How Tom Steyer is Using Capital to Solve the Climate Crisis

We head to San Francisco and sit down with Tom Steyer, Wall Street giant and visionary behind Galvanize Climate Solutions and Farallon Capital Management.

Transitioning from finance to climate activism in 2012, he safeguarded California's Global Warming Solutions Act and founded NextGen America, rallying record youth voters. Co-founder of Beneficial State Bank and TomKat Ranch, Steyer champions sustainability and justice. His 2020 presidential bid and leadership roles with Governor Newsom and Vice President Biden showcase his influence. Steyer blends financial acumen with environmental passion, offering unparalleled insights at the intersection of finance and climate activism.

We discuss:

• Early life experiences and their influence.
• How a trip to Alaska changed everything.
• The secret's behind Farallon's success.
• Movement capitalism: where profit meets purpose.
• Impactful global leadership and it's influence.
• The role of family wealth in addressing climate change.
• Impact investing and the emphasis of profitable investments in renewable energy.

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome to High Net Purpose

00:51 – Tom Steyer’s Mission: Climate, Capital & Conscience

03:46 – Early Life Lessons That Shaped His Worldview

07:13 – Wall Street Origins: Learning at Goldman Sachs

09:49 – Founding Farallon: Risk, Reward & Investment Mastery

17:28 – The Moment He Shifted to Climate Activism

22:24 – Movement Capitalism: A New Model for Climate Solutions

27:38 – Building Galvanize: Where Capital Meets Climate Impact

28:04 – What He Looks for in Early-Stage Founders

29:46 – Inside His Climate Investment Strategy

31:07 – Managing Risk While Tackling the Planet’s Biggest Problem

33:15 – Where He Sees Opportunity in Climate Tech

34:23 – Why Better Information Could Unlock the Future

36:45 – Agriculture, Sequestration & Natural Solutions

38:20 – What’s Slowing Down Climate Innovation

39:39 – The Realities of the Green Premium

41:10 – Can Public Markets Deliver Real Impact?

43:08 – Fossil Fuels, Transition Plans & Honest Timelines

47:34 – Investing Family Wealth With Purpose

50:54 – Reflections on a Life in Finance and Climate

55:22 – Final Thoughts & Closing

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