Episode Description
ESG is under political attack in the US. The backlash against responsible investing didn't come from nowhere. Matt Patsky, CEO of Trillium Asset Management, traces it directly to the fossil fuel industry watching its cost of capital rise, publicly traded coal companies go bankrupt, and banks start weighing carbon intensity in lines of credit. That's when the coordinated campaign began.In this conversation, Matt unpacks what's really happening beneath the headlines, why Florida's pension plan still quietly uses ESG data despite the state banning it, and what the shift from greenwashing to "green hushing" means for investors trying to hold companies accountable. He also explains how a $5 billion firm punches far above its weight by building coalitions, and why your own retirement account is already having an impact whether you know it or not.What you'll learn:📉 Why all publicly traded coal companies going bankrupt is what triggered the organized anti-ESG campaign🌍 How the ESG backlash is overwhelmingly US-led and US corporate-funded, while the rest of the developed world moves forward🚨 The shift from greenwashing to "green hushing": companies are still acting on climate commitments but going silent about it💡 How Trillium used shareholder coalition pressure to help unlock recognition of the Starbucks union across 500 stores🔋 Why pushing tech companies to commit to low-carbon energy created an unexpected problem when AI data centers exploded energy demand🎯 Why a utility executive's 30-to-50-year planning horizon is the right model for ignoring short-term political noiseAbout the Guest:Matt Patsky is CEO and Lead Portfolio Manager of the Trillium ESG Global Equity strategy at Trillium Asset Management, one of the nation's oldest and most respected firms devoted exclusively to sustainable and responsible investing. With over four decades in investment research, he became the first sell-side analyst in the United States to publish on socially responsible investing in 1994. He has led Trillium since 2009.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpatsky/Trillium Bio: https://www.trilliuminvest.com/team/matthew-patskyTrillium Asset Management: https://www.trilliuminvest.comAbout the Host:Paula Caligiuri is a Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business and co-host of International Business Today. Her research focuses on cultural agility, global leadership, and workforce development.Northeastern: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/people/paula-caligiuri/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulacaligiuriInternational Business Today Podcast:📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalBusinessToday🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2y21XexVdXEiTBdZQIuSyf🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-business-today/id1665009512💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-business-today-by-northeastern-university/🎓 Ready to lead in the global economy? Explore Northeastern's online business programs → https://online.northeastern.edu/