How real is reputation risk in today’s political and business climate?

In this episode of Sustainable Views, Alison Taylor of NYU Stern joins Sustainable Views deputy editor, Elizabeth Meager, to unpack why so many companies have fallen silent, how legal and political risks are reshaping corporate decision-making, and whether reputation can really be measured in any meaningful way.

From US immigration crackdowns and DEI rollbacks to tariff disputes, AI, boycotts and government retaliation, we explore why business leaders are struggling to balance short-term legal exposure against long-term trust and credibility.

We also discuss why some companies seem able to withstand pressure better than others, what makes corporate backlash stick, and how executives are thinking about issues such as employee dignity, political spending and collective action.

Read more here:

Trump’s latest tariffs throw clean energy into deeper uncertainty

Business cannot stay silent on American democracy and climate

ICE’s expansion leaves US companies with a choice they cannot dodge

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Is the UK government getting nature policy wrong and what does it mean for the economy?

In this episode of Sustainable Views, reporter Florence Jones speaks to Craig Bennett, CEO of The Wildlife Trusts, about the UK’s approach to biodiversity, the risks of weakening environmental protections, and why nature loss is far more than an environmental issue. From food security and flood prevention to economic resilience and public health, Bennett argues that restoring nature is fundamental to long-term prosperity.

We also explore the growing disconnect within government policy, the role of business in pushing for clarity and stability, and why framing nature as a barrier to growth could prove a costly mistake.

Timestamps

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:55 What is the impact of nature depletion

02:38 How UK government nature policy has changed

05:55: HS2 Bat Tunnel

09:30 Reform voters back nature policies

13:21 How nature can impact other policy goals

16:03 Fingleton Review

20:30 Business view on nature

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How should businesses navigate human rights in a more fragmented world?

In this episode of Sustainable Views, editor Philippa Nuttall sits down with Michael Clements, Executive Director for Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, to discuss the growing expectations on companies to protect workers, manage supply chain risks and respond to political and regulatory pressure. From mandatory due diligence to reputational risk and stakeholder activism, we explore how the human rights agenda is evolving — and what it means for boards, investors and sustainability leaders today.

Read more here:

The material risks of human rights in the reconstruction of Gaza

Due diligence act means companies ‘give a damn’

Investors will use ESG data if it is decision useful

Do sustainability disclosures change corporate behaviour?

Simplified ESRS more ‘decision-useful’ for business and investors

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Philippa Nuttall is joined by US reporter and acting deputy editor, Elizabeth Meager and UK reporter Florence Jones to discuss the evolving role of corporate responsibility and corporate reporting. Corporate reporting is still mainly focused on climate impacts and emissions. Under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, for example, companies must also report on nature and social indicators, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, when it comes into force, should shine a greater spotlight on human rights abuses.

In the US, despite fear of retribution from the Trump administration, companies are being challenged to speak out more. With new issues around the use of AI and how companies should be responding as the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol or ICE expands its role, pressure on businesses to take a stance is growing.

Additional reading:

ICE’s expansion leaves US companies with a choice they cannot dodge

As companies adopt AI, can investors trust corporate reporting?

00:00 Intro

1:10 Companies response to ICE

5:03 Reputational risk

6:44 Corporate reporting

8:20 Impact of AI

14:05 New ESG regulation

16:33 AI climate reporting

Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025 was a tough year for sustainability. With Trump's attacks on green energy, to uncertainty over regulation and subsidies, the direction of travel is becoming less predictable for governments and businesses alike.

In this episode, Sustainable Views editor Philippa Nuttall is joined by Elizabeth Meager and Florence Jones to explore how the sustainability landscape is evolving in 2026, with companies and countries adjusting strategies, managing risk and investing in solutions that continue to attract support, including regenerative agriculture and carbon credits. We also look at where momentum is still building globally, and what this means for sustainability and investors in the year ahead.

00:00 - Sustainability at the start of 2026

03:08 - The US sustainability transition

09:10 - Tax and carbon credits

17:30 - Future sustainability trends to watch

Required reading:

Despite fragmentation, the energy transition is advancing

Wind and solar generated more power than fossil fuels in 2025 in EU milestone

Microsoft looks to soil carbon credits as its emissions surge

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The Sustainable Views team discuss the chaos of 2025 and what to expect from the coming year in sustainability, litigation, technology and environmental policy.

At the end of the year the full Sustainable Views editorial team gathered to talk about the biggest sustainability stories of 2025. From environmental rollbacks in the EU and US to climate attribution science in the courts, data centres’ energy use and tropical forests, the team runs through what they saw and what it means for businesses.

Philippa, Elizabeth, Florence, Erin and Aniket also look ahead to 2026, detailing what they will be keeping an eye out for, where further deregulation is likely, and what businesses need to know as they kick off a new year.

00:00 - Sustainability and policy making in 2025

06:13 - UK energy and nature debate

11:58 - Litigation and AI trends

17:50 - COP30 and the future outlook

Want to learn more about #sustainability policy in 2025 and beyond? Subscribe to Sustainable Views here.

Required reading:

Companies need coherence — fragmentation is still a structural risk

EU 2040 target deal sets the stage for carbon pricing reforms in 2026

Can fiduciary reform close the gap between pension climate rhetoric and reality?

Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter.

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As COP30 in Belém, Brazil comes to a close, Sustainable Views editor Philippa Nuttall sits down with reporter Florence Jones to unpack the key outcomes of this year’s pivotal climate summit. In this episode, they break down the biggest announcements, assess which climate commitments made headlines, and explore what was left out of the final COP30 agreement, from finance to fossil fuels.

Philippa and Florence also look ahead to the future of COP negotiations, examining how the structure of the conference may evolve and which voices could shape global climate policy in the years to come.

For deeper analysis on global climate diplomacy, sustainable finance and ESG regulation, visit Sustainable Views.

Subscribe to the Sustainable Views podcast — available on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube — and catch new episodes every month.

Sustainable Views is an intelligence service by the Financial Times Group. To stay up-to-date, subscribe to our newsletter.

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