Don’t Call It ESG: Building Resilience for a Stronger Future

By Nikki Reese | March 04, 2025
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Resilience & Mindset Mastery
Don’t Call It ESG: Building Resilience for a Stronger Future

A new buzzword is gaining traction in sustainability circles, particularly when it comes to investing in renewable energy and clean technologies: resilience.

“As we’ve seen over time, it started with terms like ‘social’ and ‘responsible investing,’ then evolved into ‘ethical investing,’ and now there’s a whole range of terms that have emerged,” explained Jason Britton, chief product officer at asset management firm Sphere.

"‘Sustainability’ was the buzzword for quite a while, followed by ‘regenerative’ and ‘triple bottom line,’" he continued. “This industry is constantly trying to simplify a very complex concept into just a few catchy terms. Right now, ‘resilience’ is the top buzzword."

For investors, "resilience" has become the go-to term for investments aimed at minimizing the impact of climate change on businesses. Often paired with phrases like "adaptation finance" or "transition finance," ESG professionals are increasingly incorporating "resilience" into their marketing and communications.

The concept of resilience has been endorsed by major entities like BNP Paribas, the United Nations World Food Program, the European Commission, and logistics giant DP World, all emphasizing its importance in the face of climate change.

Recently, London-based investment bank Standard Chartered signed a deal for Chinese solar equipment designed to withstand extreme weather and storms, with "resilience" prominently featured in the agreement.

“Whether it’s tornadoes and tropical storms in the U.S., like Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, which caused over $500 billion in damages, or the wildfires in L.A. earlier this year, these events are happening now,” said Marisa Drew, chief sustainability officer at Standard Chartered. “The growing demand for investments in resilience is a response to the economic losses driven by extreme weather events.”

Health
Rising Mental Health Issues Make Youth Less of a 'Happy' Time, Experts Say

For over 50 years, the midlife crisis has been a hallmark of Western society, marked by impulsive decisions, fast cars, and peak misery between the ages of 40 and 50. However, experts now say that pattern is shifting. In a new paper commissioned by the UN, academics Jean Twenge and David Blanchflower warn that a growing mental health crisis among youth in six English-speaking countries is disrupting the traditional U-shaped happiness curve, where youth was once the carefree period, middle age the challenging phase, and later life more comfortable. Instead, their research, which analyzed surveys from the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, reveals that life satisfaction has steadily declined among young people, particularly young women, over the past decade. The study links this decline to the rise of smartphones and social media, suggesting that the surge in internet usage is contributing to a crisis in youth wellbeing, with similar patterns seen globally.

Entertainment
Anora Sweeps the 2025 Oscars: Best Picture and Four More Awards

Anora, the gripping tale of a New York sex worker who marries a wealthy Russian client on a whim for a shot at a new life, took home five Academy Awards on Sunday, including the prestigious Best Picture.

In addition to Best Picture, director Sean Baker earned Oscars for Best Director, Original Screenplay, and Editing, tying the record for the most Oscars won by an individual in a single year, previously set by Walt Disney in 1954 for four different films.

The film’s 25-year-old lead, Mikey Madison, claimed the Best Actress award.

Made on a modest budget of $6 million, a small sum by Hollywood standards, Anora emerged victorious in a competitive and unpredictable Oscars race, beating out contenders like the papal thriller Conclave, the Jewish immigrant drama The Brutalist, and the blockbuster musical Wicked.

“If you’re trying to make independent films, please keep doing it. We need more. This is proof,” said Baker, known for creating films about marginalized groups, including porn stars and transgender sex workers.

Madison’s win was a surprise, as she defeated the favored Demi Moore, who had been expected to take Best Actress for her role in The Substance.

"I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me," Madison shared on stage. "To be here standing in this room today is really incredible."

She also took a moment to "thank and honor the sex worker community" and pledged, "I will continue to be an ally."

Released by independent distributor Neon, Anora has grossed $40 million globally, while Wicked has earned $728 million in comparison.