Episodes

In this Season 3 finale of Sustainability Forward, hosts Wrishi Sutradhar and Carmine Fiume look back on the year — but not as a simple recap. Instead, we retell Season 3 as one connected story: a journey through the messy middle of sustainability, where progress depends on incentives, trust, execution, and real-world adoption. Across the season, we explored the topics shaping today’s sustainability and energy transition conversation — from impact investing and climate finance, to electrificat...

What happens when people stop waiting for the grid — and build their own energy transition instead? In this episode of Sustainability Forward, Wrishi and Carmine travel across India and Pakistan to unpack one of the most dynamic – and least understood – clean energy stories in the world. Wrishi draws on childhood memories of Indian power cuts and today’s giant solar parks to explain how India became a renewables heavyweight: ambitious national targets, ultra-cheap solar auctions, and state-lev...

This week, we sit down with IMD Professor and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Julia Binder, to tackle the biggest misconceptions shaping corporate sustainability. From ESG confusion to climate myopia, “sustainability is expensive” narratives to the belief that sustainable products don’t sell — we break down the stories that have quietly distorted how leaders think and act. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why ESG was never meant to measure positive impact, and what companies get w...

Is ESG broken — or just leaderless? Lawyer-technologist Scott Lane, founder & CEO of Speeki, joins Sustainability Forward to argue the bottleneck is corporate courage, not cost or complexity. We cover boards’ ESG literacy, reframing the conversation around risk and resilience, compliance vs. true performance, customer-pulled sustainability, China’s scale, and how AI/agentic automation will reshape decisions. Scott’s advice to CEOs: have courage. In today’s episode, Wrishi and Carmine sit down wi...

How can we move the machinery of global finance fast enough to meet the urgency of the climate crisis? In this episode of Sustainability Forward, hosts Wrishi Sutradhar and Carmine Fiume sit down with Steven Rothstein, Chief Program Officer at Ceres and the founding Managing Director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. With over four decades of experience spanning nonprofits, government, and finance, Steven shares what it really takes to turn investor intentions into mea...

Renewables have officially overtaken coal as the world’s largest source of electricity — a historic first. But beneath that milestone lies a much more complex story. In this episode of Sustainability Forward, Wrishi and Carmine unpack BP’s Energy Outlook 2025 to reveal what’s really shaping the global energy transition. From the “two futures” of rapid clean tech expansion in Asia versus fossil resurgence in the West, to the ten key insights that define BP’s latest scenarios — including oil’s lo...

The planet just got a health check — and the results are alarming. In this episode of Sustainability Forward, Wrishi and Carmine revisit one of their most downloaded topics: the 9 Planetary Boundaries Framework — the scientific model that helps us understand how human activity is pushing Earth beyond its safe operating space. The 2025 update brings a sobering milestone: for the first time, scientists confirm that ocean acidification has crossed its boundary. That means 7 out of the 9 planetary...

Methane may not grab the headlines like carbon, but it’s one of the most powerful greenhouse gases—and tackling it is critical if we’re serious about slowing climate change. In this episode of Sustainability Forward, we sit down with Georges Tijbosch, CEO of MiQ, to explore how methane certification is bringing trust and transparency into the energy transition. Georges shares his personal journey into climate leadership, the story of how MiQ was founded, and the progress made so far in gettin...

As heatwaves scorch Europe and global electricity demand surges—up 4% in 2024 alone—can artificial intelligence be part of the solution to climate change rather than the problem? In this episode of Sustainability Forward, Wrishi and Carmine explore the double-edged sword of AI’s environmental footprint. From the staggering water and energy consumption of data centers to AI-driven breakthroughs in energy efficiency, methane detection, wildfire response, and food waste reduction, this conversatio...

What does a loaf of sourdough have to do with fighting climate change? In this episode, we sit down with Maddie Hamann, co-founder of PACHA Bread, to explore the unexpected connections between regenerative farming, food allergies, zero-waste packaging—and the future of sustainability. Maddie shares how she made the leap from ocean science to sourdough, and what it’s really like building a purpose-driven business while raising a young family. We talk about sourcing from regenerative farms, ...

In this episode of Sustainability Forward , we’re joined by renowned chemist and energy expert Nicola Armaroli to unpack the state of the global energy transition. As a research director at Italy’s National Research Council and a leading voice in science communication, Nicola brings both deep technical insight and a clear-eyed perspective on the societal and narrative challenges slowing our progress. We ask: If you had gone to sleep in 2022 and woken up today—what would you see? We explore...

In this episode of Sustainability Forward , we sit down with Helen Neal , founder and CEO of HN Communications , a multi-award-winning sustainability communications and events agency. Helen shares expert insights on how global brands like HEINEKEN, Bosch, and The Climate Group are navigating the complexities of sustainability messaging, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement. We explore why clear, authentic communication is essential for sustainability success, how companies can move beyond...

In this episode of Sustainability Forward, we sit down with Marjory Wildcraft—founder of The Grow Network and a global leader in modern self-sufficient living. Featured by National Geographic as an expert in off-grid lifestyles, Marjory has empowered hundreds of thousands of people to grow their own food and natural medicine. We dive into how regenerative gardening can transform not just your backyard, but your entire relationship with sustainability. Marjory shares practical tips on growing ...

In this episode of Sustainability Forward, we dive into Sustainable Entrepreneurship with Josh Dorfman, founder of Plantd and Supercool, and former host of The Lazy Environmentalist. Josh shares his inspiring journey from sustainable media to climate-tech innovation, providing practical insights on creating profitable businesses that positively impact the planet. We explore carbon-negative building solutions, the power of storytelling in driving climate action, and key strategies for entrepreneu...

In this episode of Sustainability Forward, we dive into two crucial reports shaping Europe's clean energy future. First, we explore the Draghi Report by Mario Draghi, highlighting Europe's economic challenges and opportunities amidst its ambitious energy transition. Then, we unpack the "Cleantech Reality Check" from Cleantech for Europe and Systemiq, examining the stark gaps between policy goals and real-world implementation of essential clean technologies. Discover what Europe must urgently add...

In this episode of Sustainability Forward, we explore why heat pumps are rapidly replacing gas boilers and how this shift is key to reducing energy costs, cutting CO₂ emissions, and building a net-zero future. 🔎 What’s inside this episode? ✅ The real economics of switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump ✅ How Switzerland is leading Europe’s electrification of heating ✅ Overcoming consumer concerns: Do heat pumps work in cold climates? ✅ The future of Meier Tobler and the heating industry 🔥 ...

Can you make money while saving the planet? In this episode of Sustainability Forward, we sit down with Clemence Ollivier, Investment Principal at Swen Blue Ocean Fund, to explore the evolving world of impact investing, sustainable finance, and cleantech innovation. From working on oil rigs to leading data & analytics at a food waste startup, Clemence’s career journey is a masterclass in pivoting towards purpose-driven investing. We discuss: 🔹 The strategy behind Blue Ocean Fund and its...