Tag: ESG

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Achieving Climate Targets: Here’s Why Failure Leads to Lessons & Changes with Pooja Khosla — Part II (Ep. 93)

Achieving Climate Targets: Here’s Why Failure Leads to Lessons & Changes with Pooja Khosla — Part II (Ep. 93)

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Climate change is not a fantasy. It is an undeniable reality, impacting us in ways we cannot ignore. 

In fact, it’s believed that we will likely not make it to our goal of limiting the planet’s warming by 1.5 degrees in the next six years.

This week,  Pooja Khosla, the Chief Innovation Officer at Entelligent, is back to chat with Kim Griego-Kiel about climate change and strategies chief operating officers (COO) of companies can implement to facilitate climate change-related improvements within their own practices. 

Together, they unpack the importance of setting achievable goals and making small, incremental changes to various systems, processes, and policies.

Pooja discusses:

  • Reasons businesses need to focus on green policies while transitioning to renewable energy sources to make the planet more sustainable
  • The value of achieving climate targets and the relevancy of the situation
  • The possibility of achieving climate targets in less than 80 years
  • Five principle-based initiatives chief operating officers (COO) should consider when it comes to supporting climate change and ESG strategies
  • How to avoid greenwashing
  • The role of banks and financial professionals when it comes to sustainability and supply chain initiatives 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Pooja Khosla:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel and Johann Klaassen:

About Our Guest:

Dr. Pooja Khosla is the Chief Innovation Officer at Entelligent. Dr. Khosla is an econometrician and data scientist with extensive experience in data analysis, predictive modeling, econometrics, statistics, microfinance, and mutual fund analysis. 

Dr. Khosla is one of the inventors of the patented Smart Climate® technology. She brings her international background in finance, academia, predictive modeling, and statistical software platforms to the company, leading product and client development. 

She has published articles and papers in trade journals, including Pensions & Investments, CFA NYC, and Morning Consult.

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Critical Climate and Diversity Stakeholder Resolutions for 2023 with Andy Behar (Ep. 85)

Critical Climate and Diversity Stakeholder Resolutions for 2023 with Andy Behar (Ep. 85)

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How much do you know about corporate responsibility and sustainability?

This week, Andy Behar, the CEO of As You Sow, joins Kim Griego-Kiel to talk about the nonprofit organization’s role in shaking up the business world with its innovative environmental and social justice approach. 

Listen in as Andy details the ins and outs of creating a more sustainable and equitable future for this and the years to come.

Andy discusses:

  • As You Sow’s vision and mission  
  • The importance of climate action in the corporate resolution filings for 2023 
  • The value of more companies incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • As You Sow’s role in helping companies minimize the dangers of pesticides in our food system
  • What you should know about company transparency and accountability 
  • Ways As You Sow is working to reduce plastic demand 
  • What you should know about stranded assets
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Andy Behar:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

About Our Guest:

Andy Behar is CEO of As You Sow, the nation’s leading non-profit practitioner of shareholder advocacy and engagement. With a 30-year track record of success, the organization advances values-aligned investing and uses shareholder power to compel companies to reduce material risk on issues including climate change; toxins in the food system; ocean plastics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; racial justice; and wage equity.

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Banking on Success Or Failure (Ep. 74)

Banking on Success Or Failure (Ep. 74)

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Not every bank or mutual fund we give our money to has our environmental impact values in mind. 

In this episode, Kim Griego-Kiel takes a deep dive into how you can be smarter about where your money is going and who you invest with. She talks about banking and insurance alternatives that share ESG values and prioritize what they invest in to make an impactful difference.

Kim discusses:

  • How alternate banking like community banks or credit unions can work for you 
  • The steps insurance companies are taking to be stewards of the environment
  • What 30 of the primary insurers are doing to avoid catastrophic climate change
  • How to find out if your bank or mutual fund invests in fossil fuels
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

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Your Environmentally Sustainable Financial Services News Brief (Ep.70)

Your Environmentally Sustainable Financial Services News Brief (Ep.70)

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A lot is going on in the world today, from climate change to active wars. 

But, how does it all affect us?

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel breaks down some of today’s hot topics in the news. In an educational discussion, Kim addresses how these industry-related topics impact financial advisors and investors while unveiling the role of ESG and the markets within these uncertain times.

Kim discusses:

  • The rapid increase in attacks on the ESG industry
  • Ways advisors in the ESG arena can respond to the situations happening within the industry
  • Deloitte’s four key stages of decarbonization
  • Why investors shouldn’t panic about the bear market
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

 

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A Conversation on Disability Rights & the ESG Community (Ep. 68)

A Conversation on Disability Rights & the ESG Community (Ep. 68)

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Over 15% of the world’s population lives with some kind of disability. However, disability issues and rights are often overlooked when we consider Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues.

In this episode, Kim Griego-Kiel sheds light on disability rights and the lack of attention it receives in ESG conversations. She highlights why disability inclusion is critical for approaching ESG holistically and unveils how inclusion contributes to successful business operations. 

Kimberly discusses:

  • How the Disability Equality Index is improving ESG and the impact investing arena
  • The purchasing power the disability community holds globally
  • Reasons it’s critical for organizations to be inclusive for their business success 
  • The difference between diversity and inclusion  
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

 

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Digital Transformations Within the Financial & ESG Industry With David Bennell (Ep. 66)

Digital Transformations Within the Financial & ESG Industry With David Bennell (Ep. 66)

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Financial services are constantly evolving and becoming increasingly digital. 

