Collaboration

CISL has pioneered partnerships between business leaders, policy-makers and academics to help unlock the economic change required to deliver the safe and sustainable economy of the future and achieve the goals of critical international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Interaction with policy

The Centre brings together businesses and policymakers, to co-develop solutions to the climate crisis and broader sustainability challenges. For example, the CLG Europe works at the EU-wide and member-state levels to raise policy ambition and drive the transformation to a zero carbon economy, as well as working in partnership with others to secure wider global action. Through the Green Growth Partnership, CLG Europe members partner with progressive governments and Members of the European Parliament, to explore, promote and pursue the economic and strategic case for an economic transformation in response to climate change. The Centre has organised collaborations with other groups of business and experts to develop policy-relevant insights and consensus on eliminating plastic waste, and transforming heavy industrial sectors.

Research

Our research, grounded in business insight and policy understanding, has sought to showcase leading examples and perspectives that can illustrate solutions to the challenges we face. 

Our research is intended to strengthen the impact of business, government and financial institutions by informing their transition to a sustainable economy, herein defined as a net zero, circular, restorative economy within an inclusive, resilient society exhibiting high levels of social and environmental justice. As part of our commitment to enacting real-world change, we have identified five ‘applications in practice’ which drive research at CISL:

• Future risk and opportunity - A better understanding of sustainability risks allows companies to convert them into opportunities.
• Business strategies and models - Sustainable business models enable companies to go beyond financial success into purposeful impact on society.
• Measures, targets and disclosure - Key to trust is transparency, and sustainability provides the perfect performance framework.
• Culture, capacity and leadership - Seeing problems differently demands leadership, yet this is exactly what companies must do to become agents of positive change.
• Social and political change - Companies can use their influence to drive sustainability, aligning their ambitions with long-term value creation for society.

This may include harnessing existing research, commissioning new academic research or working with business to pilot new responses and inform our core research themes:

Education, advisory and practice

Our education and advisory work develops the capacity of with businesses to engage with their peers and policymakers to leverage change. 

We build the leadership capacity of individuals and help them to address sustainability challenges such as climate change and the circular economy. We equip board directors, senior executives, sustainability practitioners and managers across organisations with the with the knowledge and capability to lead change within and beyond their organisations to accelerate progress towards a sustainable, zero carbon economy. 

We also develop the capability of organisations and regions to lead the transition to a zero carbon economy through our customised programmes and advisory work. For example we worked with Sky to help remove single-use plastic from its business through its strategy, leadership, management and engagement. We also worked with Interface to transform its supply chains through new business models. We help organisations to identify material risks and opportunities – including opportunities to shape systemic change, to develop strategies that align sustainability and commercial performance, and to build and inspire leadership capability to drive transformational change across complex systems.

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