Sustainability in Conversation

Morningstar Sustainalytics Podcast

Join us for a digest of the latest research, analysis and insights on the relationships between environmental, social and corporate governance issues and global business, finance and society. In each episode, hear from experts sharing their insights on how institutional investors can identify and mitigate risks related to ESG or climate factors, but also leverage opportunities in sustainable investment and debt capital markets. This is Sustainability in Conversation.

  1. 4d ago

    Testing Markets and Building ESG Resilience

    Host: Catalina Secreteanu, Managing Director, ESG Solutions, Europe, Morningstar Sustainalytics Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Guest: Bin Dong, Lead Analyst, ESG Methodology, Morningstar Sustainalytics On the Evolution of Sustainable Investing and Constructing More Resilient Portfolios In this episode of Sustainability in Conversation, we welcome our new co-host, Catalina Secreteanu. Catalina has worked in the sustainable investment space for the past 17 years, holding roles at UKSIF and Sustainalytics in the UK and Australia. During that time, she’s had a front row seat to how the industry has evolved. She shares her thoughts on where the market has been and where it’s going, as well as the challenges and opportunities along the ways.   Melissa and Catalina also sat down with Bin Dong, Lead Analyst, ESG Methodology, and author of the report “ESG Resilience in Focus: What the US-EU Divergence Means for Portfolio Performance.” Building on analysis from a previous publication, this report examines how portfolios adjusted for material sustainability factors perform under pressure in US and EU equity markets. Bin shares the most recent findings and explains how investors could leverage the insights for their own approaches.  Share Your Feedback Please take a moment to share your thoughts on Sustainability in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com or take this short survey. Key Moments  00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:46 A conversation with Catalina Secreteanu on the evolution of sustainable investing 00:14:13 A conversation with Bin Dong about ESG risk and portfolio resilience 00:24:01 Sign off   Links to Select Resources Report | ESG Resilience in Focus: What the US-EU Divergence Means for Portfolio Performance Webinar | ESG Resilience in Focus: How Markets Price Risks and What It Means for Portfolios Report | ESG Risk Ratings: A Protective Instrument Amid Economic Shocks

    28 min

  2. 12/18/2025

    ESG in Conversation: 2025 Proxy Season Review

    Episode Summary Host: Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director, Institutional Investor Content Guests: Angela Flaemrich, Director, Stewardship Matteo Felleca, Analyst, Stewardship Ignacio Garcia Giner, Senior Analyst, Stewardship  Bonus Episode: 20-25 Proxy Season Review In this episode, recorded earlier this year, Lindsey sat down with Angela Flaemrich, Matteo Falleca and Ignacio Garcia Giner from Morningstar Sustainalytics’ ESG Proxy Voting Overlay team to discuss their insights from the most recent proxy season. Insights from the discussion include: The decline in the number of sustainability-focused resolutions Changes to the regulatory landscape Increasing support for resolutions related to shareholder rights Lower support for proposals related to climate and DEI issues Key Moments 00:00:04 Introduction. 00:02:12 Highlights of the sustainability-related proposals from 2025 proxy season. 00:04:55 Insights on support levels for sustainability-related proposals. 00:08:31 Insights on the changing topic mix in the 2025 proxy season. 00:11:12 Overview of climate proposal trends. 00:14:52 Overview of social proposal trends. 00:19:04 Thoughts on the 2026 proxy season.   Links to Selected Resources Can Big Tech Keep Its Climate Commitments as Data Centers Scale? Investor Views on AI Oversight Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2025 Qualitative Insights Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2025 Quantitative Analysis

    24 min

  3. 04/29/2025

    ESG in Conversation: Financing the Future

    Episode Summary  Host:  Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics  Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director of Investment Stewardship Research, Morningstar Sustainalytics  Guests:  Ruthann Bartello, Senior Director, Global Lead, Stewardship  Kevin Ranney, Senior Director, Sustainable Fixed Income Research  Allocating Funds to Support a Sustainable Future In this episode of ESG in Conversation, Melissa and Lindsey chat about the continued volatility in the sustainable investing market, as well as luxury brands’ focus on ESG and sustainable supply chains. To kick things off, Melissa interviews Kevin Ranney, Senior Director, Sustainable Fixed Income Research. He talks about the evolution of the sustainable fixed income market and shares insights on the latest enhancements to Morningstar Sustainalytics’ second-party opinion assessment framework. Later, Lindsey sits down with Ruthann Bartello, Senior Director, Global Lead, Stewardship, where they discuss Sustainalytics’ involvement in the Pact for the Future and the importance of bringing the investor voice to the conversation about funding the UN Sustainable Development Goals.   Share Your Feedback   Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.  Key Moments   00:00:24  Introduction  00:06:25  Interview with Kevin Ranney on the evolution of sustainable fixed income investing and Morningstar Sustainalytics second-party opinion framework.  00:24:44  Interview with Ruthann Bartello about efforts to allocate more funding to the Sustainable Development Goals.  00:36:24  Closing remarks    Links to Select Resources Sustainalytics Insight: Second Party Opinions a Primary Focus  Webinar | Enhanced Assessment Framework for Use of Proceeds Second-Party Opinions      Listen to more episodes here.

