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Sustainability is a rapidly evolving field, driven by billions of dollars in global investment. Join BMO as we introduce you to the innovative minds and diverse perspectives that are pushing the boundaries in sustainability good practice. With topics ranging from climate change to sustainable finance and green bonds to human rights and responsible investing, we explore the world of corporate sustainability through interviews with corporate practitioners, investors, scholars and the NGO community.
- 255 - Beyond Net Zero: Workday on Carbon Markets, Methane and Innovation
Business leadership on climate is increasingly defined not only by emissions reductions, but also how companies address the emissions they cannot yet eliminate. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Erik Hansen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Workday, about the company’s evolution from achieving net zero ahead of schedule to advancing new strategies around carbon removal, methane mitigation, and internal carbon pricing. Hansen discusses how Workday evaluates high-integrity climate investments, the growing role of customer and investor expectations, and why tackling super pollutants may offer outsized near-term climate benefits.
Tue, 20 Oct 2026 - 254 - Fighting Fire with Finance: Investing for Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Growth
As climate risks intensify, the need to finance adaptation and resilience has become both a critical challenge and opportunity for the global economy. Recorded at this year’s Sibos conference in Miami, this episode brings together leaders from finance, development, and innovation to explore how capital can be mobilized to help communities, businesses, and infrastructure withstand a changing climate. Moderated by Gisela Sanchez of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, the discussion features John Uhren of BMO Capital Markets, Ellie Moriearty of MIT Solve, and Sven Schmidt of Commerzbank. Together, they examine the growing importance of adaptation finance, the barriers that limit investment in climate solutions, real-world examples from around the globe, and the vital role of blended finance in scaling resilience.
Thu, 08 Oct 2026 - 253 - Data-Driven Decarbonization: Healthcare and Beyond
Healthcare’s responsibility includes not only treating patients today but also reducing the environmental impacts that affect future health outcomes. In this episode, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, speaks with Dr. Richard Webster, who leads sustainability initiatives at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), about how one of Canada’s leading pediatric hospitals is pursuing a board-approved net-zero strategy while maintaining high standards of patient care. Drawing on CHEO's experience and BMO's recent $2 million donation to support CHEO’s sustainability initiatives, the discussion highlights how strategic and intentional partnerships can help healthcare organizations address complex sustainability challenges. They explore why healthcare’s environmental footprint is often overlooked, how CHEO built support for climate action across the organization, and what practical projects are delivering measurable results, from energy efficiency upgrades and smarter building operations to reducing surgical waste. The conversation also examines governance, organizational change, emissions measurement, and the business case for sustainability initiatives that improve both patient outcomes and operational performance.
Tue, 06 Oct 2026 - 252 - Preparing for the Impact of a Super El Niño
A potentially historic El Niño could amplify climate and economic pressures across food systems, energy markets and critical infrastructure, making early preparation essential. Alma Cortés Selva, senior advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with climate scientist Daniel Swain and BMO senior economist Erik Johnson about why the emerging event may rank among the strongest observed. They examine how El Niño interacts with long-term warming, why some regions may face floods while others experience drought, and how agricultural disruption could affect commodity prices, food inflation and interest rates. The conversation also considers how better climate forecasting can give businesses, policymakers and communities valuable time to plan. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Alma Cortés Selva: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/alma-cortes-selva/
Tue, 22 Sep 2026 - 251 - How Sprouts Turns Sustainability into Competitive Advantage
Sustainability can create the most value in an organization when it is embedded in business strategy rather than treated as a separate initiative. Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Brandon Lombardi, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at Sprouts Farmers Market, about how sustainability has been integrated into the retailer’s growth story from the beginning. They explore the evolution of customer demand for attribute-driven products, the business case for sustainable agriculture, resilience in food supply chains, and how Sprouts approaches affordability, innovation, and long-term value creation. The conversation highlights why customer expectations, operational excellence, and climate resilience increasingly reinforce one another. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Melissa Fifield: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/melissa-fifield/
Tue, 15 Sep 2026 - 250 - Driving Competitive Advantage Through Spatial Finance
Location matters more than ever when it comes to understanding climate risk, resilience, and long-term business performance. Based on a webinar co-hosted by Climate Proof and Earth Finance, host Louie Woodall is joined by Caleb White of Earth Finance, Alma Cortés Selva of the BMO Climate Institute, and Kevin Eckerle of Bayer Consumer Health to explore the growing field of spatial finance—the integration of geospatial intelligence with financial decision-making. The conversation examines how companies and financial institutions are using location-based data to assess physical and transition risks, identify investment opportunities, strengthen supply chain resilience, and improve capital allocation. From agriculture and commercial real estate to water stress, extreme weather, and adaptation investments, the discussion highlights how spatial finance can help organizations move from broad sustainability considerations to actionable business decisions. For the complete webinar, visit: https://www.climateproof.news/products/webinar-recording-driving-competitive-advantage-through-spatial-finance-july-16-2026 For more thought leadership from Alma Cortés Selva of the BMO Climate Institute, visit: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/alma-cortes-selva/
Tue, 01 Sep 2026 - 249 - Indigenous Reconciliation Series | Peter Dinsdale from YMCA Canada on Institutions, Partnerships, and Opportunities
As reconciliation efforts continue in Canada, the question is no longer whether institutions should engage, but how they can do so meaningfully and effectively. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders Indigenous Reconciliation Series, BMO’s Kayla Jacobs sits down with Peter Dinsdale, President and CEO of YMCA Canada, to discuss the practical realities of advancing reconciliation across organizations and sectors. From grassroots programming and education to national frameworks, the discussion unpacks how reconciliation can take shape in practice. Dinsdale reflects on the barriers organizations face and outlines how partnerships, cultural awareness, and patience can help move progress forward. The episode also explores the growing scale of Indigenous economic opportunity and the role that capital providers, policy frameworks, and business leaders can play in supporting long-term, Indigenous-led development.
Tue, 25 Aug 2026 - 248 - The Hidden Costs of Homeownership: Climate Risk, Insurance, and the Affordability Crunch
Rising HOA fees and insurance premiums are reshaping the true cost of owning a home, with climate risk increasingly at the center of it all. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Matt Schulz, Chief Consumer Finance Analyst at LendingTree, to unpack how these interconnected pressures are driving a new affordability reality across U.S. housing markets. They explore why homeowners, lenders, and investors can no longer view housing costs in isolation, how climate exposure is influencing buyer behavior and property values, and why insurance is quickly becoming a defining factor in market access. Visit LendingTree to learn more about the research cited in this episode: https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/hoa-survey/?msockid=03ed45b570be6d8b0420534471b76c7d Go to BMO for more thought leadership from Alma Cortés Selva: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/alma-cortes-selva/
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 - 247 - Employee Ownership: Aligning Profit, Purpose, and Long-Term Value
Employee ownership is gaining momentum as a powerful strategy to align business success with employee wellbeing and community resilience. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, BMO’s Chief Sustainability Officer, sits down with Leah Turnbull, Managing Director and National ESOP Practice Lead at BMO, to explore how employee ownership structures—such as Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) in the U.S. and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) in Canada—are transforming the way companies think about growth, succession, and sustainability. They discuss why employee ownership is increasingly relevant amid a wave of retiring business owners, how it can help close the wealth gap by expanding access to equity, and why it offers a compelling alternative to traditional sale options.
