In this crossover episode of The Future of Finance and Beyond Carbon, hosts Georges Dyer and Chris Ito sit down with Lane Jost, Head of Sustainability & Governance Advisory at Edelman Smithfield, for a candid conversation about the evolving ESG and sustainable investing landscape. Lane traces the arc of ESG from its “1.0” early days to today’s politically charged environment, unpacking the dynamics of greenwashing, greenhushing, regulatory risk, and the often-confusing language that shapes public perception.

Together, the group explores whether the rise of greenhushing may actually signal a maturing field—one that demands more rigor, transparency, and alignment between claims and investment processes. They explore what this moment means for endowments, asset managers, and campus stakeholders, and discuss the new offering from Edelman Smithfield and FFI Solutions working directly with endowments on strategic communications strategies. The conversation also highlights the opportunity for higher education institutions to turn sustainable investing into a powerful learning laboratory for students, future leaders, and informed citizens.

Ultimately, the episode balances realism about political headwinds with optimism about market innovation, improved governance, and the long-term trajectory toward resilience and value creation.

This episode is brought to you by Metis Global Partners.

Keywords: ESG evolution, greenhushing, greenwashing, sustainable investing, fiduciary duty, strategic communications, endowments, resilience, stakeholder engagement