Sustainability Wired

In this timely episode, Lorenzo Saa sits down with Wendy Cromwell, Vice Chair and Head of Sustainable Investment at Wellington, to unpack the case for climate adaptation across public and private markets.Starting from the now-famous “basis points vs. RCP scenarios” story with Woodwell Climate Research Center, Wendy explains how investors and scientists can bridge languages to price physical climate risk and fund real solutions. From data gaps to the tension between decarbonisation and resilience, this is a practical guide to investing for a world already experiencing heat, drought, wildfire, hurricanes, floods, water stress, and sea level rise.Key topics include: ✅ The adaptation imperative: why mitigation alone isn’t enough through 2040–2050 ✅ Turning science into basis points: Wellington’s CERA tool and the seven perils framework ✅ Public markets for adaptation: solution providers in HVAC, generators, engineering, water, pest control, and health care ✅ Location, location, location: why disclosure of physical sites and supply chains is essential ✅ Risk in practice: issuers, municipals, securitized, and the floodplain factory example ✅ Tech enablement: NLP for idea sourcing and AI tools for supply-chain transparency ✅ Policy and markets: how asset-owner mandates and COP can elevate adaptation metricsWhether you manage equities, credit, munis, or multi-asset, this episode shows how to assess physical risk, price resilience, and back companies that help society survive—and thrive—in a changed climate.🎧 Listen now for concrete ways to integrate adaptation into real portfolios.Key Moments: 00:00 – The “basis points vs. RCP scenarios” story 01:04 – Why adaptation belongs alongside mitigation 03:14 – Wendy’s path to sustainable investment leadership 07:50 – Why physical risk was neglected, and the Woodwell partnership 11:40 – The tension: decarbonisation targets vs. adaptation investments 14:31 – Inside CERA, the Climate Exposure Risk Application 16:49 – From risk to opportunity: identifying adaptation solution providers 20:25 – What counts as an adaptation company 22:41 – Case study: a $2B plant in a floodplain 24:02 – Advocating for disclosure of physical locations 26:59 – How AI and NLP support adaptation investing 28:34 – Call to action: fund solutions and assess risk 36:32 – Playing climate with both hands: mitigation and adaptation📩 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay current on adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable investing trends.

Show Notes

In this timely episode, Lorenzo Saa sits down with Wendy Cromwell, Vice Chair and Head of Sustainable Investment at Wellington, to unpack the case for climate adaptation across public and private markets.

Starting from the now-famous “basis points vs. RCP scenarios” story with Woodwell Climate Research Center, Wendy explains how investors and scientists can bridge languages to price physical climate risk and fund real solutions. From data gaps to the tension between decarbonisation and resilience, this is a practical guide to investing for a world already experiencing heat, drought, wildfire, hurricanes, floods, water stress, and sea level rise.

Key topics include:
✅ The adaptation imperative: why mitigation alone isn’t enough through 2040–2050
✅ Turning science into basis points: Wellington’s CERA tool and the seven perils framework
✅ Public markets for adaptation: solution providers in HVAC, generators, engineering, water, pest control, and health care
✅ Location, location, location: why disclosure of physical sites and supply chains is essential
✅ Risk in practice: issuers, municipals, securitized, and the floodplain factory example
✅ Tech enablement: NLP for idea sourcing and AI tools for supply-chain transparency
✅ Policy and markets: how asset-owner mandates and COP can elevate adaptation metrics

Whether you manage equities, credit, munis, or multi-asset, this episode shows how to assess physical risk, price resilience, and back companies that help society survive—and thrive—in a changed climate.

🎧 Listen now for concrete ways to integrate adaptation into real portfolios.

Key Moments:
00:00 – The “basis points vs. RCP scenarios” story
01:04 – Why adaptation belongs alongside mitigation
03:14 – Wendy’s path to sustainable investment leadership
07:50 – Why physical risk was neglected, and the Woodwell partnership
11:40 – The tension: decarbonisation targets vs. adaptation investments
14:31 – Inside CERA, the Climate Exposure Risk Application
16:49 – From risk to opportunity: identifying adaptation solution providers
20:25 – What counts as an adaptation company
22:41 – Case study: a $2B plant in a floodplain
24:02 – Advocating for disclosure of physical locations
26:59 – How AI and NLP support adaptation investing
28:34 – Call to action: fund solutions and assess risk
36:32 – Playing climate with both hands: mitigation and adaptation

📩 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay current on adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable investing trends.

What is Sustainability Wired?

Sustainability Wired plugs into the thinking that moves sustainable finance. Hosted by Lorenzo Saa, Chief Sustainability Officer at Clarity AI, each episode features candid conversations with leading investors, innovators, and sustainability experts about the real-world challenges shaping sustainable investing today. From the role of AI in investment decision-making to the future of regulation, we explore the ideas, tools, and trends that matter.

Follow for fresh insights at the intersection of finance, sustainability, and innovation.