This week’s reading time: 6 minutes

Welcome to another edition of The Green Executive Briefing. In under 10 minutes, you’ll be fully updated on the latest happenings in Sustainability and ESG every Tuesday at 8am EST. 🌎

We sift through a vast array of articles and data from trusted sources, distill the information, and present it to you in simple, bite-sized pieces every week. 🌍

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In this edition, we'll cover:

• Global Reach: Despite 90% of executives valuing sustainability, only 60% of organizations have a defined strategy.

• Google's CSO Kate Brandt integrates sustainability across operations by embedding circular economy principles and using products like AI and Google Maps to drive positive environmental impact. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katebrandt/

• Dr. Katharine Hayhoe (The Nature Conservancy) frames climate change as "an everything issue" affecting business operations and advocates for "win-win-win solutions" that address climate, human, and economic needs simultaneously. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-hayhoe/

• David Carlin (UN Environment Programme) helps financial institutions quantify climate risks and opportunities, highlighting how clean energy investment now outpaces fossil fuels. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-carlin7/

🌟 Spotlight: Dylan Brown

Dylan Brown is an expert in GHG Accounting, Sustainability Strategy, and Environmental Permitting. The coolest thing about him? He’s a big Philadelphia Eagles fan.

“I’m an Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) professional with a strong focus on ESG and sustainability. I ensure risk mitigation strategies align with operational safety and regulatory compliance.”

Follow Dylan on LinkedIn here.

Want to get featured in the spotlight? Reply to this email: [email protected]

Intro

Sustainability has become a strategic imperative…

Sustainability has become a strategic imperative for businesses. While 90% of executives consider sustainability important, only 60% of organizations have a defined sustainability strategy. Investors, consumers, and regulators increasingly pressure companies to embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into core operations. This newsletter spotlights three prominent thought leaders whose expertise is shaping how companies tackle sustainability challenges.

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Featured Thought Leaders

Kate Brandt – Chief Sustainability Officer, Google
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katebrandt/

Kate Brandt leads Google's global sustainability strategy, integrating it across operations, products, and supply chains. As Google's CSO and the former Federal Chief Sustainability Officer of the U.S., Brandt drives systemic change by making sustainability a core business priority. She collaborates across departments – from engineering to finance – to embed circular economy principles and climate action into decision-making.

Under her leadership, Google pursues ambitious goals like achieving net-zero emissions and zero waste, while leveraging products for positive impact, such as eco-friendly routes in Google Maps and AI predictions for climate risks. Brandt emphasizes that a CSO's role now goes beyond "managing decarbonization" to fostering innovation and collaboration company-wide. Her work on circularity – "designing out waste, keeping products in use, and transitioning to renewables" – showcases strategies that reduce environmental footprint while creating value.

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Featured Thought Leaders

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe – Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-hayhoe/

Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist renowned for making climate change relatable to broad audiences. She stresses that climate change is "not only an environmental issue — it's an everything issue," impacting air, water, and economic stability. For corporate leaders, this means climate risk is business risk.

Hayhoe advocates bringing everyone into the conversation and focuses on "win-win-win solutions" – strategies that simultaneously address climate challenges, human well-being, and economic development. She highlights opportunities like improving energy efficiency and using technology (e.g., AI) to cut emissions. Hayhoe also points to nature-based approaches, noting that protecting ecosystems can bolster climate resilience while supporting communities.

A key takeaway from Hayhoe's work is the importance of communication and empowerment: she argues the biggest barrier to climate action isn't lack of concern, but the "overwhelming feeling of not knowing what to do." By outlining actionable steps and positive trends, Hayhoe inspires stakeholders to move from awareness to action.

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Featured Thought Leaders

David Carlin – Climate Risk and Sustainable Finance Expert
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-carlin7/

David Carlin is a leading authority on sustainable finance and climate risk management. He founded the Risk Center at the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, advancing tools for measuring and disclosing environmental risks. Carlin has worked with over 100 financial institutions on implementing climate scenario analyses, risk assessments, and governance frameworks.

As a technical advisor to initiatives like the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), he guides organizations in setting and executing net-zero commitments. Carlin supports frameworks like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and emerging standards for transition plans.

His work quantifies climate risks and opportunities, highlighting trends like the surge in clean energy investment outpacing fossil fuel investment in recent years. Carlin argues that focusing on climate finance can "transform... into a net zero financial hub, spurring innovation and promoting economic growth." His insights encourage leaders to view sustainability not as a cost, but as a strategic opportunity requiring proactive planning, credible frameworks, and cross-industry collaboration.

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Strategic Opportunity: Key Takeaways for Corporate Leaders

• Embed Sustainability into Core Strategy: Make sustainability a cross-functional priority. Break down silos and integrate ESG goals into every department to drive company-wide innovation and accountability. A dedicated sustainability strategy with leadership support is imperative for long-term competitiveness.

• Leverage Innovation and Collaboration: Utilize emerging technologies and partnerships to address sustainability challenges. Whether it's AI optimizing operations or new tools for climate risk analysis, harness innovation for emissions reduction and climate forecasting. Collaborate across supply chains and industries to amplify impact.

• Focus on Solutions with Co-Benefits: Pursue initiatives that achieve multiple objectives. Find strategies that cut carbon, strengthen business, and provide social benefits, such as energy investments that reduce costs and emissions, or nature-based projects that protect communities and assets.

• Adopt Robust Frameworks and Disclosures: Implement recognized sustainability frameworks to set targets and track progress, including science-based climate targets, circular economy principles, and risk disclosure standards like TCFD. Quantify risks/opportunities, and use transparent reporting and clear metrics to drive accountability and investor confidence.

• Stay Ahead of Emerging Trends: Keep informed on evolving trends such as the capital shift toward clean tech, stricter regulations, and stakeholder expectations around equity and climate justice. Anticipate shifts and adapt strategies to turn challenges into competitive advantages.

WRAPPING UP

Corporate sustainability efforts directly link to business resilience and reputation. The experiences of Brandt, Hayhoe, and Carlin underscore that sustainability is about rethinking business models for long-term value. Through innovation, inclusive communication, and strategic alignment, companies can tackle environmental and social challenges while unlocking new opportunities. By applying these experts' insights to our strategies, we position our organizations for success while contributing to a more sustainable future for business and society.

P.S. When you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

1. Download our Dashboard GHG Accounting Scope 1, 2 & 3. Customize it with your organization's numbers to build a compelling business case.

2. Refer 2 other sustainability leader (see “Click to Share” button below)

3. Book a Consultation: Click HERE

   1. GHG Accounting Strategies (Scope 1, 2 & 3) 

   2. ISO 14001 Compliance (Environmental Management)