Climate and Sustainability

Slowing down the rate of production doesn’t have to come at the expense of profitability. --Barchi Gillai, associate director of the Value Chain Innovation Initiative

How the Apparel Industry Could Refashion Itself with Sustainability in Mind

Centers & Initiatives

Center for Social Innovation
Rapid Decarbonization Initiative
Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance
hand holding a smartphone with Stanford Business Insights listed on the screen
Subscribe to Insights by Email

Latest Stories on Climate & Sustainability

Idea Stories Opensearch
January 21, 2025
Written

The Paris Climate Deal Gives Countries Options. Leaving Isn’t Meant to Be One.

The 2015 climate pact was designed to win global support. Now the Trump administration is walking away — again.
Climate & Sustainability
January 15, 2025
Written

Young Investors’ Support for ESG Dropped Dramatically in 2024

Facing economic uncertainty, Millennial and Gen Z investors say they’re prioritizing profits over environmental and social priorities.
Finance & Investing
December 10, 2024
Written

The “Least Bad” Option for Fixing New York’s Traffic Woes

A couple of economists have some suggestions for improving the Big Apple’s rollout of congestion pricing.
Economics
July 25, 2024
Audio

If/Then: Why Research Matters

In our season one wrap-up episode, Senior Associate Dean Jesper Sørensen discusses the importance of research.
Leadership & Management
July 09, 2024
Written

Why the Experts Should Answer to the Amateurs

We need specialists to solve hard problems. But they need to be accountable to non-experts, says Jonathan Bendor.
Government & Politics
July 01, 2024
Written

New Data on the Quality of ESG Audits Catches Regulators’ Attention

A closer look at ESG verification is influencing the debate over requiring corporations to report their carbon emissions.
Climate & Sustainability
June 27, 2024
Written

How the Apparel Industry Could Refashion Itself with Sustainability in Mind

From disposable styles to fossil-fueled fabrics, our clothes are ready for a makeover.
Climate & Sustainability
May 02, 2024
Written

Big Investors Say They Use ESG to Reduce Risk (But Mostly Focus on the E and G)

A new survey offers a rare window into how the world’s largest institutional investors think about environmental, social, and governance priorities.
Finance & Investing
April 23, 2024
Video

Explainer: What is Carbon Reporting?

Accurate measurement is the first step toward reducing emissions.
Climate & Sustainability
April 18, 2024
Written

New Incentives Could Save the Colorado River — and Other Threatened Waterways

Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Milgrom is tackling an urgent market design problem: how to get water to those who need it most.
Climate & Sustainability
A view of the Colorado River at Horseshoe Bend
February 20, 2024
Audio

So Crazy, It Might Just Work: How Foolishness Feeds Innovation

If we want to seriously address the climate crisis, then we need to encourage foolish business ideas.
Innovation
January 11, 2024
Written

It Takes a Village: Using Game Theory to Get Farmers to Fight Deforestation

A new model taps into the power of cooperation to promote sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia.
Climate & Sustainability
The edge of a green forest next to a large area with logged trees on the ground. Credit: iStock/Tarcisio Schnaider
December 05, 2023
Written

8 of Our Favorite Videos of 2023

Watch and learn about currency, algorithms, and reputation management.
Career & Success
November 03, 2023
Written

A New Kind of Trade Deal Could Help Protect the World’s Tropical Forests

Bård Harstad proposes a way to get past the trade-off between commerce and conservation.
Climate & Sustainability
October 12, 2023
Written

How to Convince a Country Not to Chop Down Its Rainforest

A domino effect can lead politicians to rapidly deplete natural resources — or commit to conservation.
Climate & Sustainability
Aerial view of deforestation. Rainforest being removed to make way for palm oil and rubber plantations stock photo
July 13, 2023
Written

Does It Pay to Link Executive Compensation to ESG Goals?

More CEOs are getting “ESG pay.” Does it improve their companies’ sustainability and financial performance?
Climate & Sustainability
llustration of a handshake with money coming from the left hand and a lightbulb with a tree inside and leaves coming from the right hand.
April 06, 2023
Video

Class Takeaways — Analysis and Measurement of Impact

Five lessons in five minutes: lecturer Jaclyn Foroughi shares how to make an impact through investing.
Finance & Investing
title screen with an illustration of a heart with the words Impact Investing and the class title: Analysis and Measurement of Impact
December 09, 2022
Written

Baby Bust: Could Population Decline Spell the End of Economic Growth?

Economists’ models assume the population will keep expanding forever. But what if it doesn’t?
Economics
A pink baby stroller rolling down a hill made of stacks of money.
December 07, 2022
Written

Blazing Questions: As Wildfires Intensify, Who Bears the Cost and Manages the Danger?

GSB conference highlights the difficulty of allocating risk and assigning responsibility.
Climate & Sustainability
Panelists shown left to right: Anat Admati, Mary Batjer, and Michael Wara speaking at the event. Credit: Saul Bromberger
November 10, 2022
Written

The ESG Generation Gap: Millennials and Boomers Split on Their Investing Goals

Younger investors are more willing to put money behind environmental and social goals — even if it’s costlier.
Climate & Sustainability
Illustration of a dollar bill showing half of George Washington's face and half of an illustration of a cartoon version of George Washington wearing a green hat and brown tee shirt.
October 27, 2022
Written

Digital Assets and Climate Change Pose New Challenges for Accountants

Mary Barth explains why investors need better information on new and hard-to-quantify risks.
Accounting
Two men standing on either side of a wide open gap on white platforms in front of a blue sky, looking down in puzzlement. iStock/Martin Barraud
August 16, 2022
Audio

Changing Lives, Organizations, the World: Dean Jon Levin of Stanford GSB

Dean says today’s business leaders have great opportunities to use modern technology for good while mitigating its harms.
Leadership & Management
July 18, 2022
Written

Replacing the “Take-Make-Waste” Model with Sustainable Supply Chains

The switch to a circular economy could protect the environment while helping companies generate more value.
Climate & Sustainability
Illustration of the world, as viewed from a green lens that is surrounded by symbols of industry; oil rigs, factories, power lines, and trees and leaves. Illustration by Cory Hall
July 05, 2022
Written

Former BP Head Reflects on His Call for Climate Action 25 Years Ago

Lord John Browne talks about his 1997 speech at Stanford and current efforts to slow global warming.
Climate & Sustainability
Photo of Lord John Browne. Credit: Reuters/Paul Hackett top/key/full