From Delta to Yum! - Stephanie Zhu on Corporate Climate Action

During the IETA European Climate Summit held in Lisbon, we spoke with some inspiring voices at the conference. In this European Climate Summit Special Episode, we're joined by Stephanie Zhu, former sustainability member at Delta Air Lines, and now active as Director of Climate at Yum! Brands. Topics discussed: 00:00 – introductionA light intro leading into the live recording at the European Climate Summit.01:25 – Stephanie Zhu’s Sustainability JourneyFrom finance to ESG leadership at Delta Airlines and Yum! Brands.03:42 – Inside Delta: Navigating the Voluntary Carbon Market A first-hand look at how one of the world’s biggest airlines approached offsets.05:10 – Reduce and Invest: A Dual Strategy for DecarbonizationWhy internal reductions and external investments must go hand-in-hand.06:57 – Carbon Markets Are Complicated—Here’s WhyChallenges in understanding offsets, additionality, and building a credible portfolio.10:55 – From Aviation to Agriculture: Cross-Sector Climate StrategyThe different decarbonization hurdles across industries—and how to tackle them.14:05 – The Voluntary ParadoxWhy companies taking climate action face more scrutiny than those doing nothing.16:00 – A Pragmatic Path Forward for Corporate Climate ActionLet’s not let perfection stall progress—what realism looks like in sustainability.