BSR Insights

Lindsey Andersen and Lale Tekişalp, Associate Directors of BSR’s Responsible Tech practice, join host David Stearns to unpack the responsible AI landscape, its origins and evolution, and what responsible AI looks like in practice for tech companies developing models and products, and for those deploying and using these technologies. Together, they explore the role of sustainability teams in responsibly developing and deploying AI across environmental and societal considerations.

Christine Diamente, BSR Managing Director of Business Transformation, and Jenny Vaughan, BSR Managing Director of Human Rights and Inclusive Business, join host David Stearns to discuss how companies operating in conflict-affected and high-risk areas can navigate increased risk of involvement in human rights abuses. Together, they explore best practices for anticipating and mitigating potential risks, steps to protect employees across the supply chain, and BSR tools companies can use to help manage specific human rights risks in these contexts.

Aron Cramer, BSR President and CEO, and Ogi Kanaya, BSR Associate Director join host David Stearns to discuss how businesses are navigating an era of acute geopolitical tension and uncertainty. This episode explores the real world challenges companies are facing and how sustainability strategies can help protect people, stabilize operations, and build resilience in a rapidly shifting global landscape.

Following his recent blog about the “Ten Big Questions Facing Sustainable Business Leaders in 2025,” BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer chats with David Stearns about the EU Omnibus package and its potential impact on regulatory requirements, why sustainability goal setting remains a valuable exercise in an environment of political pushback and uncertainty, the future of COP (with or without U.S. involvement), and why sustainable business must shift the language it uses to describe—in tangible ways—its connection to improving people’s lives and wellbeing.

Mario Abreu, Group VP, Sustainability at Ferrero chats with BSR Managing Director, Transformation Christine Diamente, and host David Stearns about the cross-functional role of sustainability at Ferrero, how he maintains a focus on ambition, and why the nexus between climate change, people, food, and planetary limits should be humankind’s top priority.

Darshana Myronidis, Group Director of Sustainability at Virgin Group, chats with BSR Managing Director, Transformation Christine Diamente and host David Stearns about of the evolution of her role at Virgin, strategies for embedding sustainability within a company, how to maintain momentum in the face of externalities like the recent U.S. election, and where the greatest opportunities for significant progress lie.

Immediately following Climate Week NYC, BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer chats with David Stearns about some of the inconvenient truths facing sustainability leaders going into this annual gathering, observations that gave him cause of optimism, and a look inside some of BSR’s events, including a debate over whether American political leadership is needed for advancing global climate action and shaping climate policies. Aron also highlights two new BSR publications featuring guidance for sustainability leaders on navigating these turbulent times, and new insights from over 30 Chief Sustainability Officers of BSR member companies.

In the United States, electoral uncertainty, threats to democracy, and the potential for instability and chaos are notably apparent as the country faces an enormously consequential election this fall. What are the risks for sustainable business, and what proactive steps can business leaders take to mitigate them? BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer chats with David Stearns about five topics central to the just and sustainable business agenda that will be affected by the outcomes of the election, followed by strategies for advancing sustainability objectives using BSR’s Act, Enable, Influence approach.

Aron Cramer, BSR President and CEO, chats with David Stearns following his latest blog about the public battle over the direction of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), the fundamental question behind this debate, and the tradeoffs companies face at a time when rapid progress on climate action is really needed.

Lale Tekisalp, Associate Director, Technology Sectors, chats with David Stearns on the topic of Responsible and Sustainable AI, exploring: The latest developments, including the latest regulatory developments, that listeners should be aware of. The risks that companies should be aware of when designing, developing and deploying these models. What a responsible and sustainable approach to the development and deployment of AI would look like. Are there ways that AI can be used to help us (companies and society more broadly) achieve a more just and sustainable world?

Ameer Azim, Climate Change Director, chats with David Stearns on the Environmental Impact of AI, exploring: Why it’s important to assess the environmental impacts of a technology like AI. Through what type of activities or upgrades does the use of AI increase a company’s CO2 emissions? Beyond carbon emissions, what are some of the other environmental impacts associated with the rise of AI that companies should anticipate dealing with as they embrace this technology? What are some of the steps that companies can take to address these negative impacts? Can AI be used to combat climate change?

Jacob Park, Transformation Director and head of BSR’s Sustainable Futures Lab, chats with David Stearns about Applying a Futures Lens to AI, exploring: Why futures thinking techniques can be particularly useful to discussions about responsible AI. How scenario planning exercises work, who is typically involved within a company, and how they might be applied to mitigate a potential outcome of AI such as worker displacement. Some of the opportunities and innovations offered by AI that have the potential to advance sustainable business. How futures thinking can help to address challenges emerging from the rapid advancement of AI.

