Kicking off Climate Week NYC in a fragmented global landscape

Climate Week NYC 2025 is under way, and we're kicking off our special podcast coverage speaking to Peter Bakker, CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. WBCSD is a global network of more than 250 companies focused on integrating climate, nature and equity action into corporate strategies, operating plans and decision-making. WBCSD is celebrating its 30th anniversary at Climate Week NYC in 2025, at a time when many US companies are reevaluating their approach to sustainability. "Clearly in North America at the moment, the conversation has to be an economic conversation: What is the business case? Why do investments in this space make sense?" Peter says. These discussions very look different in other parts of the world, and Peter says the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties known as COP30 will be the "true test" of whether multilateralism can help advance global climate solutions, or whether the world takes an increasingly fragmented, regional approach. Regardless, he says corporate boards need to understand the physical risks in their supply chains and pursue both adaptation and mitigation strategies. "This is not a midcentury issue — this is in the next five to 10 years," Peter says. "That will lead to much more focus on resilience and adaptation. However, the reality is there is no adaptation plan for a 3-degree world ... That means it remains of the highest priority to continue to put pressure on emission reductions." We'll be back with podcast interviews from Climate Week NYC throughout the week — including our coverage from The Nest Climate Campus, where the All Things Sustainable podcast is an official media partner. You can register free to attend here. And you can learn more about the event S&P Global is hosting at Climate Week NYC here: Climate Week NYC | S&P Global Learn more about S&P Global Sustainable1's physical climate risk dataset here. This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1 and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global. Copyright ©2025 by S&P Global DISCLAIMER By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party's unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global's prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights). This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties. S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.