ESG Decoded Podcast

In a time of growing urgency, why does meaningful climate progress still feel out of reach?
In this episode, host Emma Cox is joined by Bill Flederbach, President and CEO of ClimeCo, and Dr. T. Alexander Puutio, a leadership professor at Harvard, Columbia, and NYU Stern, and a contributor to Forbes, Fast Company, and Psychology Today. Together, they examine how market incentives, media narratives, and consumer behavior shape climate progress, and why those systems often slow meaningful action.
The conversation challenges how change actually happens in practice, highlighting the tension between ambition and execution. It asks a tough question: do real climate solutions require working within today’s economic system rather than against it? By addressing this complexity, the episode offers a candid perspective on what it takes to turn climate goals into meaningful, scalable impact. 
Don’t miss an episode—subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social for the latest updates!

Episode Resources: 
Alexander Puutio Website – https://www.alexanderpuutio.com/
Alexander Puutio Forbes Contributor Page – https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexanderpuutio/
Amazon Climate Pledge – https://www.theclimatepledge.com/
Connect with Alexander Puutio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/t-alexander-puutio/
Connect with Bill Flederbach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-flederbach/
Connect with Emma Cox: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmagillespiecox/ 

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About ESG Decoded 
ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Join Emma Cox, Erika Schiller, and Anna Stablum for thoughtful, nuanced conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts that explore the complexities about the risks and opportunities connected to (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance. We like to say that “ESG is everything that’s not on your balance sheet.” This leaves room for misunderstanding and oversimplification – two things that we’ll bust on this podcast.
ESG Decoded | Resource Links 
Site: https://www.climeco.com/podcast-series/
Apple Podcasts: https://go.climeco.com/ApplePodcasts
Spotify: https://go.climeco.com/Spotify
YouTube Music: https://go.climeco.com/YouTube-Music
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esg-decoded/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/esgdecoded/
*This episode was produced by Singing Land Studio 
 
About ClimeCo

ClimeCo is an award-winning leader in decarbonization, empowering global organizations with customized sustainability pathways. Our respected scientists and industry experts collaborate with companies, governments, and capital markets to develop tailored ESG and decarbonization solutions. Recognized for creating high-quality, impactful projects, ClimeCo is committed to helping clients achieve their goals, maximize environmental assets, and enhance their brand.
ClimeCo | Resource Links
Site: https://climeco.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climeco/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/climeco/

In this episode, Anna Stablum talks with Natasha Garcha, Senior Director of Sustainable Finance at Impact Investment Exchange, to discuss how capital markets can tackle climate challenges at scale. From innovative bond structures to real-world deployment in emerging markets, Natasha explains how finance can move beyond theory and start delivering measurable outcomes, including instruments like orange bonds, which originated in Asia and are designed to channel capital toward women’s empowerment alongside climate resilience. The conversation also connects climate pressures, resource scarcity, and global instability—highlighting why the way capital is allocated today will shape long-term economic and social resilience.
During this episode, you will learn: • How orange bonds are designed and why they’re gaining traction globally • What makes blended finance effective in mobilizing private capital • How impact data can directly influence investment risk and returns • Why climate, capital flows, and global stability are more connected than they appear
Don’t miss an episode—subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social for the latest updates!
Episode Resources: 
Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) – https://iixglobal.com/
Women’s Livelihood Bond Series – https://iixglobal.com/womens-livelihood-bond-series/ Orange Bond Principles – https://orangebond.org/
The Athenian Edge (Book by Natasha Garcha) – https://www.athenianedge.com/
Connect with Natasha Garcha - https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-garcha-62a23921/
Connect with Anna Stablum - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annastablum/ 

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About ESG Decoded 
ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Join Emma Cox, Erika Schiller, and Anna Stablum for thoughtful, nuanced conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts that explore the complexities about the risks and opportunities connected to (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance. We like to say that “ESG is everything that’s not on your balance sheet.” This leaves room for misunderstanding and oversimplification – two things that we’ll bust on this podcast.
ESG Decoded | Resource Links 
Site: https://www.climeco.com/podcast-series/
Apple Podcasts: https://go.climeco.com/ApplePodcasts
Spotify: https://go.climeco.com/Spotify
YouTube Music: https://go.climeco.com/YouTube-Music
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esg-decoded/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/esgdecoded/
*This episode was produced by Singing Land Studio 
 
