HBS Business and Environment Initiative

Step into a summer of solving climate policy challenges with the Harvard Climate Internship Program. Apply your classroom learning to the field, build a powerful network, and get a chance to showcase your leadership skills. Don't wait - Harvard Graduate students... applications are now open for 2025! The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University, Harvard's Belfer Center, Harvard University Center for the Environment. For more details: https://lnkd.in/eYXipfbT

During their Immersive Field Course led by Professor Vikram Gandhi,?Harvard Business School?students visited Ohmium in Bangalore and got a firsthand look at the future of green hydrogen, which will play a crucial role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries and helping India reach its net-zero goals by 2070. From their technical sophistical to their commitment to local talent and sourcing 80% of components in India, students were impressed by Ohmium’s commitment to leading the energy transition. Read reflections from Beatriz Delorme, Lorena Hernandez, Ayaka Kajiura, and Haruka Tsuchiya about this innovative company: https://lnkd.in/eeA9mPna #harvardbusinessschool #climate #climatechange #climateaction #energy #cleanenergy #decarbonization #India

?? Navigating Carbon Markets: The Future of Policy and Integrity ?? In the latest episode of Climate Rising, Alexia Kelly of High Tide Foundation explains how voluntary carbon markets are evolving, what’s needed to improve integrity, and how businesses and governments can engage responsibly. Key Takeaways: 1. Voluntary Carbon Markets Are Still Developing, with Governance Catching Up - Despite existing for decades, VCMs remain small (~$750 million in 2023) and historically lacked unified governance. Recent efforts by ICVCM, VCMI, and High Tide Foundation are bringing much-needed integrity and consistency, allowing for greater confidence and scalability. However, stricter standards create challenges for developers, balancing financial viability with higher credit quality requirements. 2. The Line Between Voluntary and Compliance Markets Is Blurring - Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is integrating voluntary and compliance markets, enabling countries to trade emissions reductions. This hybrid model presents both opportunities and risks, particularly in preventing double counting and maintaining high environmental standards. 3. Technology Is Transforming Carbon Credit Verification and Market Integrity - AI, remote sensing, and machine learning are improving monitoring accuracy, reducing reliance on self-reported data, and addressing over-crediting issues. While technology enhances market confidence, it is also reshaping the economics of VCMs. ?? Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eCVTQ4Mu #CarbonMarkets #NetZero #ClimateFinance #Sustainability

What changes can leaders implement to rebuild Los Angeles after devastating wildfires, prevent future disasters, and adapt to opportunities in a changing climate? Hear from Harvard Business School faculty and fellows Ishita Sen, Jim Matheson, John Macomber, Spencer Glendon, and Peter Tufano on this critical issue in the latest from HBS Working Knowledge: https://lnkd.in/dxgWjCpM #harvardbusinessschool #climatechange #climateaction #adaptation #mitigation #risk

During their Immersive Field Course (IFC) to India led by Professor Vikram Gandhi,?Harvard Business School?students explored two initiatives led by Hindustan Unilever on the forefront of sustainable action: the Suvidha Center, a holistic sanitation facility addressing the challenges of urban slums, and a Material Recovery Facility, tackling plastic waste while empowering marginalized workers. These projects showcased innovative public-private partnerships as powerful drivers for sustainable development. Read insights from Rifat Mursalin,?Meera Sachdeva,?Kate Swain Smith?&?Keerthana Wuppulur: https://lnkd.in/ewcYUYdm #harvardbusinessschool?#lifeathbs?#climatechange?#climateaction?#sustainability?#India

What can we learn about climate preparedness as Los Angeles rebuilds after devastating wildfires? Harvard Business School's Ishita Sen, Jim Matheson, John Macomber, Peter Tufano, and Spencer Glendon share their insights about risk, policy, opportunities, and more.?

Risk x readiness is a key consideration going forward as Aris Papadopoulos points out. My colleagues also write about insurance distortion, collective, action, and even urban planning as a chance to collectively build back better. It's a new era of awareness of risk and calculation of the cost-benefit of investments in readiness. RESILIFT Inc #adaptationfinance

I was glad to chip in to this HBS Working Knowledge https://lnkd.in/eNF_XAbF piece about insurance and climate change after the LA wildfires. John Macomber, Peter Tufano, Ishita Sen, and Jim Matheson offer useful, interesting perspectives that I recommend. I want to emphasize that markets are uncaring and inefficient teachers. In theory, people could learn about climate hazards from market signals like higher insurance premiums or from the aftermath of disasters, but we will all fare much better if we learn how our climate works, is changing, and what risks we face. I strongly recommend people check out the Tour of Drought https://lnkd.in/eNF_XAbF on the Probable Futures website https://lnkd.in/eAJffdJY . You can learn this stuff. It's tractable, interesting, and useful.

?? Strengthening Integrity Standards in Voluntary Carbon Markets ?? In the latest episode of Climate Rising, Amy Merrill, CEO of The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), explains how voluntary carbon markets are evolving, what’s needed to improve integrity, and how businesses and governments can engage responsibly. Key Takeaways: ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles and Assessment Framework set rigorous standards for carbon credit quality. To date only about 3% of carbon credit methodologies have been met ICVCM’s standards. Multi-stakeholder engagement is key to improving carbon market integrity: ICVCM brings together diverse voices—including businesses, NGOs, governments, Indigenous communities, and technical experts—to ensure carbon credit standards are rigorous, transparent, and widely accepted. The boundary between voluntary and compliance markets is becoming more fluid, shaping the future of carbon finance. Governments are increasingly integrating carbon credits into their climate policies. ?? Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ebRpEGvN #CarbonMarkets #NetZero #ClimateAction #Sustainability

What does real-world decarbonization look like??Harvard Business School?students share insights from their deep dive into decarbonization within the steel industry, culminating in an impactful visit to JSW Steel's Dolvi plant. From case discussions on campus to witnessing their ambitious net-zero 2050 targets firsthand, students explored the challenges and opportunities of balancing growth with sustainability. Students were impressed by JSW's "Project SEED," empowering every employee to contribute to emission reduction and, while their commitment to innovation and safety was evident, the visit underscored the critical need for policy interventions to drive meaningful decarbonization in the face of rising steel demand. Read more insights from Brett Atkinson, Michael Baldyga, Lena Licht, Ian Naccarella, and Samar Shanazarov about the Immersive Field Course with Professor Vikram Gandhi: https://lnkd.in/ekVAiBw2