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
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.
Online short course to help business professionals upskill themselves in climate change risk, adaptation measures, and low carbon innovation.
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
How does the built environment create value for people, nature and climate as demands on the sector grow? 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...