In this episode of Sustainability Talks, host and Managing Partner of ETF Partners Patrick Sheehan welcomes back a very special guest, Lord John Browne, Co-Founder and Chairman of BeyondNetZero, Senior adviser to General Atlantic and former CEO of BP. When we launched the Sustainability Talks podcast in 2021, Lord Browne was our very first guest. At that time the world looked very different, with President Trump’s term ending, the US pulling out of Iraq and before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Now, Patrick and Lord Browne reunite to dissect the seismic shifts in geopolitics, climate and energy—offering a candid masterclass on how to lead, innovate, and find opportunity in a profoundly unpredictable environment.

Tune in for a powerful, pragmatic and ultimately optimistic discussion on how to navigate the complex trade-offs facing business and politics today and secure a sustainable future.

Chapters:

00:00 The Evolution of Energy Perspectives

08:59 Navigating Uncertainty in Energy Markets

15:57 The Role of Technology in Energy Transition

21:52 Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Energy

28:48 Cultivating Courage and Leadership in Business

About The Guest: Lord John Browne

Lord Browne is the co-Founder and Chairman of BeyondNetZero, General Atlantic’s climate growth equity fund. The fund’s strategy is to invest in companies that contribute to the energy transition by reducing end-to-end costs; improving operational efficiency; reducing strategic risks and improving resilience; and enabling the development of new energy sources.

He currently serves as Chairman of Avathon, an artificial intelligence technology company, and Chairman of Carbonplace, a global carbon credit transaction network. He also serves on the board of Venterra, an offshore wind energy services company which is part of BeyondNetZero’s investment portfolio.

After retiring from BP in 2007, Lord Browne joined Riverstone, where he was co-head of a $3.4 billion renewable energy private equity fund, the world’s largest at the time. He was subsequently Executive Chairman of L1 Energy.

He has previously served on the boards of Goldman Sachs, Intel, SmithKline Beecham, and DaimlerChrysler.

From 2010 to 2015 he served as the UK Government first lead Non-Executive Director, working with Secretaries of State to appoint Non-Executive Directors to the board of each government department. In 2010, the report of an independent inquiry headed by Lord Browne was published under the title Securing a Sustainable Future for Higher Education, making recommendations for a more sustainable system of higher education funding.

Find out more about Lord John Browne HERE

Find out more about BeyondNetZero HERE

Follow Lord John Browne HERE

Follow Patrick Sheehan HERE

Find out more about ETF Partners at: etfpartners.capital

In this episode of Sustainability Talks, Rob Genieser, Managing Partner at ETF Partners, sits down with Sir Danny Alexander, CEO of Infrastructure Finance and Sustainability at HSBC. They explore the massive trends currently reshaping global infrastructure—from the energy security needs of developed markets to the rapid electrification of emerging economies.

The conversation dives into the bank’s role in supporting “first-of-a-kind” projects, the critical need for blended finance in Southeast Asia, and why 95% of HSBC’s clients now view sustainability as a fundamental growth opportunity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The Infrastructure “Golden Age”: How energy security, digital transformation, and climate resilience are driving unprecedented demand for new assets.

AI as an Energy Transition Catalyst: Why the massive power demand of data centres is actually accelerating the deployment of firm, clean power and grid innovation.

Bridging the Bankability Gap: The specific criteria required to move sustainability from venture-backed innovation to large-scale project finance.

Blended Finance & Partnerships: A look at Pentagreen Capital and how public and private capital work together to de-risk sustainable projects in Asia.

Case Study—Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): How HSBC supported the Infinium Roadrunner project in Texas to scale e-SAF production.

The Necessity of Adaptation: Why we need to move beyond mitigation to develop financing models for resilience and nature-based solutions.

About the Guest:

Sir Danny Alexander is CEO of HSBC Infrastructure Finance and Sustainability, CIB. In this role, Danny leads on infrastructure finance and project finance advisory opportunities associated with the transition to net zero in our strategic markets. Danny also leads on sustainable finance and clean tech initiatives and oversees partnerships such as Pentagreen Capital, our joint venture with Temasek that targets marginally bankable clean energy and adaptation projects in Southeast Asia.

