Sustainable Edge

Sustainable Edge: Sustainability, leadership, and competitiveness in a fragmented world with Iván Duque, former President of Colombia

What does it take to lead on climate in a world shaped by distrust, geopolitics, and competing priorities? In this episode, former Colombian President Iván Duque shares how sustainability can be positioned not as a cost, but as a driver of competitiveness, and why leadership matters more than ever in turning ambition into action. IN THIS EPISODE OF SUSTAINABLE EDGE Host Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder at Position Green, sits down with Iván Duque, former President of Colombia, to explore what sustainability leadership looks like at the highest level of government. During his presidency, Duque led one of Latin America’s most ambitious climate agendas, balancing economic growth, peacebuilding, and environmental protection. Under his leadership, Colombia expanded protected areas to cover more than a third of its territory and committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent by 2030 . Today, as global cooperation weakens and political landscapes become more fragmented, the question is no longer just what needs to be done, but how to move forward in a world where trust is declining and priorities are shifting. Learn about: * Sustainability as competitiveness Why climate ambition can strengthen economic positioning rather than weaken it * Leading through uncertainty What it takes to advance climate action in a world of declining trust and geopolitical fragmentation * The role of middle powers How countries like Colombia can shape global cooperation even without the largest economies leading * From ambition to implementation What enabled Colombia to pass climate legislation and scale environmental protection at speed * Markets and capital flows Why unlocking private finance and market mechanisms is critical for global climate progress * Bridging polarization How reframing sustainability conversations can create alignment across political and ideological divides * Long term leadership Why sustainability must be embedded into decision making as a core principle of governance and business BEYOND POLITICS BEYOND HIS WORK IN POLICY AND SUSTAINABILITY, IVÁN DUQUE IS ALSO KNOWN FOR AN UNEXPECTED PASSION: DJING. WHAT STARTED AS A PERSONAL INTEREST HAS BECOME A WAY TO CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SETTING. READ MORE [https://www.intellinews.com/colombia-s-ex-president-duque-finds-friendlier-audience-as-dj-after-rocky-tenure-388220/] ABOUT IVÁN DUQUE Iván Duque is the former President of Colombia and a global advocate for climate action and sustainable development. During his presidency, he led efforts to expand environmental protection, implement a national climate strategy, and position Colombia as a leader in biodiversity conservation. He currently serves as a trustee of the Science Based Targets initiative and holds advisory roles across leading global sustainability organisations, continuing to shape the conversation on climate, policy, and economic development .

Sustainable Edge: Rethinking corporate accountability in a fragmented world with Robin Hodess, GRI

What does accountability look like in a world shaped by AI, geopolitics, and rising stakeholder expectations? In this episode, Robin Hodess of GRI explores how the role of sustainability reporting is shifting and why companies that treat it as strategic data, not compliance, will be better positioned to compete. IN THIS EPISODE OF SUSTAINABLE EDGE Host Joachim Nahem, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder at Position Green, sits down with Robin Hodess, CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), to explore how corporate accountability is being reshaped in a world defined by geopolitical tension, technological disruption, and rising expectations.  As the original standard setter for sustainability reporting—emerging from initiatives that followed major environmental crises like Exxon Valdez—GRI has played a central role in defining how companies measure and communicate their impact. But today, the landscape is far more complex. Accountability is no longer limited to environmental damage. It now includes issues such as data privacy, AI, social inequality, governance, and the broader role of business in society. Robin Hodess unpacks how sustainability reporting is evolving from a compliance exercise into a critical source of strategic insight. She explains why businesses must move beyond fragmented frameworks and focus on what truly matters, using data to navigate risk, identify opportunities, and make better decisions. Learn about: * From reporting to decision making: Why sustainability data is becoming essential for strategy, risk management, and long-term business growth * The expanding scope of accountability: How issues like AI, data centres, nature, and social impact are redefining what companies are responsible for * Complexity vs clarity: Why more frameworks and regulation have created confusion and how leaders can focus on what truly matters * Materiality in practice: How companies can prioritize the most relevant impacts without being overwhelmed by the breadth of ESG topics * Global fragmentation and standards: What rising geopolitical tensions mean for reporting requirements and why harmonisation matters more than ever * The business value of transparency: Why 73 percent of studies show a positive link between sustainability reporting and financial performance * Leadership and credibility: How companies can rebuild trust by moving beyond claims and focusing on evidence, progress, and accountability ABOUT ROBIN HODESS Robin Hodess is the CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the world’s leading standard setter for sustainability reporting. With a career spanning finance, ethics, and global governance, she has held senior roles at Transparency International and other international organisations. Robin brings a long term perspective on corporate transparency, accountability, and the role of business in addressing global challenges. Under her leadership, GRI continues to shape how companies measure, manage, and communicate their impact in an increasingly complex world. Resources from this episode: From Impact to Income: How sustainability reporting affects the bottom Line: [https://www.globalreporting.org/news/news-center/does-sustainability-reporting-pay-for-itself/] Decoding biodiversity impacts: A practical guide to corporate reporting with the GRI Standards: [https://www.globalreporting.org/news/news-center/from-transparency-to-action-practical-support-to-advance-nature-protection/] Case studies on reporting with GRI 101 and TNFD: [https://globalreporting-145130116.hs-sites-eu1.com/case-studies]

Sustainable Edge: Human rights as a competitive advantage with Marcos Neto, United Nations Development Programme.

