Episode Description
This week in sustainability, the story everyone's missing is the one connecting two records set on the same day: the hottest ocean temperature ever recorded, and the fastest build-out of gas power for AI data centres we've ever seen.
I break down the top 10 sustainability stories of the week, including why the Science Based Targets initiative's first Net-Zero Standard update since 2020 has split the industry, how climate risk is now showing up directly in US house prices and UK insurance claims, and why your coffee is getting more expensive because of the weather, not the market.
We also cover Africa's newly discovered carbon vault, the reshuffle happening in sustainability leadership at Netflix, McDonald's and SBTi, and what's changing in the ESG software market.
If you work in sustainability, Food & Beverage, or Media, Marketing & Advertising, this is your five-minute catch-up on the week's climate risk and net zero news.
Watch to the end for three mind-blowing environmental facts you won't have seen anywhere else this week.
Find out more about our Climate Unlimited™ advisory model at https://www.51tocarbonzero.com
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UPCOMING WEBINAR: The Scope 3 Blind Spot: What Your Supplier Data Isn't Telling You
Scope 3 emissions are often the biggest contributor to an organisation’s carbon footprint, yet many businesses are making decisions based on incomplete, outdated or estimated supplier data. In this webinar, we’ll explore the biggest blind spots in supplier emissions data, why they matter for reporting and decarbonisation, and how leading organisations are moving beyond spreadsheets and assumptions to build a more accurate, scalable approach to Scope 3. LIVE ATTENDANCE BONUS: complimentary gap audit of your top 10 suppliers. Wednesday 16 September | 1pm BST https://www.51tocarbonzero.com/webinar-supply-chain/
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I'm Will Richardson, Head of Ecosystems at 51toCarbonZero and a sustainability advisor with 25 years in the field. I founded Green Element in 2004 and spent two decades building it into one of Europe's most respected sustainability consultancies before it merged with 51toCarbonZero in November 2025. Climate action is both an obligation and an opportunity, and that's the thread running through everything I write here. I co-created Compare Your Footprint, carbon accounting software recognised as a key player in the Global Carbon Accounting Software Market, and I'm a Fellow of IEMA and a Chartered Environmentalist. Each week, I break down what's actually happening in sustainability: the data, the regulation, the greenwash worth calling out, and the practical steps businesses can take right now. No jargon, no doom-mongering, just clear thinking for people who need to make real decisions. I also host the Sustainability Solved podcast with Charlie Luxton, 200+ episodes and counting, where we talk to the people building the solutions. Based in Scotland. Writing for business leaders who want sustainability to make commercial sense, not just moral sense.