• Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics
• Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director, Institutional Investor Content

• Angela Flaemrich, Director, Stewardship
• Matteo Felleca, Analyst, Stewardship
• Ignacio Garcia Giner, Senior Analyst, Stewardship

In this episode, recorded earlier this year, Lindsey sat down with Angela Flaemrich, Matteo Falleca and Ignacio Garcia Giner from Morningstar Sustainalytics’ ESG Proxy Voting Overlay team to discuss their insights from the most recent proxy season. Insights from the discussion include:

• The decline in the number of sustainability-focused resolutions
• Changes to the regulatory landscape
• Increasing support for resolutions related to shareholder rights
• Lower support for proposals related to climate and DEI issues

00:00:04

Introduction.

00:02:12

Highlights of the sustainability-related proposals from 2025 proxy season.

00:04:55

Insights on support levels for sustainability-related proposals.

00:08:31

Insights on the changing topic mix in the 2025 proxy season.

00:11:12

Overview of climate proposal trends.

00:14:52

Overview of social proposal trends.

00:19:04

Thoughts on the 2026 proxy season.

• Can Big Tech Keep Its Climate Commitments as Data Centers Scale?
• Investor Views on AI Oversight
• Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2025 Qualitative Insights
• Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2025 Quantitative Analysis

• Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics
• Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director of Investment Stewardship Research, Morningstar Sustainalytics

• Ruthann Bartello, Senior Director, Global Lead, Stewardship
• Kevin Ranney, Senior Director, Sustainable Fixed Income Research

In this episode of ESG in Conversation, Melissa and Lindsey chat about the continued volatility in the sustainable investing market, as well as luxury brands’ focus on ESG and sustainable supply chains. To kick things off, Melissa interviews Kevin Ranney, Senior Director, Sustainable Fixed Income Research. He talks about the evolution of the sustainable fixed income market and shares insights on the latest enhancements to Morningstar Sustainalytics’ second-party opinion assessment framework. Later, Lindsey sits down with Ruthann Bartello, Senior Director, Global Lead, Stewardship, where they discuss Sustainalytics’ involvement in the Pact for the Future and the importance of bringing the investor voice to the conversation about funding the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.

00:00:24

Introduction

00:06:25

Interview with Kevin Ranney on the evolution of sustainable fixed income investing and Morningstar Sustainalytics second-party opinion framework.

00:24:44

Interview with Ruthann Bartello about efforts to allocate more funding to the Sustainable Development Goals.

00:36:24

Closing remarks

• Sustainalytics Insight: Second Party Opinions a Primary Focus
• Webinar | Enhanced Assessment Framework for Use of Proceeds Second-Party Opinions

Listen to more episodes here.

• Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics
• Lindsey Stewart, CFA, Director of Investment Stewardship Research, Morningstar Sustainalytics

• Hortense Bioy, CFA, Head of Sustainable Investing Research
• Jackie Cook, Senior Director, Stewardship

ESG In Conversation welcomes Lindsey Stewart as the new co-host for the podcast. He and Melissa chat about current developments in the sustainable investment space and the uncertainties investors and companies face. This month’s episode includes three compelling interviews with some of Sustainalytics’ experts, including Lindsey. Tune in to hear perspectives on sustainable investing trends and the continuously changing regulatory landscape. The discussions also cover recent research examining patterns in investors’ proxy voting activities, how companies’ share structures can influence vote outcomes and how that plays out for certain ballot items like say on pay.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.

00:00:26

Introduction

00:03:32

Interview with Hortense Bioy on sustainable investing trends, regulatory changes and the impact on the investment funds landscape.

00:14:29

Interview with Jackie Cook covering recent research on the impact of dual class share structures on sustainability-focused shareholder resolutions.

00:28:42

Interview with Lindsey Stewart on the widening gap between European and US investors environmentally and socially focused shareholder resolutions.

00:36:24

Closing remarks

• Six Sustainable Investing Trends to Watch in 2025 Report
• Shareholder Democracy and the Challenge of Dual Class Share Structures
• Say on Pay: CEO Compensation and the Long Tail of Shareholder Dissent
• Voting on ESG: A Gap Becomes a Gulf

Ad: To learn more about the Morningstar Sustainable Investing Summit and to register visit https://www.morningstar.com/business/events/morningstar-sustainable-investing-summit

Host:

Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics

Guest:

• Thomas Kuh, Head of ESG Strategy, Morningstar Indexes
• Barbara Lambotte, Head of Sustainable Fixed Income Research
• Azadeh Sabour, Director of Climate Thought Leadership, North America
• Anne Schoemaker, Director, ESG Products
• Catalina Secreteanu, Managing Director, ESG Solutions, Europe
• Lindsey Stewart, Director of Investment Stewardship Research

It’s the start of a new year, a time when many focus on setting new goals and ambitions. In this episode of ESG in Conversation, we explore the resolutions investors and issuers might make when it comes to ESG, climate transition and regulatory issues. Experts from Morningstar Sustainalytics weigh in and share their predictions on what financial market participants will, or should, focus on in the year ahead.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com or take this short survey.