IN THIS EPISODE OF SUSTAINABLE EDGE HOST JOACHIM NAHEM, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND CO-FOUNDER AT POSITION GREEN, SITS DOWN WITH MARCOS NETO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND DIRECTOR AT UNDP, TO EXAMINE ONE OF THE MOST PERSISTENT DILEMMAS IN CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY: DOES RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS HURT OR HELP BUSINESS PERFORMANCE? As geopolitical tensions rise and regulatory frameworks become more fragmented, many executives are questioning how far their responsibility should extend across global value chains. This conversation explores where accountability really sits today and why the debate around human rights, competitiveness, and transparency is reaching an inflection point for global business. IN THIS EPISODE Marcos Neto unpacks new research from UNDP that directly challenges the assumption that human rights due diligence comes at the expense of financial performance. Drawing on a multi year analysis of more than 200 global companies across sectors including apparel, extractives, automotive, ICT, and agriculture, he shares what the data actually shows and why ignoring human rights can pose a real risk to long term value creation. Learn about: * Human rights and financial performance Why companies with stronger human rights practices see higher returns on assets and why declining performance carries measurable financial risk * The myth of lost competitiveness What the evidence says about investor reactions, cost concerns, and profitability * From policy to decision making Why human rights only matter when embedded into core business processes rather than treated as a reporting exercise * Regulation, investors, and accountability How responsibility is shaped not only by law but by stakeholder expectations and risk management * Emerging human rights risks What leaders should watch as business models evolve across areas like AI, data centres, critical raw materials, and reshoring * Materiality in practice How executives can focus on what truly matters without trying to solve every problem in the world ABOUT MARCOS NETO Marcos Neto is Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director at UNDP, where he leads work on private sector engagement, sustainable finance, and governance. With more than three decades of experience across civil society and international institutions, Marcos works at the intersection of business, human rights, climate, and development. He has been closely involved in advancing global standards on disclosure, due diligence, and the integration of sustainability into corporate decision making. Resource from this episode https://www.undp.org/publications/human-rights-vs-competitiveness-false-dilemma [https://www.undp.org/publications/human-rights-vs-competitiveness-false-dilemma]

Sustainable Edge: Decarbonizing healthcare from the inside out with Chris Hirst, Bespak

Behind every life saving inhaler sits a hidden climate footprint. In this episode, Bespak challenges the status quo, exploring how respiratory products can be redesigned for a low carbon future and why tackling propellant gases and supply chain emissions is one of pharma’s biggest untapped opportunities. In this episode Chris Hirst unpacks how Bespak is approaching sustainability at the most granular level: materials, formulations, manufacturing processes, and supplier collaboration. He explains why ESG at Bespak is not a side initiative, but a core business strategy, one that strengthens competitiveness, trust, and long-term value creation. Learn about: * Strategic transformation: Bespak was carved out to become an independent company, strengthening its ability to innovate, move faster, and focus on long-term value creation. How being part of the EQT portfolio makes sustainability a core priority and reinforces responsible growth. * Sustainability in healthcare manufacturing: How a traditionally hard-to-decarbonize sector is reducing its footprint and where the biggest opportunities for impact lie. * Innovation and the low-carbon transition: Re-engineering essential products like inhalers to cut emissions without compromising patient safety or performance. * Regulation and responsibility: How emerging sustainability regulations are shaping R&D priorities, transparency, and long-term business strategy. * Customer and partner expectations: Supporting pharma and healthcare customers in meeting decarbonization goals through smarter design and sustainable supply chains. * Culture and execution: What it takes to align people and teams to deliver real change during both business transformation and sustainability transitions. About Chris Hirst  Chris Hirst is the CEO of Bespak, a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), specializing in inhaled and nasal drug delivery devices and drug-device combination products. With a deep background in pharmaceutical manufacturing and operations, Chris has led Bespak’s transformation into an independent company with a strong focus on low-carbon innovation, supply-chain collaboration, and science-based climate targets. Under his leadership, Bespak has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and is positioning itself as a partner of choice for sustainable respiratory solutions.

Sustainable Edge: Behind the energy transition with Tomas Qvickström from Fortum. What's really driving the shift to clean power?

What happens when the future of energy meets the reality of climate targets? In this episode of The Sustainable Edge, host Joachim Nahem sits down with Tomas Qvickström, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Fortum, to explore how major energy players are balancing security, scale, and sustainability in the race to decarbonize.   ---------------------------------------- IN THIS EPISODE Tomas Qvickström explains how Fortum is contributing to the clean energy transition in the Nordics and Poland through a balanced energy mix, development of renewables and a comprehensive approach to sustainability that goes beyond emissions. From the drivers of electrification, to helping customers decarbonize through data and guarantees of origin, this episode goes inside the energy systems shaping our climate future. Learn about: * Balancing the grid: Why the Nordic "energy plate" model combines flexible, firm, and renewable sources like hydro, nuclear, and wind to power a stable transition. * A credible decarbonization path: How Fortum is integrating science-based climate targets and biodiversity goals directly into business strategy and finance. * From grid to socket: Why clean energy production doesn't guarantee clean consumption, and how Fortum helps customers track and reduce Scope 2 emissions. * Bottlenecks to scale: What's really slowing down renewable investments and how long-term offtake agreements, smart cases for implementation, and policy support can unlock progress.   ----------------------------------------   ABOUT TOMAS QVICKSTRÖM Tomas Qvickström is Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Fortum, a €16 billion Nordic energy company. He leads Fortum's work on climate, biodiversity, and sustainable finance, helping integrate ESG targets across operational planning and decision-making. Tomas brings a fact-based, systems-level view to one of the world's most complex sustainability challenges: powering the clean transition at scale.