In this episode, Mike Smith, founder and CEO of Aclymate, and Christian Moore, Vice President of Risk Consulting and the climate lead for Concentric, contemplate the intersection of environmental protection, climate change, and security. Mike begins the episode by explaining the basics of climate change, including how carbon dioxide traps heat on Earth, the concept of relative concentration pathways (RCPs), and how climate change poses a risk to national security. In the conversation, Mike and Christian discuss their shared military backgrounds and how they became interested in climate change.

Both Mike and Christian emphasize the importance of technology and carbon offsets in combating the climate crisis. Christian shares how innovation within acoustic sensors has allowed park rangers to better monitor protected areas, as they can better differentiate between various animal and human sounds.

They also discuss the growing movement for firms to transition to more sustainable practices and how this has been integral for Concentric in attracting and retaining talent. Christian explains how he has taken steps to improve environmental commitments at Concentric.

Mike and Christian stress the urgency and significance of tackling climate change and the potential for technology to play a crucial role.

In this environmental podcast episode, host Mike Smith divulges his origin story and how he got into climate, discusses the Paris Climate Accords, Greenland ice sheet, sea level rise and what you can do about it, climate and banking, as well as an insightful interview with a sustainability professional from a regional bank.

In this conversation, Mike Smith, the founder and CEO of Aclymate, interviews Laura Rossi, the Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability at Amerant Bank. They discuss the importance of addressing climate change and the role of banks in promoting sustainability.

They also talk about the need for more guidance and frameworks for companies to follow in their sustainability efforts. Amerant Bank's sustainability program is driven by the desire to do the right thing and make a positive impact. They believe that attracting and retaining talent is crucial, and younger generations are increasingly interested in working for companies that prioritize sustainability. The bank has seen success in talent attraction through their internship program and focus on diversity, inclusion, climate resilience, and social and environmental lending.

While there has been internal resistance, the program has gained momentum with the support of the C-suite and a clear mandate from the CEO. Investors have varied responses, with larger institutional investors taking sustainability seriously. The lack of regulation makes it challenging for investors to evaluate companies, but they appreciate transparency and a serious commitment to sustainability.

Laura Rossi, the head of sustainability at Amerant, is driven by her personal ethics and the desire to make a meaningful contribution. She believes that climate action is no longer a choice and is excited to be part of the solution. However, she also acknowledges the worry that it may already be too late to turn things around.

Learn what "The Climate Dad" is all about!