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


Read more at: The Climate Change Act at 10 years: Where next for UK ambition?
None

The Climate Change Act at 10 years: Where next for UK ambition?

12 July 2018

12 July 2018 – On the ten-year anniversary of the UK Climate Change Act, The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group convened a discussion between leading UK businesses and Parliamentarians to explore setting a net zero carbon emissions target for the UK.


Read more at: Resource Productivity and the Circular Economy: The opportunities for the UK economy

Resource Productivity and the Circular Economy: The opportunities for the UK economy

May 2018 – This paper presents the findings of consultation with members of Business in the Community’s (BITC’s) Circular Economy Taskforce on opportunities for the UK to take a leading global role in resource productivity and to move towards a circular economy. It discusses the opportunities and challenges in accelerating the UK’s transition to a circular economy.


Read more at: Renovation Roadmap: Making Europe’s homes fit for the 21st Century

Renovation Roadmap: Making Europe’s homes fit for the 21st Century

April 2018 – This report draws on insights and experience from 12 businesses who are members of the CLG and its close network and are involved in energy-efficiency renovation of buildings. It highlights the importance of renovating EU homes at scale in order to deliver on the Paris Agreement and take advantage of the associated economic opportunities, and identifies the current barriers to a higher renovation rate as well as promising schemes and experimentations across the EU. It puts forward recommendations for EU Member States and local governments to address these barriers and make the most of this opportunity.


Read more at: Electric avenue: The future of road transport in Europe

Electric avenue: The future of road transport in Europe

November 2017 – This report draws together insights from businesses and industry experts to map the trends toward electrification and automation in the road transport sector. It seeks to make a high-level assessment of the implications and opportunities for European businesses, as well as what policymakers need to do to respond to these trends.


Read more at: European industry in the 21st century: New models for resource productivity
None

European industry in the 21st century: New models for resource productivity

September 2017 – This report is based on interviews with companies that are using circular economy principles to reduce their exposure to risk, and to access new markets. It discusses some of the successful transformations and changes made, obstacles faced, and potential policies for overcoming those obstacles.


Read more at: Market design for a high-renewables European electricity system

Market design for a high-renewables European electricity system

August 2017 – This report was commissioned by CISL to provide a set of policy recommendations for the market design of a future EU electricity system characterised by a dominant share of intermittent renewable energy supply (RES), in line with the stated targets of European governments.


Read more at: 21st century energy: Business reflections on renewables in Europe
This report brings together business stories and interviews with companies with an interest in renewable energy.

21st century energy: Business reflections on renewables in Europe

April 2017 – This report brings together business stories and interviews with companies with an interest in renewable energy. It focuses on EU policies on renewable energy and industry’s role in innovating to deliver it.


Read more at: How Can Funders Accelerate Climate Action to 2018–2020?

How Can Funders Accelerate Climate Action to 2018–2020?

This memo, prepared by Galvanising the Groundswell of Climate Actions with input from CISL, provides a ‘state of play’ of climate action by non-state actors and provides some recommendations for potential funders of the work ahead.


Read more at: UK Industrial Strategy: Navigating a changing world

UK Industrial Strategy: Navigating a changing world

20 January 2017 – This discussion paper has been commissioned by The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group to inform the development of an industrial strategy fit for the 21st century.


Read more at: Business, justice and the new global economy

Business, justice and the new global economy

December 2016 – This new report from CISL provides a framework for business leaders, to help them incorporate considerations of justice into their decision-making and interactions with stakeholders and policymakers as they embrace the changes that will be required in a new global economy.