Beyond Carbon

Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack: Celebrity Activism Meets Climate Finance

Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack: Celebrity Activism Meets Climate Finance
In this episode, hosts Georges Dyer and Chris Ito are joined by British actors Will Attenborough and Leila Mimmack to share their journey from the world of acting to leading impactful climate campaigns, leveraging their public platforms to drive change in sustainability and finance. Despite coming from acclaimed acting families, Will and Leila bring an unassuming yet passionate approach to raising awareness on environmental issues through their creative work.
Guests
Will Attenborough – Actor and Climate Activist 
Leila Mimmack – Actor and Climate Activist
Background
Will Attenborough is a British actor renowned for stage and film roles. Inspired by Desmond Tutu's climate justice work, he played a pivotal role in Divest London’s push for fossil fuel divestment. Will spearheaded campaigns within the acting union Equity, achieving the UK's first fossil-free pension fund options for artists. He champions sustainable storytelling, leveraging celebrity influence to model climate solutions. With an acclaimed family legacy, Will uses his platform authentically to shift narratives and inspire urgent environmental action.
Leila Mimmack is a British stage and screen actor driving environmental causes. Alongside Will Attenborough, she catalyzed a grassroots campaign within the Equity trade union, pioneering fossil fuel divestment and greener pension investments for artists. Leila's climate activism stems from her youth, attending rallies inspired by her teacher's rainforest lessons. Now using her creative talents, she collaborates on projects like Equity for a Green New Deal and sustainable theatre practices. Leila harnesses storytelling to reshape society's perspectives on pursuing an ecologically-conscious future.
Conversation
Diving into Divestment: Will and Leila recount their journeys into climate activism, starting with the Divest London campaign and efforts to push the London Pension Fund Authority away from fossil fuel investments.
Union Power for Change: Hear about their strategies working within the Equity trade union to pass motions, lobby leaders, and create more sustainable investment policies for artists.
The Struggle for Real Impact: The guests discuss the challenges of achieving meaningful change within complex pension funds and institutional inertia around sustainable investing.
Sustainable Storytelling: Will and Leila explore how their backgrounds as actors allow them to shift narratives and model positive climate solutions through creative projects like the "Green Rider" initiative.
Actors as Activists: The role of celebrity activism and harnessing the cultural influence of entertainers to inspire climate action in an authentic, relatable way.
Join Chris and George for an engaging discussion on the intersections of art, activism, and finance in driving a better environmental future.
 

Heather Beatty: Avoided Emissions and Public Markets Climate Solutions

Heather Beatty: Avoided Emissions and Public Markets Climate Solutions
Join hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer as they sit down with Heather Beatty, the CEO of ScopeFour Capital, for an insightful discussion on climate solutions in public equity markets. Heather Beatty shares her journey in sustainable investing, her vision for ScopeFour Capital and the importance of focusing on scalable climate solutions beyond just renewables.
Guest
Heather Beatty – CEO, ScopeFour Capital
Background
Heather Beatty is the founder and CEO of ScopeFour Capital, an asset management firm dedicated to investing in companies that produce and scale climate solutions. With over 20 years in the institutional world, Heather is passionate about creating impactful change through strategic capital allocation. She draws inspiration from Project Drawdown and the Crane Tool to guide ScopeFour Capital's investment approach. Previously at First Eagle, she created and co-chaired the firm's first climate council. In addition to her climate-related contributions, Heather co-founded Women in Institutional Investments Network (WIIIN), a Los Angeles-based 501c3 as part of her commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Conversation
Scaling Climate Solutions: Heather explains how ScopeFour Capital focuses on investing in listed equities that are producing and scaling climate solutions.
Beyond Renewables: Discussion on the broader market for climate solutions, including waste management, green infrastructure, and building energy efficiency.
Emission Reduction Potential: Understanding how ScopeFour Capital evaluates avoided emissions and the impact of climate solutions by associating them with company revenue, R&D, and capital expenditures.
Global Trends and Policy Impacts: Insight into how global policy trends and the upcoming US election cycle could impact climate investments.
Navigating High Interest Rates: Addressing investor concerns about a persistent high interest rate environment and its effect on capital-intensive climate solutions.
Diversity in Asset Management: Heather discusses the significance of diversity in asset management and the progress the industry has made.
Tune in to gain valuable insights into investing in climate solutions, understanding the broader market dynamics, and navigating the complexities of sustainable investing.

