Business Leadership: changing the story
The human, economic and commercial consequences unfolding all around us show that we are collectively failing to address the sustainability challenge.
And business – which can play a critical role in solving this problem by deploying its talent, assets, reach and capacity for innovation – continues to be economically incentivised to act in ways that damage the planet and exacerbate social challenges.
A step change is needed, and urgently.
Our new Business Leadership campaign brings both competitiveness and sustainability into a new frame of Competitive Sustainability. It calls for business leadership that builds and advocates for structural market changes - so that sustainability is rewarded and unsustainable activity becomes commercially unviable.
Our expertise and experience in research, education, innovation and facilitating collaboration between businesses and policymakers tells us that individual business action can demonstrate what is possible, build momentum for change and contribute to effective regulation.
However economic structures and competitive markets which drive sustainable outcomes for all are the only systemic solution to the global sustainability challenge.
Read the op-ed in the Financial Times on competitive sustainability from CISL's CEO, Lindsay Hooper
Support our new Competitive Sustainability Initiative
Harnessing the University of Cambridge’s unparalleled capacity for rigorous, interdisciplinary research, this exciting new venture is designed to accelerate necessary structural shifts, to reposition sustainability as a competitive imperative for regions, markets, businesses and entrepreneurs, thereby unlocking capital, talent and private sector dynamism to deliver necessary innovations and transitions.
If you are interested in contributing towards this new initiative email info@cisl.cam.ac.uk.
CISL’s Latest Insights for Leaders
Survival of the Fittest: From ESG to Competitive Sustainability
Our CEO, Lindsay Hooper, and Fellow, Paul Gilding, argue that it’s time to move from putting ‘sustainability thinking’ into business to putting ‘business thinking’ into sustainability.
Raising the ambition in Net Zero flight
Our groundbreaking new report proposes a five-year plan to set the aviation sector on the path to true net zero by 2050 and the leadership required to achieve this.
James Cole, Chief Innovation Officer at CISL reflects on the importance of innovators in helping to build the markets we need for a more sustainable and equitable future.
Corporate Leaders Network #MoreRenewables campaign
We're calling on leaders to implement laws that will rapidly advance the energy transition, while also safeguarding nature and local communities.
No Time to Waste: Driving the EU’s resilience and competitiveness through a circular economy
Our report highlights the need for leaders to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, emphasising its role in strengthening the Europe’s resilience, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy.
What is the energy transition?
CISL International Policy lead Katherine Quinn and Policy Analyst Anum Sheikh discuss the energy transition, why moving away from fossil fuels is important, and outline possible steps for a fair and resilient transition to renewable energy.
How we work with you
A strategic approach from business is needed that supports government and sector-wide action while also building organisational capability to compete in more sustainable markets. Utilising our expertise and experience we help businesses and leaders to:
Leadership in practice – our programmes and services
Leadership development
Drawing on the latest leadership frameworks, thinking and expertise, we inform business strategy and inspire action across boards & leadership teams.
Discover our range of programmes
Find out more about our flagship Business & Sustainability Programme
Innovation partnerships
We help organisations, startups and investors to pursue sustainability-led innovation in products, processes and business models. We help them develop new solutions in sectors from technology, energy, built environment and mobility, to food, health and wellbeing.
Find out more about our innovation partnerships
Read about our Canopy workspace
Collaborations to drive systems changes
We organise and enable collective leadership and action to transform economies, systems and sectors. Leadership groups we convene include:
The Corporate Leaders Groups: global network of businesses committed to leading the transformation to competitive & sustainable economies
The Centre for Sustainable Finance: global network of financial institutions providing the insight and tools needed to help the finance sector transition
The Aviation Impact Accelerator: global group of academics and practitioners working to accelerate the journey to sustainable aviation
Using our institutional voice and influence
We build relationships with key stakeholders' sharing institutional positions and evidence-based narratives to inform public policy debates at key international moments:
CISL leadership frameworks and reports
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