Previously Sir Danny was Vice President, Policy and Strategy, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He joined the AIIB – the first new multilateral development bank of the 21st century and the first to be headquartered in Beijing - at its inception in 2016 and led the Bank through its start-up and growth phases. Sir Danny was responsible for AIIB’s strategic direction, including its thematic sectoral and country priorities. He led the Bank’s ambitious climate agenda and oversaw AIIB’s environmental and social and other operational policies. He represented AIIB at the G20 Finance Ministers meetings, climate COPs, and other international meetings. He led the Bank’s partnership with the World Bank and other multilateral, bilateral, and private sector partners.

From 2010-2015, Sir Danny was Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the United Kingdom Cabinet. He led the Liberal Democrat negotiating team that established the Coalition that governed in that period and was one of the four member ‘Quad’ that provided the core political leadership of that government. In government, he was responsible for the UK’s deficit reduction, pension reform, and national infrastructure plan. He was a member of the National Security Council. He was MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey from 2005 to 2015. He was Knighted by Her Majesty the Queen in 2015 for his services to government.

He holds a BA in philosophy, politics and economics from the University of Oxford and is an honorary fellow of St Anne’s College, Oxford. He was born and brought up in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Follow Sir Danny Alexander on LinkedIn HERE

Follow Rob Genieser on LinkedIn HERE

Find out more about ETF Partners at etfpartners.capital

In this episode of Sustainability Talks, ETF Partners Managing Partner Rob Genieser sits down with two of the leading voices in responsible and ethical AI: Ray Eitel-Porter and Dr. Paul Dongha, co-authors of the new book Governing the Machine. Together, they explore one of the most urgent and overlooked questions in today’s technology landscape: What is the true environmental cost of AI, and how can responsible AI governance accelerate sustainable innovation?

As AI adoption accelerates—and generative AI becomes embedded in everything from banking to everyday knowledge work—the conversation turns to the growing climate impact of data centers. Ray and Paul break down the hard truths behind AI’s footprint, from rising greenhouse gas emissions and soaring energy use to the escalating water demands required to cool data centers worldwide. They warn of a collision course between AI’s rapid expansion and global sustainability targets, urging companies to integrate environmental considerations directly into their AI governance and risk frameworks.

But this episode isn’t just a wake-up call. It’s a roadmap. Ray and Paul share practical guidance for building trust in AI systems, insights into global regulatory approaches, and a look at how AI can also advance sustainability—from smarter energy grids to more efficient industrial systems.

Whether you’re an AI builder, a sustainability leader, or simply trying to understand the future of responsible technology, this conversation is essential listening.

In this episode you’ll hear:

Why responsible and ethical AI must now include environmental sustainability

The rising CO₂ emissions, energy consumption, and water depletion linked to AI

How data center demand is driving new coal-powered generation in some regions

The role of corporations and regulators in shaping ethical AI

The promise of “sustainable AI” and how organisations can measure their AI footprint

The future of AI governance and the rise of agentic AI systems

Key takeaway:

AI’s transformative potential can only be realised responsibly if its environmental impact is managed—ethics and sustainability must evolve together.

Chapters:

00:00 The Environmental Impact of AI

02:44 Introduction to Responsible AI Governance

06:25 The Evolution of Responsible AI

09:39 Building Trust in AI Systems

12:14 Transparency in AI Governance

14:32 Global Perspectives on AI Regulation

20:20 The Lag of Legislation Behind Technology

22:49 The Role of Corporations in AI Ethics

24:03 Trust in International AI Companies

27:46 The Future of AI and Consumer Trust

30:17 Sustainable AI: A New Paradigm

34:42 AI's Role in Energy Efficiency

37:03 The Future Landscape of AI Governance

Read ‘Governing The Machine’ here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/governing-the-machine-9781399426299

Follow Ray Eitel-Porter here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayeitelporter

Follow Dr. Paul Dongha here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-dongha/

Find out more about ETF Partners at: https://etfpartners.capital/