ESG voices

Building a shared future for life on earth

COP15 will look to establish a framework aiming to set out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to bring about a transformation in society’s relationship with biodiversity and nature and to ensure that, by 2050, the shared vision of living in harmony with nature is fulfilled. To dig into all this on the sidelines of COP15 in Montreal, Canada, I am delighted to be joined by David Greenall, Global Managing Director, Climate Risk, Decarbonization & Resilience, KPMG International; Carolin Leeshaa, Natural Capital & Biodiversity Global Lead, KPMG International and Orlaith Delargy, Biodiversity lead EMA, KPMG in Ireland.

Financing the energy transition

The world is in the midst of a global energy transition that may fundamentally transform the way energy is generated, distributed, stored, and accessed – with renewable energy at the center. This episode discusses financing the transition to a low carbon and resilient economy with insights from KPMG leaders from around the globe.

Becoming a sustainable energy powerhouse

This episode discusses the main climate impacts and challenges for Africa, investment opportunities and dives into how Africa and Europe can work together to achieve energy independence and equally benefit from this independence.

How can technology enable cities to accelerate towards a low-carbon economy?

While climate action can and has been top-down from many developed and developing nations, cities are increasingly where we are all choosing to live. According to the United Nations, two-thirds of the world’s population will call cities home by 2050, which is also the deadline for many global nations to achieve net-zero status. On the one hand, urban centers can stimulate tremendous innovation and prosperity. However, they are also responsible for about three-quarters of global carbon emissions. To talk about how technology and innovation can enable cities to accelerate a just transition toward a low-carbon economy, we are joined by a great panel of experts from KPMG and the United Smart Cities Program.

NextGen leaders on climate action

For this episode, we are joined by an impressive panel of young climate and sustainability leaders for a discussion around youth and future generation day on the ground at COP27, how countries can engage young people and elevate their voices on climate and what current ESG leaders could stand to learn from younger generations.

Tech for good – Using action-based platforms to increase SDG achievement

Digitalization will likely have profound effects on societies and economies and is expected to be an essential precondition for six major transformations needed to reach the sustainable development goal targets by 2030. To help increase the positive impact our people have on the planet and society, KPMG firms have developed the Grow Your Impact platform — designed to drive and increase participation in sustainability campaigns globally through technology. Listen to this episode to take a deep dive on how technology can be used to turn enthusiasm about sustainability and social good and turn that into tangible sustainability action.

Navigating the EU Green Deal

The European Union set out its ambition on how, by 2050, it will become the world’s first climate neutral continent in the European Green Deal in 2019. This ambition has been followed by a series of regulatory reforms, the most notable of which are the proposals in the European Commissions ‘Fit for 55’ package which aims to facilitate the EU meeting its interim target of 55 percent emissions reductions by 2030. On this episode, Richard Lin, Partner and Head of Compliance Carbon Market, KPMG China, Nicole De Jager, Senior Manager ESG Tax, KPMG in the Netherlands and Pilar Galan, Partner, KPMG in Spain to take a deep dive on this topic.

Closing the disconnect in ESG data in financial services

The financial services industry’s shift toward a business model that embraces ESG factors is a powerful movement with unstoppable momentum. But as the financial services industry thinks about how to do good while also meeting business goals, they face some fundamental questions. For today’s episode, I am joined by Pat Woo, Global Co-Chair Sustainable Finance, KPMG International, Rachel Tracey, FS Data Partner, KPMG in the UK, and Paul Henninger, Global Head of KPMG Lighthouse Data, AI & Emerging Technologies, KPMG International who will be diving into the ESG data challenges and opportunities faced by the financial services industry.

Collective action for the ocean

This episode discusses the importance of the blue economy, the impact organizations have on the ocean and how supporting the blue economy is essential to meeting decarbonization goals.

Driving industry transformation through ESG reporting standards and metrics

ESG considerations has become a top priority on investors’ and corporates’ agenda. Boards and executives are increasingly seeing ESG as an imperative to long-term value creation and as such ESG reporting standards and metrics are becoming more widespread. For today’s episode, I am delighted to be joined by Richard Threlfall, Global Head of KPMG IMPACT, KPMG International, Maura Hodge, Audit Partner, National ESG Assurance Leader, KPMG in the US and Andries Terblanche, Executive Director, KPMG International who will be discussing how organizations can drive industry transformation through ESG reporting standards and metrics.