Tue, 11 Aug 2026 - 246 - Nature Is Critical Infrastructure for Businesses, Cities, and Communities
Nature is no longer being viewed as an environmental consideration alone—it is increasingly being recognized as critical infrastructure that supports economic growth, business resilience, and long‑term value creation. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, BMO’s Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Torrance speaks with Dom Kempson and Mike Morris from Stantec, a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting, about how nature-based solutions are helping organizations manage risk, strengthen operations, and improve outcomes for communities. Drawing on examples from water systems, data centers, coastal infrastructure, and ecosystem restoration projects around the world, the conversation explores how companies are integrating nature into planning and investment decisions. The guests discuss why leading organizations are embedding nature into business strategy rather than treating it as an add‑on, how financial institutions are increasingly viewing nature as a source of resilience and risk reduction, and why nature-based solutions are becoming an important part of future infrastructure investment. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Michael Torrance: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/michael-torrance/
Tue, 21 Jul 2026 - 245 - The Case for a Canadian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy
Without clear standards, investors face a fragmented approach to climate investing—limiting the flow of capital needed to fund Canada’s transition. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, John Uhren, Global Head of Sustainable Finance at BMO Capital Markets, speaks with Marlene Puffer, Chair of the Canadian Taxonomy and Transition Planning Council at Business Future Pathways, about how a sustainable finance taxonomy can bring consistency, credibility, and scale to climate investment. Puffer explains how a taxonomy classifies economic activity into categories to better direct capital—particularly toward hard‑to‑abate sectors such as steel and energy. The conversation explores why Canada needs to attract significant new investment to meet net‑zero goals, how global examples are already mobilizing capital at scale, and how a clear, science‑based framework can improve transparency, attract foreign investment, and support more effective allocation of capital across the economy. For the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy: Methodology Report Draft, visit: https://www.businessfuturepathways.ca/consultations/sustainable-finance-taxonomy-methodology-report-draft-for-public-comment/
Tue, 14 Jul 2026 - 244 - The Business Case for Sustainability: A Conversation with Jeffrey Hollender, Co-Founder of Seventh Generation
Climate risk is a business risk, and companies that ignore it face growing financial exposure and operational disruption. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Jeffrey Hollender, Co-Founder of Seventh Generation, about why sustainability must be grounded in a clear business case. Jeffrey Hollender explains how climate impacts—from extreme weather to supply chain fragility—are already reshaping how companies operate, and why leaders must design more resilient, transparent systems to manage these risks. He emphasizes that sustainability is not just about values, but about improving performance through lower costs, stronger supply chains, and better access to talent. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Alma Cortés Selva: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/alma-cortes-selva/ To learn more about Jeffrey Hollender’s book Built for a Better World, go to: https://jeffreyhollender.net/
Tue, 07 Jul 2026 - 243 - Where Capital Flows Next: Canada’s Evolving Sustainable Finance Market
Canada’s sustainable finance market is at a turning point, and scaling capital, enabling Indigenous participation, and innovating new instruments will determine how effectively the transition is financed. This episode of Sustainability Leaders explores that shift through a panel discussion from the BMO Government, Reserve & Asset Managers Conference, moderated by John Uhren, Global Head of Sustainable Finance at BMO Capital Markets. The expert panel included in alphabetical order of their last names: Madeline Bélanger-Trottier, Advisor, Debt Management, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance, Canada; James Byra, Managing Director, Finance and Investments, First Nations Finance Authority; Jonathan Lapointe, Vice President, Business Development, AlphaFixe Capital; Elizabeth Wallace, Senior Manager, Funding, Ontario Financing Authority. Together, they set the stage for a forward‑looking conversation on how market dynamics, policy development and investor expectations are reshaping sustainable finance in Canada. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from John Uhren: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/john-uhren/
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 - 242 - Indigenous Reconciliation Series | Supporting Paths of Financial Healing
Financial coercion can often be a hidden form of violence—leaving Indigenous women survivors with debt, damaged credit, and barriers to rebuilding their lives. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, a panel presented by BMO’s Office of Reconciliation in collaboration with Victim Services Toronto examines how financial systems are used as tools of control in trafficking and exploitation, and how those same systems can support recovery.Bringing together frontline, community, and financial institution perspectives, the discussion highlights the compounded barriers Indigenous women face and the importance of culturally grounded, trauma‑informed approaches. Listeners will hear how initiatives like the Reclaim program are helping to remove coerced debt, and rebuild trust in institutions—demonstrating how collaboration can align pathways for healing and long‑term stability.
Mon, 22 Jun 2026 - 241 - Using AI to Unlock Building Upgrade Opportunities
Most building upgrades and retrofits stall not because of technology or economics but because owners lack clear data on their buildings, delaying decisions and raising costs. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, speaks with Brodie Boland, Co‑Founder and CEO of Upgraid, about how better data and analytics can accelerate building upgrades and unlock emissions reductions. Boland explains why the market for building upgrades remains highly manual and inefficient, despite widely available and cost‑effective technologies such as heat pumps, lighting upgrades, and automation systems. The conversation explores how Upgraid uses machine learning and large datasets—from satellite imagery to permitting records—to create a detailed view of building systems and identify where upgrades make economic sense. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Michael Torrance: Michael Torrance Learn more about the financial performance of green and climate-aligned buildings: Banking on Buildings: Green and Climate-Aligned Real Estate Performance
Tue, 16 Jun 2026 - 240 - Investment Opportunities in Food, Energy and Oceans During the 10,000-Year Megatrend
Climate change is not a belief or a niche theme—it’s a 10,000‑year economic shift that reshapes how we should be thinking about energy, food, and materials. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Angela Adduci of the BMO Climate Institute speaks with Sanjeev Krishnan, Managing Partner of S2G Investments, about how investors need to rethink capital, risk, and returns in the climate economy. Krishnan explains why traditional venture and private‑equity models often fall short in energy, food, and ocean systems, and why S2G focuses on a “fit‑for‑purpose” framework instead. The conversation explores the growing “missing middle” in climate investment, how systems‑level thinking shapes portfolio construction, and why climate investing is ultimately about turning useful energy into useful materials. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Angela Adduci: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/aadduci/
Tue, 09 Jun 2026 - 239 - What’s Next for Sustainable Finance and Investment
Despite global policy divergences, the fundamentals underlying sustainable finance and investment still hold and corporate issuers, asset owners and investors are using them to make business-first decisions. Host Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, is joined by John Uhren, Global Head of Sustainable Finance for BMO Capital Markets, and Nalini Feuilloley, Head of Sustainable Investment, BMO Global Asset Management, for a roundtable discussion on a range of topics about what’s changing in sustainable finance and investing—and what isn’t. They unpack demand drivers like electrification, energy efficiency, and capital-intensive transition investments; why renewables remain a major destination for labeled capital; and where momentum is building next (including AI data center financing). For more thought leadership from Melissa Fifield, visit: Melissa Fifield Learn more about the BMO Climate Institute: Climate Institute
Tue, 02 Jun 2026 - 238 - Turning Organic Waste into Permanent Carbon Removal
What if the organic waste we send to landfills could instead become a scalable climate solution? In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Jerry Kristian, co‑founder of NuLife GreenTech, about how industrial waste—from food processing residues to sewage sludge—can be transformed into permanent carbon removal and low‑carbon fuels. Kristian explains how NuLife’s hydrothermal liquefaction technology mimics the natural process that formed fossil fuels, but in minutes rather than millennia, converting wet organic industrial waste into carbon‑rich biocrude and biochar. The conversation explores why modular deployment matters for municipalities and industry, how underground geological storage enables permanence, and why rigorous third‑party verification is critical to building trust in carbon removal markets.
