The transition to zero is underway. The private sector has a critical role in delivering this transition and there is a growing body of evidence to demonstrate that it makes business sense to act.Forward looking companies understand this. They are harnessing climate action as driver of innovation, risk management and competitiveness – recognising that setting a course to net zero can provide a powerful guiding light in turbulent times as well as delivering commercial benefits. Yet, there is no blueprint for change and change is not happening fast enough.The necessary speed and scale of the transition will require unprecedented co-operation and effort from all companies and sectors. It will require transformation towards a new economy that puts people, nature and the climate at the heart of global value creation. |
What we do
The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is committed to working with our partners in business, government and the finance system, plus our global leadership network of 16,000 individuals, to accelerate this transition. Developing leadership capacity, both at the individual and organisational level, is where our unique contribution and strength lies. We do this in a variety of ways: by working with hundreds of major organisations to develop transformative strategies and action plans; by accelerating enterprises and collaborative initiatives with potential to offer breakthrough solutions; by building evidence and insight to inform decision-making; and, above all, by shaping the operating context for business in favour of organisations that deliver value to society and the environment.
Leadership development
Our leadership development programmes help senior leaders to lead their companies to sustainable growth.
Master's-level graduate courses in sustainable business help individuals
learn to lead change.
Our flexible online sustainability courses and leadership training empower individuals and organisations to tackle global challenges.
Transforming organisations
Our advisory services help clients to respond to a future of accelerating
change and increasing expectations.
Our tailored strategy programmes for business help companies respond to
global trends and achieve commercial impact.
Accelerating solutions
Our Accelerator and Sustainability Hub supports small businesses and entrepreneurs to push boundaries.
Our virtual Accelerator to Net Zero supports SMEs with high impact potential for enabling the net zero transition.
We assist our clients in achieving step change innovation across products, process and business models.
Transforming policy & markets
Our Corporate Leaders Groups bring together business leaders committed to supporting the transition to net zero.
Our Green Growth Partnership provides
a forum for exchange between
progressive EU governments and businesses.
Our Centre for Sustainable Finance&
helps financial institutions to play a leading role in building a net zero economy.
Research
The Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme fosters new thinking on net zero, leading to practical insights and tools for decision-makers.
Our publications and practitioner research highlight some of the best examples of climate leadership and
explore new ideas to deliver transformational change.
Impact stories
CISL Conversations: we draw fascinating insights and best practice examples from leaders on approaches they have taken to align with net zero.
Impact stories: we gather insights from the companies we work with that are taking leadership on this agenda.
Tools for alignment and implementation
We offer practical and strategic guidance, grounded in practitioner insights from exceptional people from business, policy and academia, to help leaders and organisations prepare for a net zero future.
For business
Targeting Net Zero: A strategic
framework to help businesses align
their strategy and operations with net
zero
Biodiversity Impact Metric helps businesses manage their supply-chain
risks
For financial organisations
Client Engagement Tool: A framework to help client managers support corporates achieve net zero
Bank 2030 sets a vision of a climate-progressive bank
Framework to help investors understand the climate performance of their funds
ClimateWise Principles help the
insurance industry with climate risk disclosure
Handbook for identifying nature-related financial risks
For policymakers
Net Zero knowledge hub for EU decision-makers
The Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) offers leadership priorities for a net zero UK economy
CLG's Green recovery knowledge hub offers insights on how policymakers can back a green economic recovery
Supporters
Cambridge Zero harnesses the full range of the University’s research and policy expertise, developing solutions that work for our lives, our society and our economy.
Chapter Zero is building a community of non-executive directors and equipping them to lead crucial UK boardroom discussions on the impacts of climate change.
We Mean Business coalition is a global nonprofit coalition working with the world’s most influential businesses to take action on climate change.
Resources and research
Beyond net zero: People, nature and climate
2 December 2021
3 December 2021 - Nick Villiers, Director of CISL’s Centre for Sustainable Finance, reflects on the role of the finance industry in taking a more active and assertive role in supporting, enabling and accelerating the transition to a more regenerative economy.
CISL and the Corporate Leaders Groups respond to Glasgow Climate Pact
15 November 2021
15 November 2021 – On 13 November, a final COP26 agreement was reached within the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow. The Glasgow Climate Pact will mean that all nations should formulate and publish updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement for 2030 by the time COP27 begins in Egypt. They should strive to align targets and plans with a 1.5C temperature pathway.
15 November 2021
15 November 2021 - Eliot Whittington, Director of the Corporate Leaders Groups, argues COP26 was not the failure some have accused it of being - but now the onus is on businesses to prove their critics wrong
On the Borderline: The EU CBAM and its place in the world of trade
18 October 2021
October 2021 - The new CISL report ‘On the Borderline: the EU CBAM and its place in the world of trade’ shows unilateral action is risky but may be needed to achieve net zero by 2050.
The future of sustainability in the built environment - a Q&A with Munish Datta
27 September 2021
27 September 2021 - Munish Datta is director at UK Green Building Council where he is responsible for leading the organisations membership strategy and enabling the delivery of its mission to radically improve the sustainability of the built environment. As a Fellow at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, he also empowers senior business leaders & organisations to tackle critical global challenges.
Business Green Net Zero Festival Workshops
15 September 2021
Business Green Net Zero Festival 29 September 2021 - 1 October 2021: CISL is delighted to partner with Business Green on a series of workshops at this year's Net Zero Festival. Details of these sessions are available below. The Net Zero Festival will bring together some of the world's foremost thinkers on what it takes to...
Webinar series: Building Natural Connections
27 July 2021
Building Natural Connections: A series of three chaired talks in the run-up to COP26 that explore how the interdependence of nature, society and economy can be leveraged to provide solutions for a sustainable built environment. The series – hosted by Make Architects’ Future Spaces Foundation, in collaboration with the...
Targeting Net Zero: A strategic framework for business action
5 July 2021
Introduction A net zero emission economy will be essential to maintain a stable global climate. The private sector has a critical role in delivering this and there is a growing body of evidence to demonstrate that it makes good business sense to act. Business action on climate change can inform...
UK business and policy leadership for net zero: analysis of progress to reduce emissions
21 May 2021
May 2021 – A new report from University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership analyses the progress the UK has made towards reducing emissions and meeting its 2030 targets, and looks at the role that policy and clear, sector-specific ambitions have played in supporting the transition.
17 May 2021
With a reputation as one of the most environmentally burdensome industries which also has a fundamental opportunity to support healthy and resilient societies, the built environment sector needs to find a way to lead the transition to a sustainable economy. The operation, maintenance and...
