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Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Read more at: Beyond the Myths: From Perceptions to Practice in Scaling Blended Finance to EMDEs

Beyond the Myths: From Perceptions to Practice in Scaling Blended Finance to EMDEs

10 July 2025 – Despite the promise of blended finance to mobilise private capital in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) at scale, persistent risk perceptions, ecosystem fragmentation, and structural barriers continue to hinder scale. This practitioner-led report distils insights from key stakeholders to unpack the current perceptions of risks and highlight actionable pathways to unlock private investment. The findings underscore the need for coordinated efforts to improve data, market infrastructure, and policy alignment across the blended finance ecosystem.


Read more at: ClimateWise welcomes its new Programme Director
Felicity Hall

ClimateWise welcomes its new Programme Director

20 June 2025

20 June 2025 - ClimateWise, the insurance industry leadership group facilitated by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), has announced that Felicity Hall is its new Programme Director.


Read more at: The ClimateWise Principles Independent Review 2024

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.


Read more at: Investing in Tomorrow: A Guide to Building Climate-Resilient Investment Portfolios

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.


Read more at: Scaling Finance for Nature: Barrier Breakdown

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 more at: Nature-related financial opportunity use case: Debt-for-nature swap supported by credit insurance for marine conservation

Nature-related financial opportunity use case: Debt-for-nature swap supported by credit insurance for marine conservation

5 June 2024 - CISL’s ClimateWise, in collaboration with MS Amlin, has published one of the first nature-related financial opportunities use cases, showcasing a debt-for-nature swap supported by credit insurance for marine conservation in Ecuador.


Read more at: Nature-related financial opportunity use case: The role of mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses in supporting and protecting near-shore fisheries in Bolinao, the Philippines

Nature-related financial opportunity use case: The role of mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses in supporting and protecting near-shore fisheries in Bolinao, the Philippines

5 June 2024 - CISL’s ClimateWise, in collaboration with Howden, the international insurance intermediary group, has published one of the first nature-related financial opportunities use cases, showcasing the role of mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses in supporting and protecting near-shore fisheries in Bolinao, the Philippines.


Read more at: Broadening the horizon: How CFOs and Finance Functions can help drive corporate sustainability

Broadening the horizon: How CFOs and Finance Functions can help drive corporate sustainability

1 February 2024 - A business briefing produced by CISL and Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) examines the implications for CFOs and Finance Functions in supporting their businesses to become aligned with a sustainable future.


Read more at: Financing Africa’s Low Carbon Transition

Financing Africa’s Low Carbon Transition

30 January 2024 - A policy briefing by CISL examines how there is a $1.8 trillion gap to fund the transition to low carbon economies in Africa.


Read more at: Sustainable Finance
Sustainable Finance Hub

Sustainable Finance

The finance sector has a critical role in supporting our transition to a sustainable future. However, it's widely recognised that today's system does not reward long term thinking. Often, it can actually work against efforts to build a sustainable economy. Through our convening, research, education...