Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Publications

Our thought leadership provides practical, evidence‑based insights to help decision‑makers across business, finance and policy lead change, shape markets and scale solutions.

107 results

The ClimateWise Principles Independent Review 2024

5 February 2025 - The ClimateWise Principles Independent Review for 2024 represents a landmark year of reporting against an ambitious and challenging set of new Principles. Download the ClimateWise Principles Independent ReviewAboutThe ClimateWise Principles have provided a framework for the insurance industry to disclose climate-related risk and …
Future of Boards Phase 2

29 January 2025 – The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), in partnership with the global law firm DLA Piper, is launching Phase 2 of the Future of Boards research study to support company boards and investors to align business success with sustainability outcomes.Amidst pressure from the US to move the focus of b…
Investing in Tomorrow: A Guide to Building Climate-Resilient Investment Portfolios

15 January 2025 - The climate crisis demands immediate attention—not only to mitigate risks but to adapt and build resilience. This guide serves as a roadmap for investors to build climate resilience within their portfolios and invest in systemic resilience through engagement with the broader ecosystem. Download the guideDeveloped by the Investment…
CISL’s Annual Review 2023-24

19 December 2024 - This report sets out examples of how CISL has worked over the past year in pursuit of a sustainable economy. Read the report2024 has been a pivotal year for CISL and the sustainability movement more widely. New evidence shows the extent of wildlife destruction, global temperature increases have tipped 1.5 degrees creating devasta…
CISL’s 2024 Competitive Sustainability Index: Shaping a new model of European competitiveness ‘Beyond Draghi’

10 December 2024 - In the wake of the Draghi and Letta reports, and Commission President Von der Leyen’s prioritisation of competitiveness at the core of her second-term political agenda, the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is launching the updated 2024 edition of the Competitive Sustainability Index (CSI).Sup…
CISL's COP29 Asks

4 November 2024 – The United Nations’ COP29 conference in Azerbaijan is taking place against a backdrop of geopolitical turbulence and growing urgency. Our four policy ‘asks’ set out what the globe needs in order to secure a safe and stable future for all. Read the briefing AboutWhile globally the rollout of solutions continues to grow, we are fail…
COP29: Business leaders urge UK government to set a world-leading example by setting ‘ambitious’ and ‘investable’ climate targets

26 October 2024 - More than 50 businesses, investors and financial institutions have signed a letter, put forward by the UK Corporate Leaders Group (CLG UK), urging the government to reassert its climate leadership on the world stage.Read the full letter.With the COP29 conference just weeks away, signatories including Unilever UK&I, SSE, IKEA UK&I …
Is reaching net zero a growth and prosperity plan? Economics, tools and actions for a rapidly changing world

24 October 2024 – A policy briefing by the University of Cambridge Zero Policy Forum and London School of Economics (LSE), with contributions from Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, argues the UK government should invest in green infrastructure now or watch productivity lag behind China, the United States and other countries already…
CISL COP16 Briefing

22 October 2024 – The United Nations’ COP16 conference in Colombia is a pivotal opportunity for leaders to set a bold pathway towards a nature-positive future. With a CISL delegation attending COP16 to shift the dial on nature, our COP16 briefing urges leaders to move from greater transparency and commitment to action from governments, business and…
Better business: Re-thinking business models for nature positive outcomes

15 October 2024 - Tweaking business practices such as procurement decisions is not addressing the impact of business on nature at the speed and scale required to meet 2030 nature targets. Transitioning to nature positive aligned business models can accelerate the action needed while addressing companies’ risks and enabling new economic opportunitie…
Scaling Finance for Nature: Barrier Breakdown

15 October 2024 - Private capital can play a critical role in closing the US$700 billion annual biodiversity finance gap and addressing nature’s decline. The report uses the mitigation hierarchy as a lens through which to view how nature finance can contribute towards the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Read the reportThe Centre for Sus…
Africa’s Gas Road to Nowhere: South Africa’s Policy Debate on Using Gas to Accelerate the Energy Transition

25 September 2024 – Our CLG Africa policy paper examines the complex debate on gas use as transition fuel to accelerate South Africa’s renewable energy transition Download the paperThis paper addresses South Africa's critical need to reassess its energy transition strategy, as the country faces increasing pressure to meet its 2050 climate goals. It…
Five Years to Chart a New Future for Aviation - The 2030 Sustainable Aviation Goals report by the AIA

23 September 2024 - If the four 2030 Sustainable Aviation Goals are achieved in the next five years, net zero aviation can be reached by 2050. This new report from the University of Cambridge and the Aviation Impact Accelerator sets out what is required. Read the reportAboutThe aviation sector is at a pivotal moment in its history. Currently, only …
Survival of the Fittest: From ESG to Competitive Sustainability

18 September 2024 – It is time to move on from trying to put ‘sustainability thinking’ into business and instead start putting ‘business thinking’ into sustainability. In our latest report, CISL Interim CEO Lindsay Hooper and CISL Fellow Paul Gilding argue for the need to shift to an agenda of competitive sustainability. Download the report AboutIt…
Examining the place of supermarkets in mitigating local household food insecurity

10 September 2024 – Caroline Lee and Dr Catherine Hammant explore how supermarkets can play their part in mitigating local food insecurity through strategic and place-based partnerships in this new working paper from the CISL Foresight team. Download the reportAboutThe challenge of food insecurity, characterised by individuals and households having…

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Our thought leadership provides practical, evidence‑based insights to help decision‑makers across business, finance and policy lead change, shape markets and scale solutions.