All Things Sustainable

The rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers is putting unprecedented pressure on energy supply, emissions and water availability. At the start of 2026, S&P Global named AI and data center growth as a top sustainability trend to watch, and it was a dominant theme at both Climate Week Zurich and CERAWeek 2026 in Houston, where the conference title was "Convergence and Competition." 

In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we explore how the tech and energy industries are converging to meet the growing power demands of AI while also protecting the planet and local communities. In three interviews from the sidelines of CERAWeek, we ask how companies can deliver reliable energy to power AI without sidelining affordability, emissions, water and community concerns.  

Arshad Mansoor, President and CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), explains how the research organization is convening stakeholders across the energy ecosystem to meet growing energy demand.  

"Without convergence, without the stakeholders coming together to solve critical policy issues, technical issues, regulatory hurdles, we will not be able to bring speed to power," Arshad says.    

We talk to Alexis Bateman, Head of Sustainability at Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud-computing and technology services subsidiary of Amazon. She discusses why one of the world's largest hyperscalers takes a "multipronged" approach to powering AI infrastructure that balances grid reliability and sustainability.  

"We have to play both sides of the coin," Alexis says. "We have customers that are reliant on our cloud services every single day, and so we have to be a reliable partner for them. At the same time, our first choice will always be carbon-free energy and making sure that we have a steady supply."  

And we sit down with Lydia Krefta, Senior Director of Electrification and Decarbonization at one of the largest US utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric Company. PG&E operates in the heart of Silicon Valley, and Lydia explains how the utility is managing the build-out needed for both electrification and data centers. 

Lydia also highlights a less-discussed bottleneck in the AI build-out: human capital. Even where capital and technology exist, utilities still need enough skilled workers to plan, permit and construct the infrastructure required to meet surging demand. 

Further reading and listening: 

Beneath the surface: Water stress in data centers | S&P Global 

CSO Insights: California's biggest utility talks decarbonization, climate adaptation and AI energy demands | S&P Global   

S&P Global's Top 10 Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2026 | S&P Global 

Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global   

DISCLAIMER      

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk.   

Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights).   

This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we're examining global uptake of standards created by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).  

The ISSB launched in 2021 to create standardized sustainability reporting rules, establishing its first two standards in 2023. Since then, around 40 jurisdictions have either adopted ISSB standards or are planning to adopt them in future.   
Canada was one of the early adopters, and in today's episode we speak to Wendy Berman, Chair of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB), which formed in 2022.


Wendy explains the challenges Canadian companies face in adopting sustainability standards in a tense geopolitical environment and her expectations for greater global convergence in sustainability reporting.  

"Despite these headwinds, we're not seeing any significant pullback in Canadian companies on their journey to full implementation of these standards," Wendy says. "They see sustainability issues as mainstream business risks and opportunities, and they're advancing on their journey."  

She also explains how the CSSB is working with the ISSB to embed the interests of Canada's Indigenous peoples into sustainability standards. "It's important to have Indigenous rights, interests and voices heard by the ISSB," Wendy says.  

We'll be back in upcoming podcast episodes to explore how other jurisdictions are adopting ISSB standards. In the meantime, you can read our latest quarterly tracker on ISSB adoption: May 2026 – Where does the world stand on ISSB adoption? | S&P Global 

Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global   

DISCLAIMER 

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk.   

Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights).    

This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

All Things Sustainable is the official podcast of the inaugural Climate Week Zurich taking place May 4-9, and all week we've brought you special daily episodes from Zurich.   

In our final episode of the week, we're talking to Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Geneva, Switzerland, that facilitates worldwide cooperation on monitoring and predicting changes in weather, climate, water and other environmental conditions.  

Celeste says Climate Week Zurich is helping raise awareness of the need to build climate resilience in the public and private sectors through collaboration and data sharing. 

"If we speak about food security, you speak about climate; if you speak about water security, you speak about climate; if you speak about transportation and logistics and security associated with aviation or marine operations, you're also speaking about weather and climate," Celeste says. "The quality of climate information is not guaranteed unless every player plays an active role."  

