

Climate Rising
Harvard Business School Business & Environment Initiative
Climate Rising is about the impact of climate change on business. It brings business and policy leaders and Harvard Business School faculty together to share insights about what businesses are doing, can do, and should do to confront climate change. It explores the many challenges and opportunities that climate change raises for managers, such as decisions about where they choose to locate, the technologies they develop and use, their strategies with respect to products, marketing, customer engagement, and policy—in other words, the full spectrum of business concerns.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 2, 2022 • 37min
McKinsey's Climate Consulting
Daniel Pacthod, Senior Partner and global co-leader of McKinsey Sustainability, shares how the company works with its clients to address climate risk and find opportunities through its pillars of net-zero strategy, green business building, decarbonization transformation, net-zero financial institutions, and sustainable investing. He also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.orgGuest: Daniel Pacthod, Senior Partner and global co-leader of McKinsey Sustainability, McKinsey & Company

Oct 19, 2022 • 39min
Bain’s Climate Consulting
Cate Hight, an expert partner in Bain’s Sustainability & Responsibility and Energy & Natural Resources practices, shares how the company’s strategy, operations, customer value, and transformation work help enable their consulting and private equity clients identify opportunities associated with climate change and mitigate climate risks. She also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.Guest: Cate Hight, Expert Partner in Sustainability and Responsibility and Energy and Natural Resources practices, Bain.

4 snips
Oct 5, 2022 • 44min
Deloitte’s Climate Practice
Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader at Deloitte, shares how Deloitte’s professionals work with companies to help them manage climate risks and pursue opportunities. She talks about how Deloitte’s climate work helps companies improve their strategy, operations, finance, and reporting—and how Deloitte is developing and hiring people to build its sustainability & climate practice. She also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.Guest: Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability and Climate Practice Leader, Deloitte

Sep 21, 2022 • 39min
McDonald’s’ Climate Change Efforts
In this special episode produced jointly with the Degrees podcast, Jenny McColloch, McDonald’s Chief Sustainability Officer, shares the challenges of meeting decarbonization goals at one of the world’s largest food service companies. She talks about how their climate action has evolved, and the critical role of their suppliers and franchisees, who operate 90% of McDonald’s restaurants. Jenny also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change. Co-hosted with Yesh Pavlik Slenk.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org EDF Degrees podcast host: Yesh Pavlik Slenk, Senior Manager, Climate Corps Guest: Jenny McColloch, Chief Sustainability Officer, McDonald’s

Sep 7, 2022 • 37min
How Environmental Defense Fund Engages Companies on Climate Policy
Victoria Mills, Managing Director of Environmental Defense Fund’s EDF+Biz program discusses how some companies are starting to advocate for more stringent climate policies as they see climate change affecting their operations, supply chains, and communities. She also describes how EDF acts as both advisor and catalyst to their engagement, shares some challenges and opportunities of working with companies on climate policy, and offers advice for those interested in pursuing a career in climate and business.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.orgGuest: Victoria Mills, Managing Director, Environmental Defense Fund+Business

Aug 24, 2022 • 49min
How CDP Drives Corporate Climate Disclosure
Paul Dickinson, Founder Chair, CDP, shares how CDP works with investors to drive companies toward greater transparency by disclosing carbon emissions and other environmental indicators. He talks about how CDP is evolving in the face of new disclosure regulation, corporate disclosure trends, including expanding CDP’s reach to include water and forestry. Paul also offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Paul Dickinson, Founder Chair, CDP.

Aug 10, 2022 • 43min
How Ceres Supports Corporate Boards to Accelerate Climate Action
Steven Rothstein, Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets, shares how Ceres works with corporate boards to facilitate systemic change in private sector climate action, including why boards are a critical part of the equation. He also talks about how the recent proposed SEC disclosure rule could change boards’ roles on climate change, and offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Steven Rothstein, Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets

Jul 27, 2022 • 59min
How RMI Collaborates with Companies to Accelerate the Energy Transition
Jules Kortnenhorst, CEO of RMI, shares how RMI works with companies in the transportation, cement, and steel sectors to encourage the rapid energy transition necessary to mitigate climate change. He also talks about RMI’s global partnerships, innovative energy programs, and accelerators—and describes how his experience in the HBS MBA program shaped his career journey, and offers advice for those interested in careers in business and climate change.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org. Guest: Jules Kortenhorst, CEO, RMI

Jul 13, 2022 • 44min
How World Wildlife Fund Partners with Companies on Climate Change
Carter Roberts, President/CEO of World Wildlife Fund-US, shares what successful climate collaborations between companies and environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs) look like in practice, and how ENGOs can help by sharing their expertise and even pushing companies to take bolder action on climate change. Carter also talks about how being an HBS MBA student shaped his career in the private sector and nonprofit space, and offers advice for others interested in careers in climate and business.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.Guest: Carter Roberts, President and CEO, World Wildlife Fund-US

May 18, 2022 • 42min
How New Belgium is Fighting Climate Change One Pint at a Time
Katie Wallace, Chief ESG Officer of New Belgium Brewing Company, and Adam Fetcher, Senior Director of Communications and Public Engagement, discuss how climate change’s impacts on their operations and ingredients led them to engage with policymakers and take their climate message to their beer customers. They share how the company has integrated climate action into its operations and supply chain, how they encourage customers to hold companies accountable for the climate plans, and offer advice for those interested in pursuing a career in climate and business.For transcripts and other resources, visit climaterising.org.Guests: Katie Wallace, Chief ESG Officer, New Belgium Brewing Company & Adam Fetcher, Senior Director of Communications and Public Engagement, New Belgium Brewing Company


