Beyond Carbon

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

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

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

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

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 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

Spotlight on Methane: Satellite Technology and Emissions Detection with Mark Kriss Georges and Chris sit down with Geofinancial Analytics CEO Mark Kriss and take a birds eye view on detecting methane emissions from space, mapping those emissions to oil and gas asset owners and driving methane management accountability and reporting transparency. Guest Mark Kriss, CEO, Geofinancial Analytics Background Mark Kriss is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Geofinancial Analytics, a science-driven data provider whose civic mission is to accelerate the clean energy transition by informing decisions and business practices with transparent, objective facts using advanced geospatial technology. He is also the Co-Founder and Partner of Macroclimate, an impact investment firm which served as an incubator for Geofinancial Analytics. Kriss is a serial tech entrepreneur, impact investor, and thought leader on sustainability data and climate risk metrics. He first became intrigued by portfolio management in 1998. Conversation Learn about MethaneScan® 100 Screening & Research: https://www.ffisolutions.com/methanescan-100/ For more information on Geofinancial Analytics: https://www.geofinancial.com

Georges and Chris have a wide-ranging discussion with impact investment trailblazer Jenna Nicholas, who takes us on her career journey through climate activism, community-informed impact investing and climate finance in 401(k) retirement plans. Guest Jenna Nicholas, CEO Impact Experience Background Jenna is a private equity investor and the CEO of Impact Experience, an organization that builds bridges and deep relationships between impact investors, foundations, corporates, entrepreneurs, artists and local leaders to co-create solutions for marginalized communities. Jenna previously worked with Divest-Invest Philanthropy and has taken the lessons from that experience and applied them to help drive change around environmental and social issues from the bottom up. Conversation Impact Experience For more information regarding the activities of Impact Experience: https://www.impact-experience.com

Chris and Georges talk climate and curve balls with major league baseball player Brent Suter. The discussion centers around how athletes can use their platform to raise awareness of environmental issues. Brent Suter, Colorado Rockies, LHP Players for the Planet Urban Ecology Center For more information regarding the activities of Players for the Planet: https://www.playersfortheplanet.org.

Chris and Georges talk with Arizona State University CIO Jeff Mindlin about the journey to align investment practices with the sustainability goals and commitments of a large public university. Jeff Mindlin, Chief Investment Officer of ASU Enterprise Partners For more information, see the highlights from ASU’s impact report released earlier this year: https://www.intentionalendowments.org/asu_investing_report

Chris and George talk with UVIMCO’s Cornelia Horner for insights on how one of the largest and most well-respected endowment managers committed to and is implementing a responsible investment strategy. Cornelia HornerUniversity of Virginia Investment Management Company

In their inaugural Beyond Carbon episode, Georges Dyer (Intentional Endowments Network) and Chris Ito (FFI Solutions) reflect on COP27 and discuss what makes them hopeful, and skeptical, about the future of sustainable investing. They also provide a preview of future episodes. Highlights include news and activities across the investment landscape that both support and give pause to the notion that sustainable investing will continue its growth trajectory.