Policy overview
Context
Markets are being reshaped by converging pressures: from climate and nature risks to AI disruption, geopolitical fragmentation, and constraints on resources and infrastructure. Together, these forces are redefining how economies compete and where value is created.
For business, the risk cuts both ways. Whether change stalls or accelerates, companies that fail to adapt - or help shape the rules - risk being left behind. Managing impacts within organisational boundaries is no longer enough.
Long‑term competitiveness depends on shaping market conditions so policy, finance and innovation align and new solutions can scale. In a fragmented environment, visible and constructive business leadership is essential to unlocking investment and securing future prosperity.
CISL’s approach
CISL works with business and finance to shape the policy and market conditions for competitive, resilient and sustainable economies.
Our approach is evidence‑based and action‑focused. We prioritise market‑wide change over incremental improvement, and competitiveness and resilience over narrow compliance.
Through research, convening and trusted dialogue, we support leaders to:
- Understand how policy, regulation and market incentives interact
- Make a clear, credible commercial case for transition
- Engage responsibly and confidently in policy debates
- Build coalitions that give policymakers confidence to act
Corporate Leaders Groups: business shaping policy
CISL’s Corporate Leaders Groups (CLGs) are our primary platform for mobilising business leadership on policy. They bring together companies committed to working in partnership with governments to achieve clear, consistent and long‑term policy frameworks that enable innovation, investment and system‑wide transition.
Over two decades, the CLGs have helped shape the UK and EU policy landscape and embed climate ambition into industrial strategy. Today, they focus on ensuring business helps shape, rather than simply adapt to, the markets it depends on.
CLG Europe
A business‑led coalition driving Europe’s clean industrial transition. CLG Europe unites leading companies to support policies that unlock investment, scale clean technologies and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in a disrupted global economy.
CLG UK
The Corporate Leaders Group UK (CLG UK) is a cross-sector business group activating leadership and innovation to transform the UK economy. Established in 2005, CLG UK represents businesses leading the transition to unlock a cleaner, competitive and resilient Britain. By providing members with insight, influence and opportunities for impact, CLG UK is creating a movement of businesses shaping the markets of the future.
CLG Africa
,A platform convening corporate leaders to engage policy issues through locally led chapters across Africa. Working with regional partners, CLG Africa supports sustainable development through thought leadership, dialogue and partnerships rooted in local context.
Centre for Sustainable Finance
The Centre for Sustainable Finance focuses on how financial systems can be reshaped to support a competitive, resilient transition.
Working with financial institutions, policymakers and regulators, the Centre addresses the structural barriers that limit the flow of capital into sustainable solutions. Through applied research and targeted engagement, it helps align policy, market signals and financial practice so investment can scale where it matters most. Centre for Sustainable Finance
Global policy engagement
CISL supports business, financial institutions and policymakers at key international forums where economic and industrial transitions are shaped. Our work spans the G20 and B20, major global economic forums, multilateral climate processes, and regional leadership platforms across Europe, Africa, Asia‑Pacific and the Americas – translating high‑level commitments into signals that unlock investment and action at scale.
Work with us
CISL is scaling its policy engagement to broaden and diversify the community of business and finance leaders shaping the transition. We are equipping organisations with evidence, building confidence to act, and organising for greater collective influence.
To find out more about working with CISL, the Corporate Leaders Groups or the Centre for Sustainable Finance, contact info@cisl.cam.ac.uk