Tue, 26 May 2026 - 237 - Strengthening Food Supply Chains Through Data and Transparency
Food businesses are discovering that transparency and better data can strengthen food supply chains, reduce risk, and support growth at the same time. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Emily Hobbs, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Anya Doherty, founder of Foodsteps, about how improved measurement and traceability are helping food companies navigate rising volatility, complex global sourcing, and increasing scrutiny from customers and stakeholders. Doherty shares real‑world examples of how food brands, retailers, and restaurants are using data to reformulate recipes, source ingredients differently, and partner with regenerative producers to improve resilience across their supply chains. From tracing highly fragmented global food systems to validating lower‑impact farming practices, the conversation explores why food price volatility, climate risk, and supply‑chain resilience are increasingly interconnected—and how businesses that invest in better data today are positioning themselves for long‑term competitiveness. To explore more thought leadership from Emily Hobbs, visit: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/emily-hobbs/ Discover other BMO thought leadership on related topics:Exploring U.S. Organic Food Opportunities: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/insights/exploring-us-organic-food-opportunities/ Healthy Soils, Resilient Supply Chains: Why Regenerative Agriculture Is a Strategic Hedge : https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/insights/healthy-soils-resilient-supply-chains-why-regenerative-agriculture-is-a-strategic-hedge/
Tue, 19 May 2026 - 236 - How DHL Embeds Sustainability into Core Business Decisions
Running one of the world’s largest logistics networks requires managing fuel use, infrastructure constraints, customer expectations, and long‑term operational risk at scale. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, speaks with Andreas Mündel, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations at DHL Group, about how sustainability is shaping the company’s strategy, operations, and competitive positioning. The conversation explores why sustainable aviation fuel is critical to DHL’s future, how the company has built one of the world’s largest electric delivery fleets, and why infrastructure availability—such as power and charging capacity—has become a key operational constraint. Listeners will also hear how customer demand for lower‑impact logistics services is driving new product offerings, how sustainability is embedded into governance and incentives, and why DHL views these efforts as essential to long‑term competitiveness rather than a compliance exercise. For more thought leadership from Michael Torrance, visit: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/michael-torrance/ For more episodes of Sustainability Leaders, go to: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/podcasts/sustainability-leaders/
Tue, 12 May 2026 - 235 - Powering the AI Economy Without Losing Community Trust
The rapid expansion of AI data centers is reshaping power systems and increasing the importance of social license where some communities are demanding greater transparency. Doug Morrow, Director of ESG Strategy at BMO Capital Markets, explains to host Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, how surging investment in Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and automation is transforming electricity markets and placing data centers under new kinds of public scrutiny. Morrow explores why concerns over rising power bills, water use, and questionable local economic benefits have turned data centers into a flashpoint for communities, investors, and policymakers alike. He discusses what responsible growth looks like in practice—from clearer disclosure of energy and water impacts to emerging industry pledges and community‑first approaches—and why trust and transparency will be just as critical as technology in determining whether the next phase of digital infrastructure build‑out succeeds. In this previous episode of Sustainability Leaders, Rich Powell, CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association, discusses how innovative approaches – from data center flexibility to technologies such as geothermal and nuclear – are shaping the future of energy markets. Amazon Web Services was the focus of a previous podcast on the topic of energy-efficient data centers. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Alma Cortes Selva with the BMO Climate Institute.
Tue, 05 May 2026 - 234 - Farmland and Water as Investment Strategies
Farmland values, water rights, and climate resilience are reshaping how investors think about agriculture as a long‑term asset class. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Angela Adduci of the BMO Climate Institute speaks with Alyssa Go, Head of Impact at RRG Capital Management, and Craig Wichner, Founder and Managing Partner of Farmland LP, about how regenerative agriculture and water strategy are being used to unlock durable financial returns. The conversation explores why climate is the “third dimension” investors can no longer ignore when evaluating farmland, and how proactive land and water management can turn physical risk into opportunity. For more thought leadership from Angela Adduci, visit: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/aadduci/ For a Sustainability Leaders episode about opportunities in U.S. organic food, visit: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/insights/exploring-us-organic-food-opportunities/
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 - 233 - Unlocking Blended Finance for Regenerative Agriculture: American Farmland Trust’s CEO in Conversation
Host Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with John Piotti, CEO of the American Farmland Trust, about why farmland should be viewed as essential climate infrastructure and what it takes to invest in it accordingly. They discuss how well-managed farms can deliver measurable climate and environmental benefits, and why connecting public and private capital to regenerative practices matters for resilience across food systems. The conversation covers practical financing pathways—including agricultural conservation easements as a tool to protect land and unlock capital—plus the realities of scaling regenerative practices like cover crops, reduced tillage, and crop rotations.
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 - 232 - Redwoods Rising: Restoring Forests, Rebuilding Communities
This episode explores how large-scale ecological restoration can drive resilience and economic opportunity, using California’s Redwoods Rising project as a case study. Learn how environmental conservation can simultaneously heal landscapes and create jobs in rural communities. Hosted by Emily Hobbs of the BMO Climate Institute, the conversation features Shelana deSilva (California State Parks), Sally Bolger (Ecological Workforce Initiative), and Alma Cortes Selva (BMO Climate Institute). They focus on the Redwoods Rising initiative, including its forest and watershed restoration work, cross-sector partnerships, and new research showing how investment in nature-based solutions can strengthen local economies, support workforce development, and deliver lasting environmental and social benefits. The full research report referenced in this episode and additional resources are available at parkscalifornia.org, a partner in this work connecting communities and cultivating new career pathways across California's public lands: https://parkscalifornia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Technical-Report_Design_FINAL.pdf Visit Redwoods Rising to learn more about the initiative discussed in this podcast: https://www.savetheredwoods.org/project/redwoods-rising/ Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Emily Hobbs: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/emily-hobbs/
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 231 - Banking on Buildings: Green and Climate-Aligned Real Estate Performance
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés Selva of the BMO Climate Institute is joined by Michaela Neuberger, Executive Director of Affine Climate Solutions, and James Burrow, Director of Sustainable Finance at BMO, to explore the findings of the Banking on Buildings research. Drawing on more than 20 years of global data, the conversation examines the growing evidence that green and climate‑aligned buildings outperform conventional assets on financial returns, resilience, and credit risk. The discussion unpacks the difference between “green” and “climate‑aligned” buildings, why energy efficiency, lower emissions, and climate resilience matter across the building lifecycle, and how simple, practical upgrades can deliver measurable benefits. The episode also looks at real‑world examples, such as green financing programs, and outlines what partnerships, policy alignment, and simple, scalable steps are needed to accelerate climate‑aligned real estate. Click here to learn more about the study mentioned in this podcast. In this previous episode of Sustainability Leaders, the BMO Climate Institute participates on a panel discussion about understanding physical climate risk resilience in real estate. Visit BMO for more thought leadership from Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor, BMO Climate Institute.