00:00:00

Introduction

00:00:35

Thomas Kuh discusses asset owners

00:05:43

Catalina Secreteanu discussion ESG risk and opportunities

00:08:35

Anne Schoemaker discusses regulations

00:12:52

Azadeh Sabour discusses climate transition finance

00:21:58

Lindsey Stewart discusses stewardship

00:26:03

Barbara Lambotte discusses sustainable fixed income

00:30:59

Closing remarks

• Morningstar Sustainable Investing Index Solutions
• Material ESG Issues Resource Center
• ESG Regulatory Insights Hub
• Climate Solutions Resource Center
• Stewardship Services
• Corporate Solutions – Sustainable Finance and Lending Solutions

Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics

• Thomas Kuh, Head of ESG Strategy, Morningstar Indexes

• Arthur Carabia, ESG Research Policy Director at Morningstar

• Kilian Theil, Associate Director, Intelligent Process Automation, Morningstar Sustainalytics

• Andrei Hera, former Senior Manager Data Science, Morningstar Sustainalytics

• Aymen Karoui, Director of Methodology and Product Architecture, Morningstar Sustainalytics

This year, ESG in Conversation examined the sustainability and climate issues that were top of mind for asset owners, asset managers, companies and financial market participants globally. Featuring insights from Morningstar Sustainalytics, listeners heard from subject matter experts on ESG, climate and regulatory issues affecting the market. In this episode, we share some key insights from this past season. Check out the full episodes via the links below and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app to hear what’s on the horizon in the year to come.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.

00:00:00

Introduction

00:00:30

Asset owners share their voice

00:02:48

The AI revolution comes to ESG

00:07:00

Climate disclosure rules come to the US

00:10:10

Harmonizing sustainability regulations remains a challenge

00:16:36

Insights on leveraging ESG ratings in portfolio construction

00:19:50

Closing remarks

00:20:49

The last word

• Featured episodes:
  • Asset Owners Share Their Views on the Changing Investment Landscape
  • The AI Revolution Comes to ESG
  • The SEC’s New Rules on Climate
  • When It Comes to Sustainable Investing, It's A Material World
  • Using ESG Data in Portfolio Construction
• 2024 Voice of the Asset Owner Survey – Quantitative Analysis

• Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics

• Aymen Karoui, Director of Methodology and Product Architecture, Morningstar Sustainalytics

How can ESG ratings help investors identify risk when constructing and maintaining their portfolios? In this episode, we explore the practical answers to this question and more. We also feature research leveraging Sustainalytics’ Low Carbon Transition Ratings and Physical Climate Risk Metrics assessing companies' misalignment with the transition to net zero.

We also discussed COP 16, which is focused on biodiversity and the key role of the private sector in addressing biodiversity loss. A recent article using data from our Biodiversity and Natural Capital Stewardship program found that many companies are at the beginning of their journeys.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.

00:00:00

Introduction

00:01:07

Interview with Aymen Karoui about Morningstar Sustainalytics report series in collaboration with Natixis exploring the ESG Risk Ratings and portfolio risk

00:19:51

Overview of the “Navigating Material Climate Risks in the Global Equities Market” report

00:20:57

Overview of “Mobilizing the Private Sector for COP16: A Critical Juncture for Biodiversity Action”

00:22:29

Highlights of upcoming Morningstar Sustainalytics events

• Report series with Natixis
  • ESG Risk Ratings: A 360° Review
  • ESG Risk Ratings: Distilling for Enhanced Performance and Downside Protection
  • ESG Risk Premium: A Further Look
• Navigating Material Climate Risks in the Global Equities Markets
• Mobilizing the Private Sector for COP16: A Critical Juncture for Biodiversity Action
• Morningstar Sustainable Investing Summit 2024

More episodes

• Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics

• Arthur Carabia, ESG Research Policy Director at Morningstar

On the heels of the EU parliamentary elections and ahead of pivotal contests in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere, ESG in Conversation met with Director of ESG Policy Research, Arthur Carabia to discuss what a change in political agendas and shifting priorities could mean for ESG and sustainability-focused regulations globally.

We also explore the topic of ESG materiality and what it means to asset owners globally, and we discuss its foundational role in the enhancements to Morningstar Sustainalytics' ESG Risks Ratings and corporate governance assessment framework.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com.

00:00:00

Introduction

00:01:34

Interview with Arthur Carabia about EU election outcomes and the state of ESG regulatory landscape

00:25:14

Overview of the Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2024

00:26:34

Updates on Sustainalytics’ corporate governance assessment framework

00:28:14

Introduction to “Fundamentals of ESG Materiality: An Overview for Investors”

• Voice of the Asset Owner Survey 2024: Qualitative Insights
• On the Materiality of Corporate Governance: Themes, Applications and Best Practices
• Fundamentals of ESG Materiality: An Overview for Investors
• Webinar | Single, Double or Dynamic? An Exploration of Materiality in ESG Approaches to Investment

More Episodes

• Melissa Chase, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Morningstar Sustainalytics

• Arthur Carabia, ESG Research Policy Director at Morningstar

In late March, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission introduced a climate disclosure rule that applies to its 10,000 registrant companies. In this episode of ESG in Conversation, we welcome back Arthur Carabia to shed light on what this new rule means for companies and their investors. He also shares his take on how the rule compares to other sustainability and climate disclosure regulations globally.

Sticking to the regulatory theme, you’ll learn about the EU’s regulations on deforestation-free products and why the issue of environmental regulation is so significant across industries according to our ESG Risk Ratings. Finally, we share insight on the troublingly persistent issue of child labor in the cocoa supply chain.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on ESG in Conversation. You can email us at podcast@sustainalytics.com or take this short survey.

• The SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rule: A Step in the Right Direction
• EUDR: Navigating the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products
• The State of ESG Risk Across Industries: Three Key Takeaways From Our Annual Industry Reports
• Child Labor in Cocoa Supply Chains: Unveiling the Layers of Human Rights Challenges

More Episodes