, AstraZeneca, Ericsson, and SEB. Her work focuses on long term ownership, competitiveness, and ensuring that investments contribute to future resilience and innovation.About Johan H. AndresenJohan H. Andresen is the Owner and Chair of FERD, a family owned investment company focused on long term value creation and social impact. Under his leadership, FERD transformed from a tobacco business into a diversified investment platform with holdings across industry, technology, and sustainability focused ventures. Johan has also chaired the Ethics Council of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, helping shape ethical investment practices for one of the world’s largest funds.

What does it take to lead on climate in a world shaped by distrust, geopolitics, and competing priorities? In this episode, former Colombian President Iván Duque shares how sustainability can be positioned not as a cost, but as a driver of competitiveness, and why leadership matters more than ever in turning ambition into action.In this episode of Sustainable EdgeHost Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder at Position Green, sits down with Iván Duque, former President of Colombia, to explore what sustainability leadership looks like at the highest level of government.During his presidency, Duque led one of Latin America’s most ambitious climate agendas, balancing economic growth, peacebuilding, and environmental protection. Under his leadership, Colombia expanded protected areas to cover more than a third of its territory and committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent by 2030 .Today, as global cooperation weakens and political landscapes become more fragmented, the question is no longer just what needs to be done, but how to move forward in a world where trust is declining and priorities are shifting.Learn about:Sustainability as competitiveness Why climate ambition can strengthen economic positioning rather than weaken itLeading through uncertainty What it takes to advance climate action in a world of declining trust and geopolitical fragmentationThe role of middle powers How countries like Colombia can shape global cooperation even without the largest economies leadingFrom ambition to implementation What enabled Colombia to pass climate legislation and scale environmental protection at speedMarkets and capital flows Why unlocking private finance and market mechanisms is critical for global climate progressBridging polarization How reframing sustainability conversations can create alignment across political and ideological dividesLong term leadership Why sustainability must be embedded into decision making as a core principle of governance and businessBeyond politicsBeyond his work in policy and sustainability, Iván Duque is also known for an unexpected passion: DJing. What started as a personal interest has become a way to connect with audiences in a completely different setting.Read moreAbout Iván DuqueIván Duque is the former President of Colombia and a global advocate for climate action and sustainable development. During his presidency, he led efforts to expand environmental protection, implement a national climate strategy, and position Colombia as a leader in biodiversity conservation. He currently serves as a trustee of the Science Based Targets initiative and holds advisory roles across leading global sustainability organisations, continuing to shape the conversation on climate, policy, and economic development .