    38 min

  4. 03/27/2025

    ESG in Conversation: Shining a Light on Shareholder Rights

    Episode Summary  Host:  Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics  Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director of Investment Stewardship Research, Morningstar Sustainalytics  Guests:  Hortense Bioy, CFA, Head of Sustainable Investing Research  Jackie Cook, Senior Director, Stewardship  Trends in Sustainable Investing and ESG-Focused Proxy Voting Activities  ESG In Conversation welcomes Lindsey Stewart as the new co-host for the podcast. He and Melissa chat about current developments in the sustainable investment space and the uncertainties investors and companies face. This month’s episode includes three compelling interviews with some of Sustainalytics’ experts, including Lindsey. Tune in to hear perspectives on sustainable investing trends and the continuously changing regulatory landscape. The discussions also cover recent research examining patterns in investors’ proxy voting activities, how companies’ share structures can influence vote outcomes and how that plays out for certain ballot items like say on pay.   Share Your Feedback   Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.  Key Moments   00:00:26  Introduction  00:03:32  Interview with Hortense Bioy on sustainable investing trends, regulatory changes and the impact on the investment funds landscape.  00:14:29  Interview with Jackie Cook covering recent research on the impact of dual class share structures on sustainability-focused shareholder resolutions.  00:28:42  Interview with Lindsey Stewart on the widening gap between European and US investors environmentally and socially focused shareholder resolutions.  00:36:24  Closing remarks    Links to Select Resources Six Sustainable Investing Trends to Watch in 2025 Report  Shareholder Democracy and the Challenge of Dual Class Share Structures  Say on Pay: CEO Compensation and the Long Tail of Shareholder Dissent  Voting on ESG: A Gap Becomes a Gulf  Ad: To learn more about the Morningstar Sustainable Investing Summit and to register visit https://www.morningstar.com/business/events/morningstar-sustainable-investing-summit

    39 min

  5. 01/30/2025

    ESG in Conversation: A Look Ahead at 2025 and Beyond

    Episode Summary  Host:  Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics  Guest:  Thomas Kuh, Head of ESG Strategy, Morningstar Indexes  Barbara Lambotte, Head of Sustainable Fixed Income Research  Azadeh Sabour, Director of Climate Thought Leadership, North America  Anne Schoemaker, Director, ESG Products  Catalina Secreteanu, Managing Director, ESG Solutions, Europe  Lindsey Stewart, Director of Investment Stewardship Research  2025: A Year of Change in Sustainable Investing  It’s the start of a new year, a time when many focus on setting new goals and ambitions. In this episode of ESG in Conversation, we explore the resolutions investors and issuers might make when it comes to ESG, climate transition and regulatory issues. Experts from Morningstar Sustainalytics weigh in and share their predictions on what financial market participants will, or should, focus on in the year ahead.   Share Your Feedback   Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com or take this short survey.  Key Moments   00:00:00  Introduction  00:00:35  Thomas Kuh discusses asset owners  00:05:43  Catalina Secreteanu discussion ESG risk and opportunities  00:08:35  Anne Schoemaker discusses regulations  00:12:52  Azadeh Sabour discusses climate transition finance 00:21:58  Lindsey Stewart discusses stewardship  00:26:03  Barbara Lambotte discusses sustainable fixed income  00:30:59  Closing remarks  Links to Select Resources Morningstar Sustainable Investing Index Solutions   Material ESG Issues Resource Center  ESG Regulatory Insights Hub  Climate Solutions Resource Center  Stewardship Services  Corporate Solutions – Sustainable Finance and Lending Solutions