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 - 230 - Regenerative Agriculture: The Intersection of Soil Science and Ethics
Leah Weatherill, Head of National Agriculture with BMO Commercial Bank in Canada, is joined by Kate Congreves, Jarislowsky and BMO Research Chair in Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. Their conversation explores regenerative agriculture as both a scientific approach and an ethical framework for farming, touching on soil health as the foundation of agriculture, the vital role of nitrogen in food production, and the challenge of balancing productivity with environmental stewardship. Congreves explains how regenerative agriculture goes beyond a checklist of practices to reflect deeper values about reciprocity between people and the land. Visit https://commercial.bmo.com/en/ca/industry-expertise/agriculture/ to learn more about how the company supports the agriculture sector through all cycles. Learn more about BMO’s recent Green Bond, the proceeds of which will be used to support sustainable food and agriculture, as well as renewable energy and green building projects: https://newsroom.bmo.com/2026-03-16-BMO-Issues-Green-Bond-to-Finance-Renewable-Energy,-Green-Buildings-and-Sustainable-Agriculture-Projects BMO also supported critical research into regenerative and digital agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan: https://commercial.bmo.com/en/ca/insights/bmo-donates-2-million-university-saskatchewan-accelerate-research-critical-future-food/
Tue, 24 Mar 2026 - 229 - Human Rights and Sustainability Developments for Business: Litigation Trends, Risks, and Opportunities
Michael Torrance, BMO’s Chief Sustainability Officer, sits down with Stuart Neely, Partner with Norton Rose Fulbright in London, to discuss how regulations are driving developments with sustainability in human rights, the role of multinational standard setting, and important litigation trends to monitor globally. In a previous episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance discusses how risk management is an important driver of why companies form their own human rights policies: https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/insights/the-business-case-for-human-rights-policies/ Visit https://capitalmarkets.bmo.com/en/our-bankers/michael-torrance/ for more thought leadership from Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer, BMO.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 - 228 - Beyond the Bin: Making Reuse the Default in Food Packaging
Jayen Veerapen, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Kayli Smith, CEO and Co‑Founder of Friendlier, a reusable packaging company, to explore why single‑use packaging is such a stubborn climate and waste problem—and why most of its impact happens long before disposal. Smith explains Friendlier’s “packaging‑as‑a‑service” model: durable, trackable containers, a deposit-and-return flow, and the infrastructure that can make reuse work at scale for campuses, workplaces, and other high‑volume food settings. They also discuss what drives adoption (from consumer expectations to policy tailwinds), and how the company is planning to scale its business across North America.
Tue, 10 Mar 2026 - 227 - Economic Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
In this inaugural episode of a special series on the Sustainability Leaders podcast focused on Reconciliation, host Kayla Jacobs, Director with BMO’s Office of Reconciliation, is joined by Nadir André, Partner at JFK Law and Co‑Chair of BMO’s Indigenous Advisory Council. Together, they explore Nadir’s personal and professional journey as an Indigenous legal expert, including his background in Indigenous law and his long‑standing work with communities across Canada. The conversation focuses on the role corporate Canada can play in advancing economic reconciliation, the evolution of Indigenous rights, and the importance of respectful, long‑term relationships between industry, government, and Indigenous Peoples. Nadir discusses renewable energy and natural resource projects as pathways for shared prosperity and reflects on the need to balance economic growth with the protection of land, culture, and future generations.
Mon, 02 Mar 2026 - 226 - Metal Matters on Sustainability Leaders: The World Needs More Mining and Demands Better Mining
In this episode from BMO's Metal Matters podcast, BMO Commodities Analyst Helen Amos is joined by Ro Dhawan, President and CEO of the ICMM to discuss how the role of sustainable mining is shifting in a world where mining and critical minerals has been thrust into the foreground of global geopolitics. They discuss the new Consolidated Mining Standard which marks a major turning point in harmonizing standards across the industry, as well as progress made in tailings management, gender-based violence, and the urgency around improving safety performance. Ro suggests that the increase in government participation and M&A in mining could bring opportunities for sustainability too.
Tue, 24 Feb 2026 - 225 - Moody’s Explains How Businesses Can Use Risk Analytics to Prepare for Climate Extremes
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortes‑Selva of the BMO Climate Institute speaks with Viola Lutz, Head of the Moody’s Climate Center of Excellence, about how climate risk analytics are reshaping the way businesses prepare for increasingly severe natural disasters. The conversation explores what physical risk analytics are, why they matter, and how they translate hazard data into actionable insights for organizations. The discussion also examines the growing role of AI in climate and risk analytics—from post‑disaster event response to proactive portfolio monitoring—highlighting how technology, combined with strong governance, can help organizations move from reactive risk management to forward‑looking resilience planning.
Wed, 18 Feb 2026 - 224 - Below the Surface: Brightcore Energy's Mike Richter on Geothermal Energy's Advantages
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, host Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, sits down with Mike Richter, President of Brightcore Energy, to explore Richter’s unconventional journey from NHL Stanley Cup–winning goaltender to clean energy executive. Their conversation explores how Brightcore is helping commercial, municipal, and institutional clients reduce carbon emissions while cutting operating costs. Together, they discuss the fundamentals of geothermal ground-source heat pumps, the challenges and opportunities of deploying the technology in dense urban and existing buildings, the role of policy incentives and utilities, and why energy efficiency and electrification are critical to meeting rising energy demand and advancing the clean energy transition.
Tue, 03 Feb 2026 - 223 - Understanding Physical Climate Risk Resilience in Real Estate
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, the authors and reviewers of new research on climate risk and real estate discuss how to use quantified climate-risk insights to prioritize assets for investment, build the business case for adaptation, and treat resiliency not just as an aspiration, but as an investable strategy. Angela Adduci, Senior Advisor from the BMO Climate Institute, joins a panel moderated by Mike Williams (President and Co-Founder of ClimateFirst Building Solutions), including Kathleen Beaumont (Investment Management Corporation of Ontario), Natalia Moudrak (Aon), Holly Neber (AEI Consultants), and Olivia Pink (ClimateFirst). Learn more about the case study discussed in this podcast: Investing in Resilience: Making Physical Climate Risk a Financial Priority for Real Estate • ClimateFirst Building Solutions Inc.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 - 222 - Clean Energy Outlook 2026: Data Centers, Permitting, and Procurement
Aging power grids in the U.S. and rising clean energy demand are both influencing the outlook for buyers in 2026. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, host Angela Adduci from the BMO Climate Institute sits down with Rich Powell, CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), to explore the evolving dynamics of corporate clean energy procurement. They discuss: How the US can meet rising energy demand, the critical role of permitting reform and electricity grid enhancement, and how innovative approaches—from data center flexibility to technologies such as geothermal and nuclear—are shaping the future of energy markets.
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 - 221 - Using AI to Reduce Flood Risk: IBM and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
In collaboration with IBM through the IBM Impact Accelerator, the University of Illinois developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered flood forecasting system that improves rainfall prediction and flood forecasting in the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S., with the potential for the program to be applied and adapted in other parts of the world. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, BMO's Chief Sustainability Officer, sat down with two people who had a significant role in creating the solution: Ana Barros, Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Michael Jacobs, Head of Social Innovation, IBM. They discussed their collaboration, what went into building the forecasting system, and the future of environmental adaptation and disaster mitigation.
Thu, 15 Jan 2026 - 220 - How CarbonCure and Ozinga Are Rethinking Concrete
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Caroline Donlin, Managing Director and Head of Engineering and Construction at BMO, speaks with Kristal Kaye, Interim CEO of CarbonCure, and Marty Ozinga, CEO of Ozinga, about their partnership to advance sustainable concrete. Their conversation explores the economic, technical, and cultural shifts needed to decarbonize one of the world’s most essential building materials.
