Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

CLG blogs

23 results

Op-ed: Beyond the Davos drama we need to actually work on making the world better

27 January 2026 - Eliot Whittington, CISL's Chief Systems Change Officer, argues the Davos Summit talking shop needs to be followed by a renewed push to deliver the practical solutions that can help tackle escalating geopolitical insecurity.First published in BusinessGreen.The dominant theme for this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Dav…
Op-ed: Good COP or bad COP? Weighing up the Belém Summit's successes and failures

27 November 2025 - COP30 may not have delivered the outcome climate science shows the world needs, but it demonstrated that the multilateral UN Paris Agreement process is alive, writes Corporate Leaders Group UK Director Bev Cornaby.First published in BusinessGreen.When a fire broke out at the COP30 summit venue hosting UN climate negotiations in B…
Op-ed: If not net zero, then what?

22 September 2025 - There is a clear role for companies of all sizes to speak up and share positive stories of how net zero is transforming their businesses, local communities, regions and the wider economy, writes Bev Cornaby, Director of the Corporate Leaders Group UK.First published in BusinessGreenIf you're paying attention, it's getting increa…
Blog: EU climate targets are key to energy security and competitiveness

19 June 2025 - The EU has a strategic opportunity to set robust and aligned climate targets for 2035 and 2040 which, combined with a comprehensive and coherent framework, can support and catalyse business action and investments that accelerate clean energy deployment, enhance competitiveness and strengthen energy security, positioning Europe as a g…
Blog: New challenges mean business climate leadership must go mainstream

16 June 2025 - New challenges mean business climate leadership must go mainstream, writes Eliot Whittington, Chief Systems Change Officer at CISL and Director of the Corporate Leaders Groups. First published in the FT Sustainable Views.Twenty years of working with senior corporate leaders has brought much progress. Now we must work differently to s…
Net zero: The world has changed and we must change with it by acting now

10 April 2025 - The UK's political consensus on climate change may be crumbling, but swift action from businesses can create and protect value from climate risks and secure the future of market-based economies, writes Bev Cornaby, Director of the UK Corporate Leaders Group. First published in BusinessGreen.Working in the climate space, change is se…
Net zero: Are there any reasons for optimism in 2025?

05 February 2025 - Whatever the White House does, it won't change the market fundamentals driving the net zero transition, writes Beverley Cornaby, Director of the UK Corporate Leaders Group.As we started 2025 witnessing flooding in Spain and the UK, and the devastating wildfires in the US, it's hard to be optimistic when these events underline tha…
Blog: The UK is back as a global climate leader: Can it get the rest of the world to follow?

29 November 2024 – The UK's enhanced presence, effort and ambition at COP29 was keenly felt by other countries and observers at the Summit, writes Beverley Cornaby from CISL's Corporate Leaders Group in BusinessGreen.If there's one message the UK government wanted everyone to take away from their presence at COP29, it was: 'we are back'. The gover…
Blog: CISL at COP29: Climate action will continue because it makes business sense

11 November 2024 – Sophie Miremadi and Alex O’dell, co-chairs of CISL’s UK Corporate Leaders Group, look ahead to COP29 with optimism. First published in edie.Recent events have led many to question the future of global climate talks. But while the political backdrop for this year’s COP climate negotiations in Baku may be garnering headlines, for l…
Blog: Businesses want clear and consistent climate messaging from government

6 November 2024 - If the key message from government at the Budget was 'invest, invest, invest', businesses' message in return is 'deliver, deliver, deliver', writes Beverley Cornaby in BusinessGreen.This week's Autumn Budget was a mixed bag - depending on who you speak to.Ask a student and they may be delighted the price of beer has gone down. Ask…
Strong leadership is needed for the UK to deliver its 2030 net zero target

24 July 2024 - A new government offers the UK a reset on its energy transition. But decisions need to be made fast, for long-term gains towards a decarbonised economy, says Beverley Cornaby of the Corporate Leaders’ Group.The new UK government needs to look beyond the first 100 days.Any farmer (or gardener like myself) in the UK right now would moa…
How quickly can Labour deliver its promised climate and nature policies?

11 July 2024 - The decisions made by the new government over its first 100 days will be critical for demonstrating green leadership, writes Beverley Cornaby, Director of Corporate Leaders Group UK.After 14 years of fast-changing prime ministers and a slew of policy reversals on climate change, calling for yet more change might seem odd. But busines…
UK businesses want a consistent net zero policy – not a laissez-faire approach

09 May 2024 - The Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary's mixed messaging around net zero last week could bruise investor confidence in the green economy, writes Beverley Cornaby, Director of the UK Corporate Leaders Group.First published in BusinessGreen on 03 May 2024Conferences are usually quiet, predictable, affairs where you go to connect wit…
Business needs a clear and consistent UK green investment plan

13 February 2024 - Labour's decision to ditch its £28bn manifesto pledge creates yet more uncertainty for green businesses, writes Beverley Cornaby, Director of the UK Corporate Leaders Group.First published by BusinessGreen on 09 February 2024There are times when you wake up and really wish you hadn't seen the news, as you know it's going to make …
Tax cuts are not enough to deliver green growth

27 November 2023 - The Autumn Statement was a missed opportunity to remove barriers holding back the UK's green economy, writes Beverley Cornaby, Director of the UK Corporate Leaders Group.With UK public finances under continued stress following shocks from Covid, Brexit and high inflation squeezing the rising cost of living, this year's Autumn Sta…