Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Weekly podcast: What to expect from the EU’s deforestation-linked products ban

This week: Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, senior forest policy officer at WWF in Brussels, talked with Bea Stevenson about the incoming EU regulations banning imports of products linked to deforestation. They discussed the paradigm shift within the agricultural sector that this will drive, the impacts of a due diligence approach and the limitations of the new regulation.

Plus: Shell to pay €15m to Nigerian communities impacted by oil pipeline leaks in 2004; the World Bank's evolution roadmap showing lending commitment to address climate change; technology’s potential to cut 40% of costs in delivering the SDGs, according to Force for Good initiative; and, Mercedes-Benz Energy partners with Lohum to supply second-life batteries, in the news digest.

And, updates from Innovation Forum’s Emily Heslop about the upcoming responsible sourcing and ethical trade conference to be held on 29th-30th March in London.

Host: Ian Welsh

UN global pact: Trying to turn off the plastics tap

Environmental Investigation Agency's ocean campaign leader Christina Dixon talked with Innovation Forum's Bea Stevenson about the priorities for the United Nations global pact on plastic pollution, in the lead up to the first negotiation session which took place in late 2022. They discussed the shared urgency to tackle plastic pollution and the importance of having a legally binding instrument for transparent plastic production reporting, agreement on definitions and financing.

Weekly podcast: Nestlé’s focus on scope 3 emissions, and a realistic plan to end deforestation

This week: Another chance to hear the two most popular podcast interviews of 2022.

At Innovation Forum's future of climate action conference, Rob Cameron, vice-president and global head of public affairs and ESG engagement at Nestlé, spoke about why companies need to continue to focus on carbon, take immediate action at scale, and the potential benefits from regenerative agriculture. He argued that there will be no transition to a low carbon economy unless it is a “just transition”, and put the case for always following the science in corporate action on climate change. 

And, Josh Tosteson, president of Everland, spoke about the new Forest Plan to tackle deforestation at scale through rapidly developing new REDD+ forest projects in threatened landscapes around the world, and accessing the unprecedented levels of climate finance via the voluntary carbon markets. He also addressed the main criticisms of REDD+ projects; how to prevent deforestation from simply leaking outside the project boundary, and how to establish baselines to measure deforestation reduction. 

And, Innovation Forum’s Catie Ball introduces the upcoming sustainable apparel and textiles USA conference, taking part on 21^st-22^nd June 2023 in New York City, including an exclusive offer for podcast listeners.

Host: Ian Welsh  

Carbon removal, conservation and community resilience: How blue carbon can deliver at scale

As the world’s greatest carbon sink, the ocean and its coastal ecosystems are an essential part of the solution to the climate emergency. Blue carbon projects protect and restore marine ecosystems, such as tidal marshes, seagrasses and mangroves – which can sequester up to ten times as much carbon as a land-based forest.

Companies have a vital role to play in blue carbon. By investing in projects, business can scale the supply of high-quality blue carbon credits and simultaneously meet their own net-zero and nature positive commitments.

In this webinar, we discussed:
• Why coastal ecosystems of mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes are imperative to reaching 1.5°C targets
• How blue carbon projects can provide income, subsistence resources, and additional co-benefits for local communities
• How will carbon accounting in blue carbon work in practice? And what is the role of business in scaling the voluntary blue carbon market?

The panel:
• Dr. Whitney Johnston, director of ocean sustainability, Salesforce
• Ben Scheelk, program officer, The Ocean Foundation
• Dr. Jennifer Howard, vice president, blue carbon program, Conservation International
• Liz Guinessey, manager, blue carbon innovation, Verra

Moderated by Ian Welsh, director of publishing, Innovation Forum

Weekly podcast: Working on the ground within Indonesia’s palm oil sector

This week: Partnerships and development lead at Earthworm Indonesia, Bara Robyn, talks with Ian Welsh about the importance of working closely with local stakeholders and highlighting their capability in driving sustainability within the palm oil sector in Indonesia. They are joined by Wahyudi Putro Widodo, section head of the sustainability and smallholder scheme at palm oil business Laot Bangko, an Earthworm partner, and they discuss conflict mapping and resolution, NDPE scoping and monitoring forest cover.