Wed, 07 Jan 2026 - 219 - Investing in Energy Security and Sustainability
Climate goals, rising energy demands, and geopolitical pressures are transforming global energy investment strategies. Based on a panel discussion from the 2025 Toronto Global Forum, this episode of Sustainability Leaders examines the impact of industrial demand shifts—such as AI and data centers—on energy investments, effective policy frameworks for de-risking clean energy projects, and approaches to pricing climate-related risks while fostering innovation and private capital. Jason Peel, Managing Director and Head, BMO Radicle moderates a conversation with: Mpho Kubelo, Chief Risk Officer, Development Bank of Southern Africa Jean-Jacques Barbéris, Deputy CEO (Amundi AM) – Head of Institutional and Corporate Clients Division, ESG Supervisor Eric Arnould, General Partner and IR Officer, Jolt Capital Laurent Germain, CEO, Egis Group.
Tue, 16 Dec 2025 - 218 - AI as a Corporate Sustainability Catalyst: Insights from BMO’s Chief AI and Data Officer
In an episode of the Sustainability Leaders podcast, Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Kristin Milchanowski, BMO’s Chief AI and Data Officer, to explore how AI can become a cornerstone of corporate sustainability strategies. Their conversation covered practical applications, ethical considerations, and the steps required to integrate AI into corporate sustainability frameworks.
Wed, 10 Dec 2025 - 217 - The Rise of Renewable Energy in Texas
Texas has grown to become a renewable energy powerhouse. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, is joined by Raina Hornaday, General Manager and Co-Founder of Caprock Renewables in Austin, Texas. A fifth-generation rancher, Raina has also been a pioneer enabling Texas to become one of the top states in U.S. for wind and solar energy production. They discuss the development of the renewable energy industry in Texas and what’s needed for the Lone Star state to continue leading in this space.
Mon, 24 Nov 2025 - 216 - In Conversation with Electrovaya’s CEO: How Lithium-Ion Batteries Help Drive Industrial Decarbonization
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Stephen Uwazota, Director of Sustainable Finance and Clean Energy, BMO sits down with Raj DasGupta, Chief Executive Officer at Electrovaya, a global supplier of lithium-ion batteries. Their wide-ranging conversation covered the advantage of lithium battery chemistries, enhanced battery safety, and opportunities in the industrial, AI and security sectors.
Wed, 19 Nov 2025 - 215 - Innovation in the U.S. Nuclear Power Industry
As demand for clean sources of power has risen, so has interest in nuclear energy. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Jayen Veerapen, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, explores the factors driving a resurgence in the nuclear industry and what innovations are on the horizon. Joining Jayen to share his insights is Chris Levesque, President and CEO of TerraPower, a company founded by business leader and philanthropist Bill Gates. TerraPower’s mission is to solve the world’s toughest problems in energy, climate, and human health through innovative nuclear technology.
Wed, 12 Nov 2025 - 214 - Sustainable and Climate Finance in the EU and Beyond - A Perspective from Helena Viñes Fiestas, Chair of the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance
In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, hosts Helena Viñes Fiestas, who is Chair of the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance, Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy, and Commissioner of the Spanish Financial Markets Authority. Helena provides her perspective on sustainable and climate finance, sustainability reporting, and governance, in the EU and around the world.
Wed, 29 Oct 2025 - 213 - Making Homes Wildfire-Resistant
Note: This episode deals with wildfires and the damage they inflict on the built environment, topics that some may find challenging. Between 1980 and 2023 the U.S. had 22 wildfires that individually caused more than $1 billion in damage, with 18 of those occurring since 2000, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Wildfire seasons are lasting longer and fires are causing more damage. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortes Selva, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Dr. Kimiko Barrett, Wildfires Researcher and Policy Analyst with Headwaters Economics.
Wed, 22 Oct 2025 - 212 - After Climate Week, Pragmatism Seen Producing New Business Opportunities
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, and John Uhren, Managing Director of Sustainable Finance at BMO Capital Markets, reflect on what they saw and heard at Climate Week New York and the trends that will drive sustainable business and investment in the future. “A phrase I heard a lot throughout New York Climate Week was around climate pragmatism, being eyes wide open around what needs to happen for sustainability to be properly characterized and prioritized by different businesses,” said Uhren. “When you focus on the pragmatic parts, the efficiency gains of looking at things like EV drivetrains over combustion engines, for example, or heat pumps over boilers, these all make commercial sense for a business.”
Thu, 16 Oct 2025 - 211 - The Business Case for Human Rights Policies
Risk management is an important driver of why companies form their own human rights policies. But collaborative approaches to human rights aligned with the key voluntary standards can also be opportunities for companies. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, discusses business, human rights and sustainability law with Yousuf Aftab, partner with the law firm Steptoe. Their conversation spanned Yousuf’s work on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as well as how he advises companies on developing human rights policies.
Wed, 01 Oct 2025 - 210 - Sustainable Travel – Are We There Yet? A Conversation with Booking Holdings
The mission of the company Booking Holdings—which includes the brands Booking.com, Priceline, and OpenTable—is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Kate Heiny, Vice President of Sustainability at Booking Holdings, explains that in order to do that, we need a world worth experiencing. Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Kate for a wide ranging conversation on the intersection of travel and sustainability and opportunities in the travel sector. “There's this beautiful alignment for us in terms of making sure that we continue to make travel available for billions of people, and journeys in the future, and that the world is a place that everyone wants to experience,” Kate said.
Wed, 24 Sep 2025 - 209 - New Frontiers of Fusion and Fission Energy Investment
In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer, BMO, is joined by Matt Morris, associate with Hitachi Ventures, the global venture capital arm of Hitachi Group. They discuss what it takes to commercialize new forms of clean energy and the investment theses of Hitachi Ventures, including the potential of fusion and fission. "As we think about the clean energy transition … focusing on the supply chains that can enable the development of new energy assets are likely going to be the drivers for making all of these new assets economical," said Morris. "So, we're just at the beginning of seeing what our new generating assets in the clean energy revolution are about to achieve."
Wed, 17 Sep 2025 - 208 - Investable Opportunities from the Energy Transition
The energy transition bears risks but also brings opportunities for investors. That insight drove the conversation led by Jayen Veerapen, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, with Pooja Khosla, CEO of Entelligent, a developer of analytical tools to help the financial industry understand the future impact of climate change and energy transition. Also joining to discuss BMO’s collaboration with Entelligent was Fabrice Tenga, Managing Director and Head of Equity Derivatives Financial Engineering, BMO Capital Markets. “Every company is either a producer of energy or a user of energy. So, energy transition, yes, it impacts power companies, utility companies, but it also impacts technology companies that have a strong demand or use that energy component. It also impacts strongly the finance sector, because the funding of these companies is coming from the finance sector. So, we live in a very interconnected ecosystem of energy,” said Khosla.
Wed, 10 Sep 2025 - 207 - Property Resilience to Climate Risk: In Search of Standards
“Standards help people understand what they're buying and if there are any significant impairments to value. And now we're living in a world where the physical impacts of climate change to commercial real estate is growing, insurance costs are going through the roof, and investors are demanding to know more about the risks in any given portfolio,” said Holly Neber, Chief Resilience Officer with AEI Consultants. Indeed, the commercial real estate industry faces growing risks from extreme weather and natural hazards. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés Selva, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, discusses with Holly Neber why property resilience standards are important and how they can help mitigate climate impact on real estate.
