A pathway to sustainable value creation and a level playing field for action won’t emerge until business and investors build it. We work with leaders in business, policy and finance to transform markets so they deliver for people, nature and climate.
Our impact
For more than three decades, CISL has played a vital role in shaping the global sustainability agenda:
- 40,000+ global alumni leading change in business, finance, and policy.
- 15,000+ leaders engaged annually through education and leadership programmes.
- Engagement with 5,000+ organisations across over 150 countries.
- Influencing the development of market standards, public policy, and sustainable business models to drive large-scale transition.
“CISL is helping to accelerate the process of hard-wiring sustainability into the economy. Its work, which harnesses the University’s global influence and convening power, demonstrates the critical link between academia and the corporate sector in driving innovation and evidence-based solutions for a sustainable future.” Professor Deborah Prentice Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge
Our 2 pathways for delivering a sustainable future
Building business leadership
We empower companies to lead market transformation through strategy, advocacy, collaboration and innovation.
Rewiring Finance
We work with financial institutions to enable the system to mobilise capital and manage risk in support of a sustainable, resilient economy.
Support for CISL’s mission helps to expand the reach and scale of our work, enabling:
- Greater access to sustainability leadership education worldwide, including scholarships for emerging leaders.
- Research and innovation that bridge science, policy, and practice.
- Development of solutions and coalitions to advance just transitions in critical industries and regions.
Philanthropic partnerships play an important role in accelerating these efforts, ensuring that leadership for sustainability reaches the sectors and regions where it is needed most.
To learn more about how you can support our work, please contact the University of Cambridge Development and Alumni Relations Office.
Find out about the impact of our work with economic actors across society to forge bolder and more diverse leadership and build movements.
CISL's Annual Review 2023-24
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2024 has been a pivotal year for CISL and the sustainability movement more widely. New evidence shows the extent of wildlife destruction, global temperature increases have tipped 1.5 degrees creating devastation for communities and international negotiations on climate, biodiversity and plastics have largely failed to deliver.
This report includes examples of how CISL has worked with businesses, financial institutions, civil society organisations and governments to advance thinking and accelerate action to design new systems, build new markets, transform whole sectors and systems, and foster innovation-driven solutions that align sustainability and competitiveness.
CISL’s Annual Review 2022-23
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CISL has a critical role to play in educating, convening and fostering innovation in support of the systemic shifts we urgently need to see – and the solutions that will stick. Over the past year, we have worked to inspire and enable purposeful, well-informed and courageous leadership. We have also established collaborations that identify step-change solutions and build buy-in to a shared vision for a more sustainable future. This report sets out examples of how we have delivered impact in the past year in pursuit of a sustainable economy.
CISL’s Annual Review 2021-22
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CISL’s first annual review takes a holistic approach in reviewing the impact of CISL’s work over the past year through its education programmes, research, policy engagement and outreach with startups & SMEs. It shows the progress made through our engagement with leaders and organisations across business, government and finance in helping to achieve net zero, protect and restore nature, and build inclusive and resilient societies.
