skip to content

Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Achieving Zero

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 


Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) plays a key role working with its partners to accelerate this transition. Through our  foresight, education, convening and innovation we help hundreds of companies and thousands of individuals every year to deliver transformational change and impact for a net zero economy.  

 

CISL insights


 

The Dubai hosted 28th annual session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention

Read more

Our position on phasing out fossil fuels.

Read more

 
 

Helping businesses align their strategies with net zero.

Read more

Tools, frameworks and thought leadership from the Centre for Sustainable Finance.

Read more

 
 

Case studies from startups and SMEs on their net zero journey.

Read more

 

Thought leadership and knowledge hubs from the Corporate Leaders groups.

Read more

 
 

Programmes and courses for business


 

CISL’s flagship international programme equips leaders with the knowledge, commitment and inspiration to turn sustainability
trends into strategic business decisions.

Read more

Online short course to help business professionals upskill themselves in climate change risk, adaptation measures, and low carbon innovation.

Read more

 

 

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.

Supporters

 

 

Resources and research


How do we protect growth in a world of ‘new normals’?

23 October 2014

November 2011 – Last Friday the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approved a new report on ‘Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters for Climate Change Adaptation’. This is compelling reading both for those interested in climate change science, and for those working everyday to protect future economic and social activity.

Moving beyond the uncertainty of climate change risk

23 October 2014

April 2012 – Inherent uncertainty means that every statement made in relation to climate change risk must be caveated, but that is not an excuse for inaction.

David Buckland: A simple and undeniable truth

23 October 2014

December 2012 – For the past 12 years, the Cape Farewell project has embedded climate scientists with artists, writers and film-makers to address what has been described as humanity’s greatest challenge: anthropogenic climate change. The two intellectual tribes of scientists and artists have been surprised at the closeness of their shared quest to define how we can comprehend the complexities of the climate challenge. Both have benefited from each other’s ambition to envision a cultural shift that could lead towards sustainable societies.

David Reiner: Perspectives on Carbon Capture and Storage

23 October 2014

December 2012 – Dr David Reiner’s research follows international negotiations on climate change, the consequent development of national climate change and energy policies, and public perception and communications regarding energy and climate policies. Much of his research focuses on regulatory design in energy and environmental policy, such as in setting goals in regulation and on wider public attitudes towards energy – for example, the upcoming rollout of smart meters and its likely impact on consumer demand.

Julian Allwood: Sustainable Materials With Both Eyes Open

23 October 2014

December 2012 – The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that global greenhouse gas reductions of 50–85 per cent will be needed by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change, representing a radical shift away from today’s fossil-fuel-derived economy. This begs the question: is such a reduction achievable, and if so, how? This is one of the key challenges tackled through the research of Dr Julian Allwood and his Low Carbon Materials Processing Group (LCMPG) at the University of Cambridge.

Mike Brown: Hard limits flexible strategies

23 October 2014

December 2012 – COP17 – the 17th Conference of the Parties for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – proved a catalyst for South African business to engage more deeply with the challenges of climate change. What became clear through my attendance at the event, and my active participation in the South African Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, is that the global climate system is not open to negotiation.

Carlos Fadigas: Business as part of the solution

23 October 2014

December 2012 – There are many roles for business in developing sustainability, but the most important is to integrate sustainability principles into business strategy. Sustainability means much more than just worrying about the environmental impacts of business operations – this only represents ‘business as usual’. I prefer the idea of looking for the business opportunities that could arise from the huge challenge of trying to raise living standards for a likely population of 9 billion in 2050, yet remaining within the limits of our planet.

Sandrine Dixson Decleve Leadership Creating the Space to Act

23 October 2014

December 2012 – Europe’s policy leaders at all levels of the political ladder – from the EU institutions to the member states – are confronted daily with short-term economic challenges. As a result, sustainability and climate issues are often set aside, and leadership is waning.

Polly Courtice: The critical link: strategy and sustainability in leadership development

23 October 2014

January 2013 – Over the past 25 years, business has shifted its response to sustainability issues from a focus on compliance and reputation management to longer-term risk management and building competitive advantage.

Mike Peirce: Introduction – The Future in Practice

23 October 2014

January 2013 – The Future in Practice; the idea of the long term, and of avoiding ‘short-termism’, has become a dominant topic in business and sustainability debates.