All Things Sustainable

Ahead of London Climate Action Week, we're exploring how the UK is adopting International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards.  

This episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast is the latest in our ongoing series about global ISSB adoption. Sustainability-related reporting is well established in the UK, and in today's episode we speak to Sally Duckworth, Chair of the UK Sustainability Disclosure Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC was formed to provide recommendations to the UK government on adoption of the ISSB standards.  

"We want to eliminate what's often called the 'alphabet soup' of fragmented reporting by promoting consistency and comparability," Sally tells us. 

Sally says companies' understanding of risk has evolved in the face of geopolitical conflicts and climate-related disasters. "People now see risk with a much broader lens, looking at what's happening in their ecosystem as a whole — and clearly, sustainability forms a key part of that." 

We also speak to ISSB board member Richard Barker, who explains how the UK fits into the broader global context of countries adopting ISSB standards. Richard joined us on stage for our podcast event recorded live in London on April 29,and you can hear the full interview here: Live in London: How sustainability is evolving into a broader conversation about resilience | S&P Global 

Listen to our interview with the Chair of the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board here: Why Canadian Sustainability Standards Board Chair calls sustainability disclosures "table stakes" 

Read our latest quarterly tracker on ISSB adoption here: 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.

Earlier this year, we took the show on the road for our first episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast recorded live in London. We sat down in front of an audience with three guests to understand the direction of travel for sustainability, climate and the energy transition: What has changed in 2026, where are the challenges and where are the opportunities?   

Today, we're bringing you highlights from that April 29 event. Sonja Gibbs, who is Managing Director of Global Markets and Policy at the Institute of International Finance (IIF), explains how sustainability is evolving into a broader conversation about business resilience that includes topics as wide-ranging as climate adaptation, innovation, infrastructure and energy security.   

The IIF is a global network of financial institutions, and Sonja says that for many members, sustainability is "more integrated across business lines than so much of a separate silo." 

The Iran war is contributing to this shift by bringing issues of energy security and energy affordability to the fore. "The Middle East conflict just highlights how fragile our global energy system is," Sonja tells us. "What it's leading to is really hard questions about what is the optimal energy mix in different countries and different regions." 

Guest Steve Howard calls this "the next phase of the energy transition," in which renewables serve as a platform for business model innovation.   

Steve is Vice Chairman of Sustainability at Singapore-based Temasek, a global investment firm with a net portfolio value of US$324 billion as of March 2025. He says that even while some business and government leaders shift attention toward energy security and affordability, they can't lose sight of the opportunities in sustainability. 

"We know that tackling climate change gives us good economic growth," Steve says. "We also know an inclusive economy where you bring people out of poverty creates the best, widest economic growth. We all have to invest into that future." 

And to understand the landscape for standards and reporting amid this geopolitical conflict and rising climate risks, we speak with Richard Barker, a member of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Richard explains how the ISSB is focusing on adoption and implementation of its existing standards while setting new standards at a pace that makes sense for markets.  

"In order to have a standard that works in a capital market context, it needs to be global and it needs to be mandatory," Richard says. At the same time, he says, "It's really important for us in this evolving world of sustainability reporting that we don't go faster than the market."
Further listening:  

How food and beverage giant PepsiCo uses AI for its 'era of resilience' | S&P Global 

How Swiss food giant Nestlé tackles sustainable supply chains | S&P Global 

Further reading:  

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.

In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we talk to PepsiCo to understand how one of the world's biggest food and beverage companies is building resilient food systems. 

PepsiCo products are sold in more than 200 countries and territories, and Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Jim Andrew explains how the company works with its global farmer network to create long-term value. This is a challenge in a food system facing increasing stress from climate change, resource constraints and geopolitical uncertainty. 

"All these things are hitting — food, water, energy, supply chains — all at once. And so what used to be the occasional rare disruption now really shows up all the time," Jim says. "So what we're preparing for here at PepsiCo is what I call the 'era of resilience.'" 

Jim says AI is part of that resilience strategy, from helping farmers reduce their use of chemicals for pest control to making PepsiCo's plants and vehicle fleets operate more efficiently.  

"For us, AI is not just a technology choice," Jim says. "It helps us align the resources that we rely on with sustainable long-term business growth — and those two things really have to go together." 

This interview is the latest installment in our CSO Insights podcast series, where we talk to Chief Sustainability Officers around the world and across industries. Listen to all the episodes here: CSO Insights by All Things Sustainable - YouTube 

Further listening: 

Climate Week Zurich: How Swiss food giant Nestlé tackles sustainable supply chains | S&P Global  

What's next for sustainable food systems | S&P Global 

Infrastructure, food, finance: The complex picture for sustainability in Asia-Pacific markets | 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.

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.