Hannah Darnton, Technology and Human Rights Director, chats with David Stearns on the Human Rights Impacts of AI, exploring: How the use of AI may impact human rights and where we might see examples of this. Are there ways that AI can be used as a tool to protect human rights?  In BSR’s experience, are companies receptive to conducting human rights risk assessments of their AI practices?  Recommended resources for companies looking to get started.

Richard Wingfield, Technology and Human Rights Director, chats with David Stearns on the topic of Regulating AI, exploring: What the newly passed EU AI Act is, and what it regulates. Why the Act takes a risk-based approach and how different types of risks are categorized. What type of advice BSR is offering to companies on steps they should be taking to come into compliance with the AI Act.

Aron Cramer, BSR President and CEO, chats with David Stearns about why the United States is at risk of marginalizing itself and its influence over the pace and trajectory of progress on sustainability, and what this means for business.

What's at Stake for Sustainable Business 2024 with Aron Cramer by BSR

Aron Cramer, BSR President and CEO, chats with David Stearns on the topic of Leading with Ambition, exploring: —Why companies should be enthusiastic about these changes to reporting requirements and regulatory frameworks. —The apparent tension that these reporting requirements have created between ambition and compliance and where the pitfalls might be for companies. —Whether there is a possibility that new requirements and reporting rules might actually unlock greater ambition. Advice for companies pursuing an ambitious sustainability strategy, and whether there is business value in this approach. —The evolving role of the Chief Sustainability Officer on strategy, leadership, and external communications. —Whether these regulations and compliance frameworks go far enough.

Beth Richmond, BSR Director, Transformation chats with David Stearns on Unpacking Double Materiality, exploring: —How the different frameworks and guidelines define materiality, where they are similar and where they are different. —Why companies should apply the concept of double materiality, and why it is the approach that BSR favors. —What does BSR say to companies who only engage in financial materiality to help them understand why they should be embracing double materiality? —Whether double materiality requires engagement with new stakeholders, both internal and external. —What Beth is hearing from companies who are going through the process of coming into compliance with mandatory reporting.

Christine Diamente, BSR Managing Director, Transformation chats with David Stearns on the Role of Boards and Governance, exploring: —What new skills Boards need to have in light of these new regulatory and reporting requirements. —What platforms or opportunities exist for upskilling and what kind of requests is BSR receiving from Boards. —What do we mean by business transformation and what hurdles and opportunities exist for corporate leaders in this new environment. _Lessons learned from Christine’s experience engaging in scenario planning exercises with BSR members.

Adam Fishman, BSR Associate Director, Transformation chats with David Stearns on The Impact Across Business Units, exploring: —Unpacking the latest regulatory frameworks, how they are distinct and how they work together. —Why this is an important time for those in sustainability functions within a company and advice to help them navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. What should they be doing in the near and long-term? —How this is likely to affect different job functions and teams within a company, specifically finance, procurement, marketing, human resources, boards, and the c-suite. —Do these regulatory frameworks go far enough as far as requiring companies to report and disclose on elements of their sustainability activities?

David Wei, BSR Managing Director, Climate and Nature chats with David Stearns on The Impact on Climate and Nature, exploring: —How these rules and regulations apply specifically to net zero reporting and other climate-related commitments. —What impact they may have on greenwashing, specifically making it less permissible. —To what extent the new requirements may help companies increase their ambition and drive greater impact toward net zero goals. —New challenges for climate-focused sustainability practitioners, including the Chief Sustainability Officer. —Key competencies that Boards will need to develop to ensure that actions are commensurate with disclosure. —To what extent the politicization of these efforts in the U.S. be a challenge for Chief Sustainability Officers or other leaders at the forefront of this work.

Dunstan Allison-Hope, BSR Vice President, Human Rights chats with David Stearns on Human Rights and the Future of Compliance, exploring: —Why compliance is important and why it deserves its moment in the sun. —The difference between complying with the spirit of the law and the letter of the law, and some of the issues posed by the double materiality requirements in the ESRS. —Collectively, whether these rules are up to the task considering the urgent need for action. —Why the new convergence between human rights due diligence and materiality reporting is noteworthy. —How companies should address human rights in their materiality reporting.

The Evolving Reporting Landscape Trailer by BSR