During the IETA European Climate Summit held in Lisbon, we spoke with some inspiring voices at the conference. In this European Climate Summit Special Episode, we're joined by Stephanie Zhu, former sustainability member at Delta Air Lines, and now active as Director of Climate at Yum! Brands.
Topics discussed:
00:00 – introduction
A light intro leading into the live recording at the European Climate Summit.
01:25 – Stephanie Zhu’s Sustainability Journey
From finance to ESG leadership at Delta Airlines and Yum! Brands.
03:42 – Inside Delta: Navigating the Voluntary Carbon Market
A first-hand look at how one of the world’s biggest airlines approached offsets.
05:10 – Reduce and Invest: A Dual Strategy for Decarbonization
Why internal reductions and external investments must go hand-in-hand.
06:57 – Carbon Markets Are Complicated—Here’s Why
Challenges in understanding offsets, additionality, and building a credible portfolio.
10:55 – From Aviation to Agriculture: Cross-Sector Climate Strategy
The different decarbonization hurdles across industries—and how to tackle them.
14:05 – The Voluntary Paradox
Why companies taking climate action face more scrutiny than those doing nothing.
16:00 – A Pragmatic Path Forward for Corporate Climate Action
Let’s not let perfection stall progress—what realism looks like in sustainability.