Tue, 02 Sep 2025 - 206 - Why Novilla RNG is Bullish on the Renewable Natural Gas Market
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Jayen Veerapen, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, focuses on renewable natural gas (RNG), the state of the U.S. market, and the case for rising RNG demand in the future. His guest is Mark Hill, Co-CEO of Novilla RNG, a developer and operator of dairy RNG projects.
Tue, 19 Aug 2025 - 205 - Improving Grid Resilience with Long-Duration Energy Storage
The power grid in North America, which is already complex, is seeing demand rise for low-cost and emissions-free electricity. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Stephen Uwazota, Director of Sustainable Finance and Clean Energy at BMO, discusses ways in which long-term energy storage solutions can help improve grid resilience. His guest on the show, Curtis VanWalleghem, CEO of Hydrostor, has an innovative and cost-effective approach to the solution--advanced compressed air energy storage. All it takes is air, rocks, and water.
Tue, 12 Aug 2025 - 204 - Investing Opportunities in Climate Tech
Nelson Switzer, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Climate Innovation Capital, a venture fund, believes that it is an exceptionally good time to invest in climate tech solutions. He recently wrote a book that outlines his investment approach entitled The Gigahorn Hunter: Seven Principles for a Climate Investor. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, discusses Nelson Switzer’s investing approach, investment trends, and opportunities that he has identified in the climate tech space.
Tue, 05 Aug 2025 - 203 - A Discussion with Michael Jantzi on the Roll Out of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Disclosure Standards
In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer, BMO, sits down with Michael Jantzi, a Member of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), to discuss the evolution of sustainability disclosures and standards and what both preparers and investors can expect for the future.
Tue, 29 Jul 2025 - 202 - How the Carbon Dioxide Removal Market is Evolving and Transforming Industries
In April, Microsoft signed one of the largest carbon removal deals to date with CO280, a leading developer of large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Angela Adduci, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, moderates a discussion with two of the cofounders of CO280, Jonathan Rhone, who is CEO, and Natalie Khtikian, who is Chief Commercial Officer. They are also joined by Tansy Stobart, VP of Carbon Trading at BMO. Their conversation covered CO280's approach to the CDR market and how they are applying lessons from early successes with a sharp focus on execution to scaling the market further.
Tue, 22 Jul 2025 - 201 - Energy-Efficient Data Centers: A Conversation with Amazon Web Services
For Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon’s cloud computing business, everything is on the table as far as adoption of clean energy sources and use of energy storage solutions to meet its ambitious goal of becoming net-zero carbon by 2040. Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, hosts this episode of Sustainability Leaders with his guest Chris Walker, Director of Sustainability, AWS. They discuss AWS’ efforts at energy efficiency, nuclear power procurement, and the company’s goal to be water positive by 2030.
Tue, 15 Jul 2025 - 200 - Lessons from Schneider Electric on Its Net-Zero Journey
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer, BMO sits down with Vanessa Miler-Fels, Vice President of Climate and Environment at Schneider Electric. They discuss Schneider Electric's plans to achieve net-zero by 2050, the company's commitment to sustainability and lessons other companies can adopt from its early successes.
Tue, 08 Jul 2025 - 199 - Taking on the Task of Rebuilding LA
This episode of Sustainability Leaders is from BMO’s Markets Plus podcast and hosted by Caroline Donlin, Managing Director and Head of Engineering and Construction at BMO. The show featured Veronica Luttrell, Operations Planner at ECC, a leading construction company, and it delves into the rebuilding efforts in Southern California following the devastating wildfires in January.
Wed, 02 Jul 2025 - 198 - The Path to Commercializing Fusion Energy
Could nuclear fusion be a solution to some of the world's most pressing energy challenges? In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Jayen Veerapen, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, discusses this question and more with Greg Twinney, CEO of General Fusion. The British Columbia-based company is developing a fast and practical approach to commercial fusion energy. “Fusion isn't a dream anymore. It's becoming mainstream because progress is being made and the timelines are becoming real for all of us,” Twinney said.
Tue, 24 Jun 2025 - 197 - Supporting Home Insurability and Investing in Building Resilience
Among the challenges that the global insurance industry faces are increasing exposure and vulnerability of the built environment in areas prone to extreme weather. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Angela Adduci, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Maryam Golnaraghi, Director of Climate Change and the Environment at the Geneva Association, on how decisions by homeowners and a wide range of public – and private-sector stakeholders impact risks of properties, along with a roadmap involving incentives and concrete actions to boost local resilience to tackle challenges with insurance availability and affordability.
Wed, 18 Jun 2025 - 196 - The Present and Future of Sustainable Finance
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, John Uhren, Managing Director, Sustainable Finance, BMO Capital Markets, moderates a conversation with a group of institutional investors in Canada about the current state and future of sustainable finance. Joining as guests to discuss the challenges they encounter, sense of optimism for the investment category, and important work ahead are: Elizabeth Wallace, Senior Manager Funding, Ontario Financing Authority; Barbara Zvan, President & CEO, University Pension Plan; Simon Senecal, Portfolio Manager, Responsible Investment, Partner, AlphaFixe Capital.
Wed, 11 Jun 2025 - 195 - Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage
How can companies leverage sustainable strategies as a potential source of competitive advantage? In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, James Burrow, Director, Sustainable Finance at BMO is joined by a panel of experts to explore how incorporating social and environmental considerations could help drive efficiencies and unlock growth opportunities. The panel includes Aysu Katun, VP of Sustainability, Greif; Tim Faveri, VP of Global Sustainability, Nutrien Inc; and Torsten Lichtenau, Partner and Global Head of Carbon Transition Practice, Bain & Company.
Tue, 03 Jun 2025 - 194 - Exploring U.S. organic food opportunities
The U.S. is a net importer of organic food, and demand for certified organic products represents an opportunity for domestic agricultural businesses. That was one of the main points to come from the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, hosted by Emily Hobbs, Senior Advisor, BMO Climate Institute, and featuring Jessy Beckett Parr, Chief Program Officer, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). "There is a strong and growing demand for certified organic products here in the United States. It's being driven by Millennials and Gen Z, but it's across all categories of age, demographic, geography," said Parr. "We have the power and the potential in American producers here domestically to meet the demand for organic.”
Thu, 29 May 2025 - 193 - Innovations in Long-Duration Energy Storage
Renewable energy generation continues to grow and increase the need to store energy efficiently and economically for longer durations of time. In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Jayen Veerapen, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, explores how zinc-based batteries and storage assets could be an interesting alternative to lithium-ion battery chemistries. His guest is James Larsen, CEO of e-Zinc, an energy storage technology developer with projects in Canada and the US. “At the stage we're at right now, the modest amount of renewable energy we actually have on the grid, it only really necessitates energy storage assets that have the ability to discharge energy for a few hours. But if you extrapolate out the curve and really think about what does 2030 look like, what does 2040 look like, and beyond, and think about the volume of renewable energy that's coming on line, it's going to create more and more significant imbalances between that supply and demand,” Larsen said.
Tue, 20 May 2025 - 192 - Cheaper, Faster, Better: Financing a Smart Energy Transition and a Low Carbon Economy
In his New York Times-Bestselling book Cheaper, Faster, Better, Tom Steyer reframes climate change not as a crisis to fear, but as a once-in-a-century opportunity to build something better. In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, and Grégoire Baillargeon, Vice-Chair BMO Climate Institute, sit down with Tom Steyer, Co-Executive Chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, to discuss his thoughts on investment opportunities and climate change.
