In this episode of Navigating Net Zero, host Alexia Kelly welcomes Liz Willmott, a climate and sustainability expert with over 20 years of experience across the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, including a pivotal role at Microsoft. Liz shares her journey from a childhood tree hugger to leading Microsoft's carbon negative strategy and founding Earth Rise Consulting. The discussion covers the importance of market-based solutions like Microsoft’s internal carbon fee, the challenges and strategies for mainstreaming sustainability in corporations, and the need for intellectual flexibility and practical progress over perfection. Liz emphasizes the role of collaboration, the adaptation of climate solutions, and the mental resilience required for sustainability professionals. The conversation provides a comprehensive look at the multidimensional efforts needed to navigate the path to net zero.

In this episode of Navigating Net Zero, Alexia Kelly welcomes Peter Freed, a seasoned clean energy strategist with over two decades shaping the future of corporate clean energy and climate strategy. Peter, who has led energy strategy at Meta and now advises companies through Near Horizon Group, shares his journey from early work at Terra Pass to advancing corporate renewable energy initiatives. The discussion delves into the evolution of clean energy strategies, from initial carbon offsets to current greenhouse gas accounting practices.

Peter highlights the importance of practical sustainability measures and the role of voluntary targets in driving corporate action. The conversation also covers the economic shifts in renewable energy procurement, noting a transition from a buyer’s to a seller’s market, and addresses the complexities of international markets, particularly in developing countries. They explore the significance of precise greenhouse gas accounting and the potential of AI to revolutionize grid management and materials science for clean energy. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) are identified as crucial for managing fossil fuel emissions amidst the clean energy transition.

The episode concludes with reflections on maintaining corporate commitment to sustainability amidst evolving market and policy landscapes. Overall, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities in achieving net zero, offering valuable insights for professionals navigating the complexities of corporate sustainability and clean energy innovation.

In this episode of Navigating Net Zero, Alexia Kelly is joined by Chris Davis, a seasoned climate and sustainability expert. They discuss Chris's extensive career in climate action spanning government, industry, and civil society, highlighting his recent work at Amazon and as a senior fellow at the High Tide Foundation. The conversation delves into the complexities of corporate climate action, the intricacies of greenhouse gas accounting, and the newly launched Task Force for Corporate Action Transparency (TCAT). They explore the need for and launch of two new corporate climate action guidance documents — the Mitigation Action Accounting and Reporting Guidance (MAARG) and the Target Accounting and Reporting Guidance (TARG) — and their role in helping companies navigate and report their climate actions transparently and consistently.