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.

184 results

A Robust ETS for a Competitive and Decarbonised EU – CLG Europe View on the EU ETS Post-2030 Reform

26 May 2026 - CLG Europe calls for the reinforcement of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), as a strong, cost-effective, predictable and long-term investment framework that drives power and industrial decarbonisation, innovation and European competitiveness. clg_europe_view_on_the_eu_ets_post-2030_reform_may_2026-1.jpg …
Resilience-Adjusted Credit Risk: Operationalising climate adaptation in financial decision-making

26 May 2026 – A report by CISL’s Banking Environment Initiative (BEI) outlines an approach to embed physical risk, insurance, and resilience into financial decision-making. Download the Resilience-Adjusted Credit Risk report: About The report, developed by CISL’s Banking Environment Initiative (BEI), highlights how physical climate risk is accele…
Beyond the illusion of innovative climate finance at scale in Africa: A market-informed blueprint for Kenya’s just and resilient climate transition

20 May 2026 - This paper examines why climate finance is not scaling in Kenya despite strong ambition, advanced financial inclusion and progressive policy frameworks, and what will be required to close the gap between climate finance ambition and delivery. beyond_the_illusion_of_innovative_cover.jpg Download the paper Ab…
Ensuring EU Budget Delivers on Europe’s Strategic Priorities: Business View on Driving Investment into a Competitive, Decarbonised and Resilient EU

28 April 2026 – In a position paper on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), CLG Europe calls for an EU budget aligned with Europe’s industrial transformation clg_europe_public_finance_position_cover.jpg Read the full position here Europe is entering a defining decade. Rising geopolitical tensions, intensifying gl…
The European Industry Framework and lead markets: driving innovation, competitiveness and strategic autonomy in the EU

22 April 2026 - Europe has a €100 billion pipeline of industrial decarbonisation projects ready to deploy – but many face stalling due to insufficient market demand and inconsistent signals to investors. This report explores how European lead markets, supported by the Clean Industrial Deal and the Industrial Accelerator Act, can unlock investment i…
Aligning business models with a nature positive economy: from theory to practice

14 April 2026 – The world faces a global nature crisis, which is impacting the real economy and its key actors including businesses, governments and financial institutions. The global economy must take account of nature, which underpins its resilience and long-term stability. This requires a transition to a nature positive economy and to new busine…
Enhancing international private climate finance to green development in Africa: Why private finance is not flowing to prima facie opportunities

9 April 2026 - This paper examines why international private climate finance is not flowing at scale to green development opportunities in Africa that appear commercially viable, and what will be required to change that. Download the reportThis report from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) explores how Afric…
From Innovation to Impact: Scaling Climate Solutions to Transform Markets

23 March 2026 - This report sets out how the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) supports innovation with the potential to reshape markets, and the impact of this work over the past five years.Download the reportAboutAcross sectors, markets are being reshaped by structural pressures linked to climate change, natu…
CLG Europe Statement on Electrification

16 March 2026 - Leading companies and business networks, representing the whole energy value chain from generators to users across the EU, underline the urgency and importance of scaling up clean electrification of the region. clg-europe-statement-on-electrification_cover.jpg Read the letter in full For decades, the EU has …
Insurability as a resilience signal

18 March 2026 - ClimateWise has published a new briefing outlining how insurability is one of the earliest signals of whether assets, sectors, and entire economies can survive the accelerating impacts of physical climate risk. Download the full briefingInsurability represents a threshold where insurance is available and affordable. When this signal…
Breaking Down Silos: Navigating the Intersection of Environmental and Social risks for Investors

11 March 2026 - Environmental and social risks are compounding across economies and portfolios, yet most risk frameworks assess them in isolation. This report provides a practical, systems-based approach to help investors understand how these interconnected risks amplify financial exposure – particularly in high-impact sectors like agrifood – and o…
Roots revival: Why nature-based carbon removals are a key opportunity for Europe

10 February 2026 – CLG Europe, convened by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, releases a Business Briefing examining how high-integrity nature-based carbon removals can help close Europe’s climate gap while strengthening nature recovery, competitiveness and resilience. roots-revival-cover.jpg Download …
Restoring Human Progress: Winning citizens’ support for actions on climate and nature

5 February 2026 – As citizens across G7 countries are losing belief in the future, leaders face increasing difficulty in taking bold action on climate change and nature loss. A new report, produced by CISL and Zero Ideas, explores how to rebuild public support by restoring human progress as a motivating vision, one that resonates with citizens, pro…
The ClimateWise Principles Independent Review 2025

3 February 2026 - The ClimateWise Principles Independent Review for 2025 reveals momentum building on transition plans and a culture of continued improvement, despite a complex external environment.Download the ClimateWise Principles Independent ReviewAboutThe ClimateWise Principles have provided a framework for the insurance industry to disclose c…
Quotes about The ClimateWise Principles Independent Review 2025

Dr. Nina Seega – Director, Centre for Sustainable Finance, CISL, said: “In a year marked by a global recalibration of sustainability reporting, it is encouraging to see the insurance industry moving forward with quiet determination. Seeing such a strong baseline in our first-ever assessment of transition plans is particularly heartening. It shows t…

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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.