About ClimeCo

ClimeCo is an award-winning leader in decarbonization, empowering global organizations with customized sustainability pathways. Our respected scientists and industry experts collaborate with companies, governments, and capital markets to develop tailored ESG and decarbonization solutions. Recognized for creating high-quality, impactful projects, ClimeCo is committed to helping clients achieve their goals, maximize environmental assets, and enhance their brand.
ClimeCo | Resource Links
Site: https://climeco.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climeco/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/climeco/

Join us for our special ESG Decoded x Climate Week NYC video series, where leading minds gathered in New York City to shape our sustainable future. Explore breakthrough ideas, bold conversations, and the urgent actions driving sustainability forward! These leaders aren’t just talking about change — they’re driving it. Each episode delivers real-world insights and inspiration you can apply to make an impact in your own sphere.
Be part of the change! Stay tuned for more episodes from this exclusive series. For now, let’s decode ESG together.
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What if sustainability isn’t the selling point but instead the outcome? In this episode, host Emma Cox and Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer at Colgate-Palmolive, discuss how one of the world’s most recognized consumer brands is navigating that shift.
As companies face increasing pressure to deliver both performance and impact, the conversation touches on the realities behind consumer expectations, the challenges of scaling sustainable innovation, and the importance of focusing on what truly drives results. From internal alignment to decision-making at scale, Ann shares how sustainability is becoming more deeply embedded into the business, not as a separate initiative, but as a core driver of long-term value.
This episode explores how a large consumer brand like Colgate-Palmolive is operationalizing sustainability across its business.
Subscribe and follow ESG Decoded for more thought-provoking conversations from Climate Week NYC—your gateway to the world’s brightest sustainability minds and actionable ideas. 
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Episode Resources:
Ellen MacArthur Foundation: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/
Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol): https://ghgprotocol.org/
Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR): https://plasticsrecycling.org/
Colgate-Palmolive Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy: https://www.colgatepalmolive.com/en-us/commitments
Bright Smiles, Bright Futures: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/smile
Connect with Ann Tracy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-tracy/
Connect with Emma Cox: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmagillespiecox/ -

About ESG Decoded 
ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Join Emma Cox, Erika Schiller, and Anna Stablum for thoughtful, nuanced conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts that explore the complexities about the risks and opportunities connected to (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance. We like to say that “ESG is everything that’s not on your balance sheet.” This leaves room for misunderstanding and oversimplification – two things that we’ll bust on this podcast.
ESG Decoded | Resource Links 
Site: https://www.climeco.com/podcast-series/
Apple Podcasts: https://go.climeco.com/ApplePodcasts
Spotify: https://go.climeco.com/Spotify
YouTube Music: https://go.climeco.com/YouTube-Music
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esg-decoded/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/esgdecoded/
*This episode was produced by Singing Land Studio
 
About ClimeCo

ClimeCo is an award-winning leader in decarbonization, empowering global organizations with customized sustainability pathways. Our respected scientists and industry experts collaborate with companies, governments, and capital markets to develop tailored ESG and decarbonization solutions. Recognized for creating high-quality, impactful projects, ClimeCo is committed to helping clients achieve their goals, maximize environmental assets, and enhance their brand.
ClimeCo | Resource Links
Site: https://climeco.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climeco/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/climeco/

The future of energy is not just about new technologies; it is about how policy, investment, and growing demand come together to shape what gets built next.
In this episode, host Erika Schiller speaks with Tom Bitting, Managing Director at Advantage Capital, about the evolving landscape of renewable energy development in the United States. Their conversation focuses on how policy shifts, federal tax credits, and investor behavior are shaping the pace and scale of new power generation projects. As electricity demand accelerates, driven by economic growth, data centers, and emerging technologies, the need to build new power generation is becoming increasingly urgent.
Tom outlines the market dynamics influencing renewable energy investment, including:
The role of Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) and Production Tax Credits (PTCs) in financing solar, wind, and storage projects

How transferable tax credits are expanding investor participation in clean energy markets

The potential ripple effects of policy changes on project economics, electricity prices, and grid reliability

Why investors are beginning to evaluate emerging technologies like energy storage, geothermal, and nuclear alongside traditional renewables

Don’t miss an episode—subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social for the latest updates!

