Emerging markets are expected to account for much of the world’s future economic growth, but meeting their infrastructure, climate and development needs will require trillions of dollars in new investment. As governments, development banks and private investors work to close that financing gap, sustainable investment strategies are evolving beyond traditional ESG approaches. Blended finance structures are becoming more sophisticated, capital allocators are shifting toward higher-impact sectors and advances in artificial intelligence, digital finance and other technologies are creating new opportunities to identify, scale up and monitor investments. On this episode of the Sustainability Currents podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence’s Chris Ratti speaks with Ron Margalit, managing director at Lonomics, about the future of sustainable investing in EMs. They discuss the evolution of blended finance, where institutional investors are deploying capital, how early-stage sustainable businesses are attracting investment and the technologies reshaping both risk assessment and impact measurement. This episode was recorded on July 15.

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As global heat waves become more frequent and severe, climate-technology startups are playing an increasingly important role in innovation needed to accelerate decarbonization and create new economic opportunities. Financing these emerging companies has become a critical task for climate-focused venture capital funds. In this episode of the Sustainability Currents podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Yasutake Homma is joined by Tomosaku Sohara, founder of NordicNinja, a climate-technology venture capital firm. They discuss the growing role of climate-technology investors, how portfolio companies are tackling climate change through innovation, and how government policies are shaping the future of the climate-technology ecosystem.

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Rising insurance costs, climate risk and new performance expectations are changing how commercial real estate is valued. In this Sustainability Currents episode, Bloomberg Intelligence Thematic Strategist Melanie Rua speaks with Breana Wheeler, director of operations for BREEAM USA about how independent building assessments are helping investors and owners evaluate resilience, operational efficiency and long-term asset value. They discuss why verified performance data is becoming increasingly important, how retrofits can improve both financial returns and resilience, and how AI and data centers are reshaping energy and water management. This episode was recorded on July 31.

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Bloomberg Intelligence’s ESG Currents is now Sustainability Currents, reflecting a broader focus on the investment risks and opportunities emerging from themes including climate change, water scarcity, consumer expectations, and regulatory scrutiny. In this special episode marking the relaunch, BI’s director of Sustainable Finance Research, Eric Kane, brings together the full team for its 2026 midyear outlook. Melanie Rua, Andrew John Stevenson, Rob Du Boff, Gail Glazerman, Grace Osborne, Conrad Tan, Yasutake Homma, Chris Ratti, and Shaheen Contractor discuss key themes ranging from climate adaptation and resilience, sustainable debt, the ESG implications of AI, shareholder activism, water scarcity, sustainable-labeled funds and much more.

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Water underpins nearly every sector of the economy, yet institutional investment remains limited. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Alexander Loucopoulos, partner at Sciens Water, joins Bloomberg Intelligence thematic strategist Melanie Rua to discuss how private capital can turn fragmented water markets and long-term infrastructure needs into investable opportunities. They discuss what sets water apart from other real assets, how AI-driven power demand is increasing pressure on water systems, where regulation is creating investment opportunities, and why local expertise matters when investing across utilities, treatment, reuse and infrastructure. Recorded July 21.

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Geopolitical tensions, commodity-price volatility and policy uncertainty have made energy dealmaking more complex, but they haven’t brought it to a halt. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Jalal Nadeem, a faculty member at the Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances and an M&A deal-structuring expert, joins Shaheen Contractor, Bloomberg Intelligence senior sustainable finance research analyst, to explore the evolution of energy transactions. They discuss where M&A activity is emerging across the energy transition, why innovative deal structures are becoming more common, how AI is reshaping negotiations and what investors should watch as the landscape continues to shift.

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More than 10,000 companies have been certified as B Corps, which requires them to change their legal structures to ensure their boards consider all stakeholders, not just shareholders; measure and manage impact; and commit to continuous improvement. On this week’s episode of the ESG Currents podcast, Clay Brown, chief standards officer at B Lab, joins Eric Kane, Bloomberg Intelligence director of ESG research, to discuss how companies balance fiduciary responsibilities with commitments to people and the planet. They also explore the biggest risks and opportunities for B Corps today, how the B Corp standards have changed over time, and much more.

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From technology to food, global supply chains depend on Asia, making climate risks there relevant to investors everywhere. In this episode of ESG Currents, Bloomberg Intelligence sustainable-finance analysts Grace Osborne and Conrad Tan speak with Nana Li, Head of Sustainability and Stewardship for Asia Pacific at Impax Asset Management, about why sustainability in Asia is more than a compliance exercise. From China’s industrial transition and clean-technology leadership to Japan’s governance reforms, they discuss why understanding the region’s diverse investment drivers is essential for building resilience, capturing opportunity and generating alpha.

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