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In this episode of The 360 On Energy and Carbon Podcast, David Arkell, John Pooley and Lysandra Naom speak with Nicole Yazbek-Martin, head of taxonomy and natural vapital at the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute, about what makes Australia’s sustainable finance framework work, and what Canada can learn from it.
From embedding First Nations rights into taxonomy to aligning ESG reporting with practical business needs, Nicole offers a candid look at the real challenges and hard-won lessons of building a sustainable finance system that actually functions.
Highlights of the podcast
Taxonomy built on clear foundations
Australia’s progress was enabled by broad stakeholder support, strong governance and transparent methodology, critical first steps that Canada is now putting in place.
Mining as a strategic asset
Australia isn’t ignoring its emissions-intensive industries. It’s positioning sectors like critical minerals and steel as part of the transition, not obstacles to it.
Indigenous rights embedded in finance
Australia became the first country to embed First Nations rights and cultural protections as minimum social safeguards in its sustainable finance taxonomy.
From climate to nature disclosures
Yazbek-Martin outlines how Australia is beginning to integrate natural capital into sustainability standards — an area many jurisdictions are still tiptoeing around.
The grid as the foundation
Decarbonizing energy systems is not a sidebar, it’s the core strategy enabling everything else, from green manufacturing to investment attraction.
Physical risk is changing the conversation
Extreme climate events like wildfires and floods are making climate risk financial risk, and forcing the insurance sector to innovate fast.
ESG fatigue and the case for simplification
Yazbek-Martin makes a provocative case for proportional, decision-useful ESG data. Her warning? Reporting is starting to get in the way of progress.
Why this episode stands out
Yazbek-Martin doesn’t just explain what worked — she names the roadblocks, tradeoffs and political realities behind sustainable finance reform. For Canadian regulators, finance professionals and sustainability teams trying to align action with accountability, this is a timely and practical episode.
It’s a forward-looking conversation on how to turn frameworks into outcomes — and how to make finance work for both the climate and the economy.
Speakers
Nicole Yazbek-Martin: Head of taxonomy and natural capital, Australian Sustainable Finance Institute
David Arkell: President and CEO, 360 Energy
John Pooley: Senior associate, 360 Energy
Lysandra Naom: Executive producer, The 360 On Energy and Carbon Podcast
Industry Events
The Westin Calgary
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