Wed, 07 May 2025 - 191 - Mining on the Moon for Sustainable Energy
Helium-3 is an important isotope for technological and energy innovation driving the net-zero transition. It's very rare on Earth but found commonly on the Moon. In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, catches up with Glen Martin, Chief Executive Officer of The Extraterrestrial Mining Company (XMC), to discuss mining Helium-3 on the Moon and how space exploration will be part of the energy transition on Earth.
Tue, 22 Apr 2025 - 190 - Strengthening Resilience in Los Angeles with Cleantech
In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Emily Hobbs, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Matt Petersen, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. They discuss the role of startups and innovation in LA as communities rebuild after devastating wildfires. They also explored the importance of public-private partnerships as the second-most populous U.S. city prepares to host events such as the World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “Los Angeles has an important role to play to reduce the impacts of the climate crisis and air pollution upon people's lives and health, while creating economic opportunity to help entrepreneurs and participants in the workforce to be part of the solution,” Petersen said.
Tue, 15 Apr 2025 - 189 - Breakthrough Energy: From Innovations to Investment
Identifying the most promising innovations in clean energy and turning them into commercially viable solutions are not easy to do. In the newest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer with BMO, sits down with Tyson White, Director of Partnerships at world leading venture and catalyst investor Breakthrough Energy. Founded by philanthropist and investor Bill Gates, Breakthrough Energy is a group of organizations that invests in clean energy innovations and climate solutions. The discussion covers promising innovations in the clean energy space, approaches to investment and how to lower the barriers to capital to foster more innovation.
Tue, 01 Apr 2025 - 188 - The Role of Innovation in the Energy Transition
It might seem obvious to say that the energy transition will require a lot of innovation to happen. But it's anything but obvious how a combination of technology, new thinking, and hard work will address our present-day energy challenges. In the newest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer, BMO hosts Denver Yu, an analyst with Los Angeles-based Generational Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm, to discuss his firm's investment theses. Joining Denver are three portfolio companies and their respective leaders: Mariah Francis Carter, CEO of Lumora Technologies; Josh Riedy, Founder and CEO of Thread; and Kevin Kong, Founder and CEO, Everstar.
Tue, 25 Mar 2025 - 187 - The Business Importance of Water Scarcity and Stewardship
In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, discusses escalating water-related risks for businesses and the importance of public-private partnerships for water stewardship. She is joined by Jason Morrison, President of the Pacific Institute and Head of the CEO Water Mandate, an initiative of the UN Global Compact.
Thu, 20 Mar 2025 - 186 - Stopping and Preventing Wildfires with Technology
Addressing the increasingly complex problem of wildfires that threaten people, communities and economic assets, requires new ways of thinking and new technologies. That is the premise of Convective Capital, California-based venture capital firm that invests in companies trying to solve the global wildfire crisis. Jay Ribakove, Principal at Convective, joins Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer for BMO, on the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders to discuss some of the most promising fire mitigation and suppression innovations.
Thu, 06 Mar 2025 - 185 - Agrivoltaics: A Water Conservation Solution?
Agrivoltaics is an innovation in which land is simultaneously used for farming and solar energy production. The aim is to increase land use efficiency, produce income, and generate environmental and social value. In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Melissa Fifield, Head of the BMO Climate Institute, sits down with Kathryn Beroš, Founder and Managing Director of KAP Industry, a global agrivoltaics solution provider, to learn how the technology could help address the challenge of water scarcity.
Tue, 04 Mar 2025 - 184 - Metals & Mining: Shedding Light on a Sustainable Future
How is the metals and mining industry driving sustainable development? Rohitesh Dhawan, CEO and President of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), and Camilla Sutton, BMO’s Head of Equity Research for Canada and the UK, explore the industry’s progress, key achievements, and what’s next. During this 30-minute episode, they discuss the ICMM and its members’ progress on Consolidated Mining Standards, TNFD, decarbonization, the ‘trust deficit,’ and how the industry is contributing to sustainable development.
Tue, 25 Feb 2025 - 183 - Critical Minerals Investment Outlook
Critical minerals are essential inputs in modern energy and high-tech applications, including batteries, energy storage and infrastructure, and national security. They also play an important role in the global energy transition, where demand is expected to necessitate significant investment in order to develop new mines, downstream processing capacity, and secure and resilient supply chains. In this BMO podcast, Greg Jones, Battery Materials Analyst with BMO Capital Markets, sits down with Kwasi Ampofo, BloombergNEF's Head of Metals and Mining, to discuss the complexities of the critical minerals industry and the investment outlook.
Mon, 24 Feb 2025 - 182 - Opportunities in California's Energy Transition
In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Jonathan Hackett, Former Managing Director and Head, Sustainable Finance, BMO Capital Markets, sits down with Francisco Leon, President and CEO, California Resources Corporation (CRC), the state's largest oil and gas production company. CRC is focused not only on meeting the present energy needs of the world's fifth-largest economy, but also preparing for a lower carbon future.
Tue, 18 Feb 2025 - 181 - Opportunities to Accelerate Building Decarbonization, Part 2
In this two-part episode of Sustainability Leaders, George Sutherland, Senior Advisor of Climate Change & Sustainability, hosts a conversation about the state of building retrofits, parallels between retrofits and future climate objectives, and potential opportunities. Our guests on the show include Bryan Flannigan, Executive Director, Building Decarbonization Alliance; Max Graham, Chief Operating Officer, Avenue Living; and James Burrow, Director, Sustainable Finance, BMO.
Wed, 12 Feb 2025 - 180 - Opportunities to Accelerate Building Decarbonization, Part 1
In this two-part episode of Sustainability Leaders, George Sutherland, Senior Advisor of Climate Change & Sustainability, hosts a conversation about the state of building retrofits, parallels between retrofits and future climate objectives, and potential opportunities. Our guests on the show include Bryan Flannigan, Executive Director, Building Decarbonization Alliance; Max Graham, Chief Operating Officer, Avenue Living; and James Burrow, Director, Sustainable Finance, BMO.
Wed, 12 Feb 2025 - 179 - Sustainable Procurement
In the latest episode of Sustainability Leaders, Angela Adduci, Senior Advisor, BMO Climate Institute, hosts a conversation with two complementary perspectives on sustainable procurement. Nathan Cummins, Global Lead for Renewable Energy Markets at The Nature Conservancy, shares insights from a toolkit to help corporate buyers with clean energy procurement. Sherrie O'Doyle, Director, Sustainable Procurement & Value Growth, BMO Financial Group, offers her experience working with supply-chain partners.
Fri, 07 Feb 2025 - 178 - The Path to Low-Carbon Buildings
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, host Caroline Donlin leads a panel of experts in exploring the future of sustainable construction. The discussion covers a range of topics, including the adoption of low-carbon building practices, the impact of tax credits on sustainable development, and the challenges facing the industry. Panelists James Burrow, Julia Gisewite, Barry Howard, and Nicholas Ryan offer their perspectives on emerging technologies, the importance of embodied carbon reduction, and the roadblocks to building green. From heat pumps to innovative materials, the conversation delves into the exciting possibilities and hurdles in creating a more sustainable built environment, providing listeners with a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of sustainable construction.
