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. Read our position on phasing out fossil fuels. |
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
Why the transition to net zero is business's business
8 April 2021
9 April 2021 - CISL Course Convenor Dimitri Zenghelis unpacks the three major climate change-related risks affecting organisations and illustrates the significant opportunities that will be gained from transitioning to a net zero carbon business model.
Brexit and UK climate leadership: The emerging opportunities and challenges
18 March 2021
A new report from University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership examines the opportunities and challenges for climate leadership in the context of Brexit.
8 December 2020
11 December 2020 – A new framework developed by leading sustainability institute CISL aims to support business planning to become climate neutral by 2050.
Developing the EU’s ‘competitive sustainability’ for a resilient recovery and dynamic growth
16 November 2020
17 November 2020 – This thought-starter paper has been prepared with a view to sharing some initial ideas on the a concept of ‘competitive sustainability’, which lies at the heart of the European Green Deal (EGD) and the EU’s growth strategy. Upcoming investment and policy decisions, such as those on the Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs) and the new EU Industrial Strategy need to focus on this new approach to competitiveness to ensure the EU stands to secure advantage and benefit from the economic opportunities, jobs and emissions reductions from the transition to climate neutrality.
30 September 2020
The University of Cambridge has announced that it aims to divest its £3.5bn endowment fund from investment in fossil fuels by 2030 as part of its overall strategy for its investment portfolio to reach net zero by 2038.
Bank 2030: Accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy
30 January 2020
30 January 2020 – This report authored by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL) Banking Environment Initative (BEI) highlights the need for banks to develop an ‘active mindset’ in order to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy.
12 September 2019
12 September 2019 – The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) launches new leadership group to accelerate climate action in Europe.
Industrial Transformation 2050: Pathways to net-zero emissions from EU Heavy Industry
24 April 2019
April 2019 – The report, supported and co-funded by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), sets out multiple possible pathways the EU could pursue to achieve the full decarbonisation of its heavy industries by 2050.
Achieving a net-zero EU heavy industry by 2050 is possible, claims new report
15 April 2019
25 April 2019 – A new report supported by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) outlines multiple pathways for European energy-intensive industries to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, whilst remaining competitive at a global level.