Episode Resources: 
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): https://www.energy.gov/edf/inflation-reduction-act-2022 Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC): What Changed: https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/solar-investment-tax-credit-what-changed Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit (PTC): https://www.epa.gov/lmop/renewable-electricity-production-tax-credit-information Advantage Capital: https://www.advantagecap.com/ Connect with Tom Bitting: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombitting/ Connect with Erika Schiller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-schiller-2773a52/ 

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About ESG Decoded 
ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Join Emma Cox, Erika Schiller, and Anna Stablum for thoughtful, nuanced conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts that explore the complexities about the risks and opportunities connected to (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance. We like to say that “ESG is everything that’s not on your balance sheet.” This leaves room for misunderstanding and oversimplification – two things that we’ll bust on this podcast.
ESG Decoded | Resource Links 
Site: https://www.climeco.com/podcast-series/
Apple Podcasts: https://go.climeco.com/ApplePodcasts
Spotify: https://go.climeco.com/Spotify
YouTube Music: https://go.climeco.com/YouTube-Music
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esg-decoded/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/esgdecoded/
*This episode was produced by Singing Land Studio 
 
About ClimeCo

ClimeCo is an award-winning leader in decarbonization, empowering global organizations with customized sustainability pathways. Our respected scientists and industry experts collaborate with companies, governments, and capital markets to develop tailored ESG and decarbonization solutions. Recognized for creating high-quality, impactful projects, ClimeCo is committed to helping clients achieve their goals, maximize environmental assets, and enhance their brand.
ClimeCo | Resource Links
Site: https://climeco.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climeco/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/climeco/

Join us for our special ESG Decoded x Climate Week NYC video series, where leading minds gathered in New York City to shape our sustainable future. Explore breakthrough ideas, bold conversations, and the urgent actions driving sustainability forward! These leaders aren’t just talking about change — they’re driving it. Each episode delivers real-world insights and inspiration you can apply to make an impact in your own sphere.
Be part of the change! Stay tuned for more episodes from this exclusive series. For now, let’s decode ESG together.
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Discover how Danone is redefining what it means to be a truly mission‑driven business. In this special ESG Decoded video episode, host Emma Cox speaks with Melanie Chow Li, Vice President of Mission and Sustainability, about embedding impact into core business strategy. Together, they unpack how sustainability, nutrition, and climate strategy intersect across Danone’s business and drive the company’s approach to sustainable food production.
Learn how Danone’s commitment to 100% regenerative milk sourcing enhances supply chain resilience, supports farmers, and advances progress toward science‑based climate targets. Melanie also discusses how food companies are balancing climate goals with consumer expectations around nutrition, affordability, and transparency in an evolving marketplace.
Tune in for insights on:
Scaling regenerative agriculture across a global food business

Embedding ESG goals within core performance metrics

How evolving consumer priorities in sustainability and health are shaping the future of food

Subscribe and follow ESG Decoded for more thought‑provoking conversations from Climate Week NYC — your gateway to the world’s brightest sustainability minds and actionable ideas

Episode Resources:
Danone North America: https://www.danonenorthamerica.com/
Danone Sustainability: https://www.danone.com/sustainability.html
Danone Impact Journey: https://www.danone.com/sustainability/our-approach/danone-impact-journey.html
Danone Preserving & Regenerating Nature: https://www.danone.com/sustainability/nature.html
Danone B Corp Certification: https://www.danone.com/sustainability/our-approach/b-corp-certification.html

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About ESG Decoded 
ESG Decoded is a podcast powered by ClimeCo to share updates related to business innovation and sustainability in a clear and actionable manner. Join Emma Cox, Erika Schiller, and Anna Stablum for thoughtful, nuanced conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts that explore the complexities about the risks and opportunities connected to (E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance. We like to say that “ESG is everything that’s not on your balance sheet.” This leaves room for misunderstanding and oversimplification – two things that we’ll bust on this podcast.
ESG Decoded | Resource Links 
Site: https://www.climeco.com/podcast-series/
Apple Podcasts: https://go.climeco.com/ApplePodcasts
Spotify: https://go.climeco.com/Spotify
YouTube Music: https://go.climeco.com/YouTube-Music
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esg-decoded/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/esgdecoded/
*This episode was produced by Singing Land Studio
 
About ClimeCo

ClimeCo is an award-winning leader in decarbonization, empowering global organizations with customized sustainability pathways. Our respected scientists and industry experts collaborate with companies, governments, and capital markets to develop tailored ESG and decarbonization solutions. Recognized for creating high-quality, impactful projects, ClimeCo is committed to helping clients achieve their goals, maximize environmental assets, and enhance their brand.
ClimeCo | Resource Links
Site: https://climeco.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climeco/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/climeco/