Jeff Gitterman: Pragmatism over Polarization in Long-Term Investing

Jeff Gitterman: Pragmatism over Polarization in Long-Term Investing
Sustainable investing veteran, Jeff Gitterman, joins hosts Chris and Georges to discuss bridging divides in ESG investing and climate change debates. Gitterman advocates pragmatism - finding common ground between proponents and skeptics. Key highlights include investment opportunities in climate solutions like infrastructure, recognizing physical risks as warning signs, and widening the sustainable investing tent to diverse viewpoints. While addressing challenges, Gitterman underscores the necessity of open dialogue, consensus-building, and reframing ESG around stakeholder capitalism over political divisions. Listeners gain insights into navigating complexities, advancing sustainable investing through understanding, and meeting investors where they are.
Guest
Jeff Gitterman - CEO, Gitterman Asset Management
Background
Jeff Gitterman is a pioneering leader in sustainable investing. With over 30 years of experience as a financial advisor, he is the Co-Founder of Gitterman Wealth Management where he created the SMART Investing Solutions for climate-aware portfolio allocation. He launched Gitterman Asset Management in 2020, focusing on ESG strategies and thought leadership for financial and institutional markets. Jeff co-hosts TheIMPACT TV, contributes to major media, and champions the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Beyond investing, Jeff serves on the board of the Child Health Institute of New Jersey and supports autism awareness.
Conversation
Highlights the importance of finding common ground between proponents and skeptics of ESG investing and reframing the ESG/sustainable investing debate around stakeholder capitalism vs shareholder primacy, rather than getting mired in political divisions over "values."
Explains the critical role and significant opportunities in the climate solution space around infrastructure investment. Physical risks associated with climate change act as a catalyst for investors to recognize and act on these opportunities.
Advocates the need for more clarity and consistency in messaging and labeling around ESG investing to reduce confusion, especially from regulators like the SEC.
Urges pragmatism in the face of climate challenges – recognizing the complexities and divisions in society, investors need to meet people and other investors where they are and be open to listening to differing viewpoints.

Presidio Student Insights: A Winning Pitch from the Next Generation of Sustainable Investors

Presidio Student Insights: A Winning Pitch from the Next Generation of Sustainable Investors
In this episode, hosts Chris Ito and Georges Dyer engage in a captivating conversation with a trio of students from Presidio Graduate School, who were members of the team that emerged victorious in the IEN's 2023 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge in the Graduate category. The challenge encourages students to pitch an investment in a publicly traded company, coupled with a shareholder engagement strategy. The conversation focuses on their investment pitch for First Solar and its groundbreaking thin-film cadmium telluride technology, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional solar panels.
Guests
The winning team members from Presidio Graduate School include Callie Greene, Stephanie Motta, Claire Nevels, Kate Vachon, and Lauren Novak. 
In this episode, Georges and Chris talk with Callie Green, Steph Motta and Claire Nevels
Highlights
Explores the rationale behind an investment in First Solar
Underscores the importance of engaging on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), especially in leadership, as an area where companies can improve and unlock economic value.
Illustrates the pivotal role of educational institutions in empowering students to advocate for systemic changes towards a more sustainable and just world.
Showcases the proactive steps being taken by the next generation in aligning investment strategies with the urgent need for environmental and social justice.

Ian Fuller: Unlocking Diversity for Alpha and Impact Investing

Ian Fuller: Unlocking Diversity for Alpha and Impact Investing
This episode features Ian Fuller, CEO and Co-Founder of Westfuller Advisors, a minority and women-owned investment advisory firm and Outsourced CIO dedicated to impact investing. Georges and Chris talk with Ian about his personal journey from New York’s Lower East Side to Wall Street as context for Westfuller's mission to drive change through ethical investments, and challenging traditional notions of money's role in building a sustainable future.
Guest
Ian Fuller - CEO and Co-Founder, Westfuller Advisors
Background
Ian Fuller is CEO and Co-Founder of Westfuller, a Black-majority, woman- and LGBTQ-owned investment advisory firm. As specialist in evidence-driven, global wealth advisory and planning, strategic investment management, and philanthropic giving, Ian works closely with people and institutions to empower wealth with purpose. He is a believer in the promise of money and financial systems to drive a flourishing democracy and economy. Ian co-leads the firm’s commitment to support efforts building: a just and equitable society, public purpose finance for All, and community infrastructure and assets.
Conversation
Sheds light on how to define impact investing and how it is fundamentally different from ESG integration or responsible investing.
Addresses the nuances and differences between net zero and a just transition, and the challenges around implementing an investment strategy that prioritizes both concepts.
Discusses the challenges of being a minority-owned investment firm and how asset allocators investing in diverse managers are generating returns. 

