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Sustainability Leaders

Sustainability Leaders

BMO Financial Group

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
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  • 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
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