Plus: EU's new carbon tariffs on imports for decarbonisation; science-based target setting commitments from the apparel sector with Sustainable Apparel Coalition's new decarbonisation initiative; ongoing disagreement over appointing biodiversity protection funding donors and recipients at nature COP15 in Montreal, in the news digest.

And, information about the upcoming future of food USA conference to be held on 31st May-1st June in Minneapolis with an exclusive discount code for podcast listeners.

Host: Ian Welsh

What does the route to sustainable landscapes and commodities look like?

Some on-the-spot reflections at the recent sustainable landscapes and commodities forum in Amsterdam from Tesco's Anna Turrell, Anita Neville from Golden Agri-Resources, Craig Tribolet from APRIL, Glenn Hurowitz from Mighty Earth, Josh Tosteson from Everland, Patrick Houdry from Airbus, Michiel Hendriksz from FarmStrong Foundation, Eloisa Menguzzo from PGGM and Innovation Forum senior associate Peter Stanbury, talking with Ian Welsh.

They highlight the use of science-based targets and satellite monitoring, the need for transparency and sustainable sourcing, and opportunities for voluntary carbon markets and balancing between regulation and incentives to end commodity-driven deforestation.

 

Weekly podcast – Can more focus on human rights be the Qatar World Cup’s legacy?

This week: John Morrison, CEO of the Institute of Human Rights and Business, talks with Ian Welsh about the prospects for a higher profile for human rights and forced labour issues following the Fifa World Cup in Qatar and the COP27 conference in Egypt. They discuss the importance of ensuring a just transition as the world economy decarbonises and some reasons for optimism in 2023, including the increase in consumer-driven business ethics.

Plus: EU's new regulation banning all products linked to deforestation revealed; more corporate biodiversity commitments and actions needed, says CDP; World Benchmarking Alliance’s Nature Benchmark shows looking beyond corporate climate goals is imperative; and, biodegradable packaging startup Notpla wins £1m grant from the Earthshot Prize, in the news digest.

And, Innovation Forum's Emily Heslop introduces the responsible sourcing and ethical trade conference coming up in March 2023 in London, and reveals an exclusive discount for podcast listeners.

Host: Ian Welsh

Climate risk and adaptation: How to prepare farmers for the effects of climate change

In a warming world, farmers remain among the most vulnerable to the increasing environmental hazards brought on by climate change. To mitigate these impacts, business must collaborate with farmers to build their capacity to adapt and adopt climate-smart practices for more resilient livelihoods.

In this webinar, our panel discussed:

• How can business enable income diversification for smallholder farmers?
• What are the leading strategies, tools, and technologies to help farmers transition to climate-smart agriculture?
• What role does regenerative agriculture play in helping to increase climate resilience?

The panel included:

• John Steel, CEO, Cafédirect
• Hardeep Desai, head of farm operations, CottonConnect South Asia

This webinar was moderated by Tanya Richard, head of research and stakeholder engagement at Innovation Forum, and hosted in partnership with CottonConnect.

Monitoring soil health for sustainable and resilient farming

Biome Maker's co-founder and chief scientific officer, Alberto Acedo, talks with Ian Welsh about the company's BeCrop soil health testing technology to drive more sustainable farming. They discuss the benefits of testing soil health, allowing farmers to monitor their production, and the biological and chemical conditions of soil to improve their agricultural management practices.

Why we need to address plastic production before tackling pollution

This week, Christina Dixon, ocean campaign leader at the Environmental Investigation Agency talks with Innovation Forum’s Bea Stevenson about the prospects for a United Nations global pact on plastic pollution as the first negotiation session commences. They discuss why voluntary measures have not tackled the plastic pollution problem, despite its high public profile.

Plus: more than half major palm oil companies failing to evaluate supplier risk of deforestation, says ZSL; Ahold Delhaize's ambitious decarbonisation initiatives; Vodafone asking consumers to trade in devices to reduce network waste; Rolls-Royce and EasyJet testing green hydrogen-powered aero engine, in the news digest.

And, Innovation Forum's Hanna Halmari shares details about the upcoming sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Amsterdam in April 2023. Use discount code “podcast” for a €500 discount on conference passes, extended to 6th December for podcast listeners.

Host: Ian Welsh