Dr. Michael Greenstone: Decoding the social cost of carbon and the carbon offset market

Dr. Michael Greenstone: Decoding the social cost of carbon and the carbon offset market
In this episode, Chris and Georges do a deep dive into the economic implications of carbon emissions with one of the world’s leading climate finance experts, Dr. Michael Greenstone. As a former chief economist for President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, Dr. Greenstone played a pivotal role in developing the "social cost of carbon." The trio discusses the significance of understanding the economic cost of carbon emissions and the tools policymakers have at their disposal to combat climate change.
Guest
Dr. Michael Greenstone, Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics
Background
Michael Greenstone is the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics as well as the Director of the Becker Friedman Institute and the interdisciplinary Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. As a co-director of the Climate Impact Lab, he is producing empirically grounded estimates of the local and global impacts of climate change. He is also the co-director of the King Climate Action Initiative at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, and co-founder of Climate Vault, a 501(c)(3) that uses markets to allow institutions and people to reduce their carbon footprint.
Conversation
Sheds light on the concept of the social cost of carbon, its current applications, and the overarching importance of carbon pricing in shaping future climate policies, especially in the United States.
Touches upon the controversial topic of carbon offsets, distinguishing between the voluntary offset market and regulated cap and trade permitting systems.
Introduces Climate Vault, a non-profit startup co-founded by Dr. Greenstone that not only allows entities to offset emissions using regulated permits but also aids in purchasing carbon removal, thereby supporting emerging carbon removal companies to scale their technologies. 
 

Elysabeth Alfano: Reaching Net Zero through Plant-based Innovation

Elysabeth Alfano: Reaching Net Zero through Plant-based Innovation
In this episode, Georges and Chris delve into the world of plant-based foods and explore the potential of this burgeoning industry with Elysabeth Alfano, a renowned expert at investing in companies that innovate with plants to produce animal-free products for sustainable consumption. Elysabeth discusses the health, environmental, and ethical implications of this dietary shift and shares her insights on the role of plant-based foods in mitigating climate change.
Guest
Elysabeth Alfano, Co-Founder and CEO of VegTech™ Invest
Background
Elysabeth Alfano is the CEO of VegTech™ Invest, the advisor to the Plant-based Innovation & Climate ETF (EATV). As one of the foremost experts in the industry, Elysabeth speaks on the latest plant-based business and investment developments. She also speaks on issues of a shifting global food supply system and what it represents for sustainability, climate change, food insecurity, human health, animal welfare and a growing global population.

Tom Soto: Diversity in Asset Management Meets Carbon Negative Investing

Tom Soto: Diversity in Asset Management Meets Carbon Negative Investing
Georges and Chris talk with impact investor Tom Soto on his trajectory from civil rights activist to a leader in environmental technology and renewable energy, including his new fund strategy that enhances biomass plants using forest standing deadwood to create 24-hour dispatchable power that is fully renewable and net carbon negative.
Guest
Tom Soto, Founder and Managing Partner, Latimer Partners, LLC
Background
Tom Soto is a long-time impact investor, entrepreneur and civil rights leader working at the intersection of politics, activism and finance. Tom has founded four private equity investment funds with a focus on clean technology, AI, Fintech and infrastructure. He now manages his family investment office, Latimer Partners, LLC. As a gay, Latino fund manager, Tom has been a pioneering voice for diversity in fund management and technology movement.
Conversation
The son two of California’s most well-respected Latino Civil Rights leaders, Tom credits his father Assemblyman Phil Soto, his mother Nell Soto, and the culture of community service and improvement that propelled him to the intersection of politics, activism, environmentalism and the investment world.
D4IR (Diversity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution) takes technology and traditional hardware, combines it with software within the energy transition world and puts it into one format.
To avoid 1.5 degrees Celsius, we have to find opportunities that go net carbon negative on a mass scale.
Monetizing carbon and biochar to fuel fully renewable biomass facilities that feed peak and base loads will keep the economy running when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.