Celeste explains how the WMO is building consensus at a time when geopolitical tensions are high.  

"We need to trust science," she tells us. "Scientists are also needed to provide objective information for decision-makers. It's not for scientists to decide on what to do, but it's for scientists to provide the right level of knowledge for those that are going to take decisions."  

Learn about the S&P Global Climate Center of Excellence: Climate Center of Excellence | S&P Global 

Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global   

DISCLAIMER 

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk.   

Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights).    

This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

All Things Sustainable is the official podcast of the inaugural Climate Week Zurich taking place May 4-9, and all week we're bringing you special daily episodes from Zurich.  

In our fourth episode of the week, we're talking to a leader who spent 30 years working for Swedish retail giant IKEA: Jesper Brodin. Jesper recently retired after eight years as CEO of Ingka Group, the primary operator of IKEA's global home furnishing stores, and in March 2026 he was named Board Chair of The Earthshot Prize. 

Climate Week Zurich includes a focus on how sustainability can build competitive advantage, and in our interview Jesper explains how his career continuously showed him that companies can embrace sustainability without sacrificing economic benefits, quality or affordability. 

"It actually is a good business to be a good business," he says.   

To navigate geopolitical headwinds, Jesper says sustainable businesses need to strike the right balance between near-term and long-term thinking. "I think a long-term view gives you perspective. Then I think you should operate with a short-term anxiety and drive," Jesper says. "Governments and presidents will come and go, but the issues about climate change and about resource scarcity will remain."   

William Prince of Wales launched The Earthshot Prize in 2020 to find and scale innovative solutions to the world's biggest environmental challenges by 2030. Listen to our previous interviews with an Earthshot Prize winner and finalist here:  

How Earthshot Prize winner Coral Vita tackles reef restoration | S&P Global 

Climate Week, meet Fashion Week | S&P Global 

The All Things Sustainable podcast will be back with more special coverage from Climate Week Zurich tomorrow, so please stay tuned. 

Learn more about events S&P Global is hosting during Climate Week Zurich: Climate Week Zurich 2026 : Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity | S&P Global 

Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global   

DISCLAIMER 

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk.  
Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights).    

This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.

All Things Sustainable is the official podcast of the inaugural Climate Week Zurich taking place May 4-9, and all week we're bringing you special daily episodes from Zurich.

In our third episode of the week, we're talking to Zurich Insurance Chief Sustainability Officer Linda Freiner. Zurich Insurance is one of the world's largest insurers, serving over 82 million customers in more than 200 countries and territories across multiple types of insurance, including property & casualty and life insurance.  

Linda explains how the insurance industry is evolving to address climate change. She says climate mitigation and adaptation are both needed to build systemic resilience amid compounding global crises. 

"You can no longer look at climate risk on its own, or geopolitical risk on its own, or social risk on its own. They're all interconnected and they're all compounding," Linda says. "As an insurance company, it's our job to help our customers navigate those risks and build the right resilience measures in place to be able to withstand the shocks."

This interview is the latest installment in our CSO Insights podcast series, where we talk to Chief Sustainability Officers around the world about how they're navigating the sustainability landscape. Linda says the CSO role has "changed tremendously" in recent years. Now, she says, "it's about the focus on execution. We have set all the big commitments. We have put out the plans."  

The All Things Sustainable podcast will be back with more special coverage from Climate Week Zurich throughout the week, so please stay tuned. 

Learn more about events S&P Global is hosting during Climate Week Zurich: Climate Week Zurich 2026 : Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity | S&P Global 

Listen to all the episodes in our CSO Insights series: CSO Insights by All Things Sustainable - YouTube 

Listen to previous episodes of the All Things Sustainable podcast about insurance and climate: 

Why all eyes are on insurance in climate risk conversations | S&P Global  

Why insurance is becoming central to climate risk conversations | S&P Global 

What the LA wildfires show about climate change and the future of insurance | S&P Global 

Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global   

DISCLAIMER 

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk.   

Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights).    

This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.