Trading digital assets — whether it is ESG data, crypto, or other financial products (across centralized and decentralized finance platforms) — is starting to change the overall investment process.

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel sits down with returning guest David Bennell, advisor at Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS). Together, they talk about the standardization of impact investing in the government and industry and the effects of decentralized financial trading. Kim and David also unveil easy things we can do to adjust and be prepared for the newest era of the web. 

Kim and David discuss:

  • Standardizing impact investing on the government and industry level
  • How crypto impacts the overall investment process
  • Accepting the new digital era based on trust and time 
  • Understanding the ‘what’ and not the ‘how’ of web 3.0
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with David Bennell:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

About Our Guest:

David Bannell is a global leader in ESG and Sustainability engagement between corporations, investors, and non-profits. He bridges the ESG gap between investors and companies by creating engagement tools and collaborations like the investor portal Engage The Chain and the six-part global Food Systems Dialogue for Investors series, which had participation from over 75 major corporations and 50+ institutional investors and major banks.

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Gender Equality for a Sustainable Future (Ep. 63)

Gender Equality for a Sustainable Future (Ep. 63)

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Supporting women extends beyond bridging the gender inequality gap. It is also critical to support women to create sustainable developments and social change.

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel talks about the importance of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Along with that, Kim highlights the different ways it relates to impact investing. 

Kim teaches you how important it is to focus on breaking down female inequality for the sustainable development of the world and discusses several impactful leaders who are driving change in the financial industry.

Kim discusses:

  • The importance of celebrating women in March — and every day!
  • The interconnective nature of climate change and female inequality globally
  • Influential women in the impact investing space
  • How we can make an impact through different lenses in ESG investing
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

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Environmental Difference Makers in the Markets with Vicki Benjamin (Ep. 62)

Environmental Difference Makers in the Markets with Vicki Benjamin (Ep. 62)

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It’s no secret that we rely on nature to survive.

Hence, putting in measures to save our environment and allow the cycle to continue is extremely important for not only our own future, but also for the future of the generations to come.

In this episode, Kimberly Griego-Kiel sits down with Vicki Benjamin, co-founder and CEO of Karner Blue Capital. Vicki explains what her company does for nature and the environment and how they are utilizing data collection and their own ESG process to combat nature and biodiversity loss around the world.

Vicki discusses:

  • The impact of the palm oil industry on nature, the environment, and the markets
  • The five drivers of nature and the impact of biodiversity loss 
  • How Karner Blue is utilizing in-depth data collection practices to redefine ESG investing
  • A new ecosystem service that will value land based on its positive effects in the public markets   
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Vicki Benjamin:

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel:

About Our Guest:

Vicki Benjamin is the co-founder and CEO of Karner Blue Capital, an SEC-registered investment adviser dedicated to investing in biodiversity protection, environmental stewardship, and animal welfare. Before establishing KBC, Vicki served as President, COO, and CFO for Calvert Investments, an industry leader in socially responsible investing. Vicki was a partner of a “Big 4” accounting firm for more than ten years before joining Calvert.

 

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ESG vs. Impact Investing — Here’s the Difference (Ep.61)

ESG vs. Impact Investing — Here’s the Difference (Ep.61)

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2021 was a great year for sustainable and ESG investing and its ability to outperform traditional markets.

However, it is important to understand the difference between ESG and impact investing when creating your portfolio.

In this episode, Kimberly explores the main differences between SRI, ESG, and impact investing. Plus, she explains the importance of understanding their roles in the market when building your portfolio.

Kim discusses:

  • Differentiating impact and ESG investing and ways they work together
  • How to measure and evaluate the impact of your investments with both strategies
  • How to investigate the companies you are supporting in your 401(k) investments
  • Ways Horizons Sustainable Financial Services can help guide where YOU choose to invest
  • And more!

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

 

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55. How we can Create a New Economy With Rex Raimond — Part 1

55. How we can Create a New Economy With Rex Raimond — Part 1

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In October 2021, Kimberly Griego-Kiel took part in the ESG For Impact! conference in Colorado Springs. 

During this two-day conference, Kim attended sessions focused on SRI investments, strategies, and concepts while connecting with like-minded professionals and industry leaders. 

One of those leaders was Rex Raimond, the director of The Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS) Initiative.

In the first part of the ESG for Impact! miniseries, Rex joins Kim to explain everything around investing in global food systems. They explore how food growth can impact our health and the environment and outline ways we can get into a new sustainable economy.

Kim and Rex discuss:

  • How food systems fit within the ESG arena
  • The destructiveness of the agricultural system
  • The financial component of growing food system operations
  • Consequences of not managing our land properly
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Rex Raimond

Connect with Kimberly Griego-Kiel

About Rex Raimond: 

Rex Raimond has more than 20 years of experience developing strategies and building effective partnerships for sustainable and equitable food systems. He applies his partnership-building skills to help build a movement among concessional, impact, and commercial investors, companies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to increase investment in principles-aligned food system businesses that are economically viable and deliver sustainable impact. Rex has worked on many aspects of food and agricultural systems transformation, including sustainable finance, crop insurance, and agricultural policy, market incentives for soil health practices, sustainable supply chains, food safety, science and emerging technologies, sustainable landscape planning, and climate change. 

 

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