Wed, 08 Jan 2025 - 177 - Validating Breakthrough Energy Concepts, a Discussion with George Hathaway
A sustainable energy transition and growing demands for energy will require creative and novel ideas in energy science to become reality. How should we evaluate novel claims? What are some of the most promising areas of research in breakthrough energy? George Hathaway is an experimental scientist and engineer whose career has focused on how to experimentally validate novel and breakthrough energy concepts. In our discussion, George shares his thoughts on some of the most innovative areas of research on breakthrough energy currently underway and how he examines and validates such claims for inventors and investors.
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 - 176 - From Farm to Future: How Funding Solutions are Shaping Agricultural Emissions
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Alma Cortés-Selva, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, is joined by Nicole Rojas, CEO of Lasso Solutions, to explore the transformative funding solutions that are helping the beef and dairy sectors cut down on carbon emissions and embrace more sustainable practices.
Wed, 11 Dec 2024 - 175 - The Future of Infrastructure
Infrastructure is a vital driver of environmental sustainability and social resilience. Recorded at the Toronto Global Forum in 2024, this discussion on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable infrastructure was moderated by Karen Mazurkewich, Vice-President, Stakeholder Relations and Communications, Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), and included Grégoire Baillargeon, President of BMO, Quebec, and Vice Chair, BMO Climate Institute, Marie-Claude Dumas, President and CEO, WSP Canada, and Macky Tall, Chair of Infrastructure Group, The Carlyle Group.
Thu, 05 Dec 2024 - 174 - Unlocking the Carbon Management Value Chain
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders recorded on location at Climate Week NYC, Jonathan Hackett, Managing Director and Head, Sustainable Finance at BMO, sat down with Justine Fisher, CFO at Svante, to discuss the state of carbon solutions, regulations, and carbon credit markets.
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 - 173 - Building for Tomorrow: Real Estate, Construction, and Sustainability
This episode explores why real estate owners and developers are increasingly committing to sustainable practices, and how builders are supporting these initiatives.
Thu, 24 Oct 2024 - 172 - Sustainable Supply Chain Management
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, BMO’s Alma Cortes-Selva leads a roundtable discussion on supply chain management and sustainability.
Wed, 16 Oct 2024 - 171 - The Economics of Carbon Removal: A Conversation with Deep Sky
Grégoire Baillargeon, President, BMO Financial Group, Quebec, and Fred Lalonde, co-founder of Deep Sky, discuss why carbon removal technology solutions are urgently needed and the opportunities to scale them.
Mon, 16 Sep 2024 - 170 - Sustainable Packaging: Eco Guardian in Conversation
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Issam Majeed, Managing Director of Diversified Industries, BMO Corporate Finance sat down with Anil Abrol, Founder and CEO of Eco Guardian. Eco Guardian has been helping lead the way in sustainable packaging for the last 20 years and is at the forefront of the fight against environmental degradation, specializing in organic and eco-friendly products designed to minimize waste and pollution.
Fri, 13 Sep 2024 - 169 - Building a Case for Zero-Carbon Construction in Canada
Zero-carbon construction is not just important for greenhouse gas emissions reduction—it can also be a smart investment for asset owners. Angela Adduci, Senior Advisor, Policy, BMO Climate Institute, sat down with Kathleen Beaumont, Director, Impact & ESG, Forum Asset Management, and Paul Morassutti, Chairman, CBRE Limited, to discuss new insights on the cost and asset values of zero-carbon residential construction in Canada.
Thu, 29 Aug 2024 - 168 - Futureproofing the Dealership in a Time of Transformation
We all know the auto industry is headed toward electrification and alternative energy inputs. It’s an ambitious undertaking, and dealers have a lot to consider regarding how they will decarbonize and what the future of the dealership will look like. OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer.
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 - 167 - BMO Equity Research on the AI + Data Center Build Out: Sustainability Impacts, Second Order Beneficiaries
This episode from BMO's IN Tune podcast focuses on how the AI/data center build out is contributing to a new era of electricity demand.
Wed, 31 Jul 2024 - 166 - Sustainable Food Systems: Trends and Opportunities
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, George Sutherland, Senior Advisor with the BMO Climate Institute sat down with John Simpson, Chairman, Owner, and CEO of the CANA Group of Companies and Founder of The Simpson Centre, and Guillaume Lhermie, Director of The Simpson Centre and Associate Professor at the University of Calgary to discuss the trends and opportunities in sustainable food systems.
Fri, 05 Jul 2024 - 165 - Dairy Industry Goals: GHG Neutrality and Water Management
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, our experts discuss the implementation efforts that enable progress towards the dairy industry for the 2050 environmental goals.
Tue, 02 Jul 2024 - 164 - The Intersection of Equity and the Environment
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, Melissa Fifield sat down with Mil Niepold, Founder and President of The Mara Partners (TMP), a strategic advisory company working at the intersection of equity and the environment.
Fri, 28 Jun 2024 - 163 - Farmer-Led Climate Solutions, Part 2
In part 2, Alma Cortes Selva, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Jim Winn from Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance about his experience introducing sustainable practices such as cover crop usage and seeing the impact on yield and net return per acre.
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 - 162 - Farmer-Led Climate Solutions, Part 1
Alma Cortes Selva, Senior Advisor at the BMO Climate Institute, speaks with Lauren Brey about her work at Farmers for Sustainable Food and the experience of Paul Cornette from Peninsula Pride Farms of shifting to sustainable farming practices.
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 - 161 - Sustainable Living: Understanding Home Retrofits
This episode dives into the benefits of energy-efficient upgrades to help homeowners make informed choices that can reduce energy costs, improve comfort and contribute to a healthier environment. Host: Ashish Arora, Regional Vice President of Specialized Sales Group, BMO. Guests: Paul Doucet, Principal Architect at Sustainable; Sarah Grant, Certified Energy Auditor, and Founder of Goldfinch Energy; Lori Zucchiatti O'Neill and Michael O'Neill, homeowners that have retrofitted their home.
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 - 160 - Accelerating Financing for Retrofits
In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, James Burrow, sat down with Aaron Berg, head of the Building Retrofits Initiative at Canada Infrastructure Bank; Martha Campbell, Principal of Carbon Free buildings at the Rocky Mountain Institutes; and Matt Golden, CEO of Recurve, an energy efficiency services company located in California to discuss accelerating deep energy retrofits to buildings in Canada.
Tue, 04 Jun 2024 - 159 - Food, Ag, Fertilizer, and ESG From BMO’s 19th Annual Farm to Market Conference: BMO Equity Research
In this episode from BMO’s IN Tune Podcast, host Camilla Sutton is joined by Kelly Bania, Joel Jackson, Doug Morrow and Andrew Strelzik to discuss the takeaways from BMO’s 19th Annual Farm to Market Conference and stretches across the food and agriculture value chain.
Thu, 30 May 2024 - 158 - Incorporating Climate Risk in Valuations
How can climate change impact financial markets and the regulatory landscape, and how might investors be able to integrate climate risks and opportunities into their capital allocation strategies? Listen to our latest episode.
Tue, 28 May 2024 - 157 - Supporting Renewable Fuel Programs
Last year, BMO and Imperial Oil donated money to the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering to support Schulich Racing (F1), Off-Road (Baja) and Renewable Fuel teams. Learn more in this episode.
Fri, 17 May 2024 - 156 - Understanding America’s Carbon Markets
Listen to the key takeaways from a panel Rachel Walsh, Environmental Commodities Strategist at BMO Capital Markets joined, titled: “America’s Carbon Markets: The Only Way is up. Or is it?”
Mon, 13 May 2024
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