Blogs

22 December 2020 – In 2020 the coronavirus pandemic tested us all, both individually and collectively. It has also revealed the fragility of our current economic and social systems in the face of crisis. This comes at a time when further ‘system shocks’ are expected from climate change and the destruction of our natural systems, writes James Cole.F…

November 2020 – As businesses look to transition from ‘rescue’ to ‘recovery’ now is a good time to clarify their role in delivering a resilient, low carbon, and fundamentally sustainable economy, says CISL's Director of Business Strategy Ben Kellard. How can organisations ensure that they have aligned their purpose and strategy with the transition …

8 October 2020 – Beverley Cornaby, Senior Programme Manager in the Policy Team at CISL reflects on how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can help shift the UK economy towards net zero by 2050.In conversations I’ve been having recently, a question keeps coming up – how do we meaningfully engage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in achieving the …

28 May 2020 – Alice Chapple, Course Convenor on the new Sustainable Finance online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), explores the trends that are emerging in the world of finance, from the need to manage climate change risk, to responsible investment and harnessing big data.The world of fi…

7 May 2020 – Dr Louise Drake, Fellow at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and Course Director for the Master’s in Sustainability Leadership, reflects on the success of delivering CISL's graduate courses in a virtual format, and the acceleration of CISL’s digital capabilities that have opened up new opportuni…

7 May 2020 – Prince of Wales Fellow Caroline Lee considers the role of the food retail sector in supporting communities through the Covid-19 crisis, and looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities supermarkets and grocers may continue to face.The physical and social characteristics of our communities can enable or disable, promote or discourage…

6 May 2020 – Zoë Arden, CISL Fellow and Course Convenor on the new Communicating for Influence and Impact online short course, discusses the need for leaders who listen first, show humility and use communication to influence and accelerate social and environmental change.In times of crisis, we often see how people really show up – through what they…

14 April 2020 – As resilience takes more prominence post-coronavirus, restoring nature will be of utmost importance, argues Dr Gemma Cranston, Director, Business and Nature at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).This year biodiversity was expected to move into the spotlight - with a 'new deal for nature' being laid out at t…

30 March 2020 – A wide, interdisciplinary network enables professionals from across the built environment sector to hone their skills and competencies, whilst stimulating new ideas, approaches and innovations, according to Dr Kayla Friedman, Course Director for the Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment Master's and Postgraduate Certifi…

11 March 2020 – Andrew Martin works in the Major Bridges International department of consultant COWI A/S in Denmark. He looks back upon the impact that his time studying for the Master of Studies (MSt) in Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment (IDBE) had in empowering him to develop an interest in sustainability in parallel with his est…

29 January 2020 – Having spent the first days of the new decade escaping the smoke of Australia's devastating bushfires, Amelia Moulis assesses the potential for business leadership to drive climate action in this critical year.The first day of 2020 set a sombre tone for the climate emergency’s defining decade.I was at home in Australia, where our …

21 January 2020 – Mike Rogerson is a chartered accountant with a decade of experience working in finance and operational management across three continents. He shares his experience of studying the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Value Chains, and how his time with CISL nurtured his interest in social sustainability and led him to pursue a …

28 June – Ben Kellard, Director of Business Strategy, CISL, explores the challenges of aligning purpose and strategy with the transition that is required to enable a business to succeed into the future.The challengeHaving recognised, in my last article, the shifting view of businesses as part of complex, global value chains that are operating in a …

CISL Faculty Dr Nicky Dee and Lisa Smith have been involved with the Unilever Young Entrepreneurs Awards since the Awards began in 2013. As well as being lead faculty for the accelerator programme, Nicky and Lisa work closely with every winner to provide mentoring for them and their businesses. Here Nicky shares her insights into the challenges fac…

8 May 2019 – To stay within the boundaries of the Paris Agreement, Europe needs to accelerate efforts to achieve a carbon neutral future and put climate change at the top of the EU agenda. Frank van der Vloed highlights five key steps that are critical for businesses to make the transition.This spring, two faces from two generations brought us the …