    34 min

  6. 11/20/2024

    ESG in Conversation: A Look Back at 2024

    Episode Summary  Host:  Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics  Guest:  Thomas Kuh, Head of ESG Strategy, Morningstar Indexes  Arthur Carabia, ESG Research Policy Director at Morningstar  Kilian Theil, Associate Director, Intelligent Process Automation, Morningstar Sustainalytics    Andrei Hera, former Senior Manager Data Science, Morningstar Sustainalytics     Aymen Karoui, Director of Methodology and Product Architecture, Morningstar Sustainalytics  2024: A Year in Conversation  This year, ESG in Conversation examined the sustainability and climate issues that were top of mind for asset owners, asset managers, companies and financial market participants globally. Featuring insights from Morningstar Sustainalytics, listeners heard from subject matter experts on ESG, climate and regulatory issues affecting the market. In this episode, we share some key insights from this past season. Check out the full episodes via the links below and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app to hear what’s on the horizon in the year to come.   Share Your Feedback   Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.  Key Moments   00:00:00  Introduction  00:00:30  Asset owners share their voice  00:02:48  The AI revolution comes to ESG  00:07:00  Climate disclosure rules come to the US  00:10:10  Harmonizing sustainability regulations remains a challenge  00:16:36  Insights on leveraging ESG ratings in portfolio construction  00:19:50  Closing remarks  00:20:49  The last word    Links to Select Resources: Featured episodes: Asset Owners Share Their Views on the Changing Investment Landscape The AI Revolution Comes to ESG The SEC’s New Rules on Climate When It Comes to Sustainable Investing, It's A Material World Using ESG Data in Portfolio Construction 2024 Voice of the Asset Owner Survey – Quantitative Analysis

    23 min

  7. 09/25/2024

    ESG in Conversation: Using ESG Data in Portfolio Construction

    Episode Summary  Host:  Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics  Guest:  Aymen Karoui, Director of Methodology and Product Architecture, Morningstar Sustainalytics Data as the Foundation for Successful Portfolios  How can ESG ratings help investors identify risk when constructing and maintaining their portfolios? In this episode, we explore the practical answers to this question and more. We also feature research leveraging Sustainalytics’ Low Carbon Transition Ratings and Physical Climate Risk Metrics assessing companies' misalignment with the transition to net zero.   We also discussed COP 16, which is focused on biodiversity and the key role of the private sector in addressing biodiversity loss. A recent article using data from our Biodiversity and Natural Capital Stewardship program found that many companies are at the beginning of their journeys.  Share Your Feedback   Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.  Key Moments 00:00:00  Introduction  00:01:07  Interview with Aymen Karoui about Morningstar Sustainalytics report series in collaboration with Natixis exploring the ESG Risk Ratings and portfolio risk  00:19:51 Overview of the “Navigating Material Climate Risks in the Global Equities Market” report  00:20:57  Overview of “Mobilizing the Private Sector for COP16: A Critical Juncture for Biodiversity Action”  00:22:29 Highlights of upcoming Morningstar Sustainalytics events   Links to Select Resources Report series with Natixis   ESG Risk Ratings: A 360° Review ESG Risk Ratings: Distilling for Enhanced Performance and Downside Protection ESG Risk Premium: A Further Look Navigating Material Climate Risks in the Global Equities Markets Mobilizing the Private Sector for COP16: A Critical Juncture for Biodiversity Action Morningstar Sustainable Investing Summit 2024  More episodes

    25 min

  8. 06/21/2024

    ESG in Conversation: When It Comes to Sustainable Investing, It's A Material World

    Episode Summary  Host:  Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics  Guest:  Arthur Carabia, ESG Research Policy Director at Morningstar  In Global Financial Markets, ESG Materiality Matters  On the heels of the EU parliamentary elections and ahead of pivotal contests in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere, ESG in Conversation met with Director of ESG Policy Research, Arthur Carabia to discuss what a change in political agendas and shifting priorities could mean for ESG and sustainability-focused regulations globally.   We also explore the topic of ESG materiality and what it means to asset owners globally, and we discuss its foundational role in the enhancements to Morningstar Sustainalytics' ESG Risks Ratings and corporate governance assessment framework.   Share Your Feedback   Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.  Key Moments   00:00:00  Introduction  00:01:34  Interview with Arthur Carabia about EU election outcomes and the state of ESG regulatory landscape  00:25:14  Overview of the Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2024  00:26:34  Updates on Sustainalytics’ corporate governance assessment framework  00:28:14  Introduction to “Fundamentals of ESG Materiality: An Overview for Investors”    Links to Select Resources Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2024: Qualitative Insights  On the Materiality of Corporate Governance: Themes, Applications and Best Practices  Fundamentals of ESG Materiality: An Overview for Investors  Webinar | Single, Double or Dynamic? An Exploration of Materiality in ESG Approaches to Investment  More Episodes

    30 min
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out of 5
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About

Join us for a digest of the latest research, analysis and insights on the relationships between environmental, social and corporate governance issues and global business, finance and society. In each episode, hear from experts sharing their insights on how institutional investors can identify and mitigate risks related to ESG or climate factors, but also leverage opportunities in sustainable investment and debt capital markets. This is Sustainability in Conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Morningstar Sustainalytics Podcast
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Sustainability in Conversation

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