Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
CISL is an impact-led institute within the University of Cambridge that activates leadership globally to transform economies for people, nature and climate. Through its global network and hubs in Cambridge, Cape Town and Brussels, CISL works with leaders and innovators across business, finance and government to accelerate action for a sustainable future.
Trusted since 1988 for its rigour and pioneering commitment to learning and collaboration, the Institute creates safe spaces to challenge and support those with the power to act.
CISL also houses an innovation hub, Canopy, also headquartered in Cambridge in the Institute's award-winning sustainable retrofit, The Entopia Building. Canopy's purpose is to accelerate sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship by uniquely integrating academia, corporates, and startups as a living lab for pioneering sustainability-led innovation. Its support of purpose-driven startups enables ventures and organisations to create impactful, commercially relevant solutions for global sustainability challenges.
“The need for CISL’s work has never been greater and I’m delighted to be working with an exceptional team and international network of collaborators at this important juncture for our collective efforts to secure a sustainable future. There is a narrowing window of opportunity to address global challenges and, in spite of decades of evidence, commitments, and innovation, we are not on track.”
The greatest opportunity for CISL’s impact lies in market transformation to align economic competitiveness with sustainability. This means we have to contribute to reshaping markets and incentives to reward superior sustainability performance and foster and scale innovative solutions. The task ahead of us is one of building geopolitical, commercial, industrial and innovation strategies that are not only relevant to today’s concerns, but that also deliver long-term resilience and a cleaner, greener, fairer and more prosperous future.
Our focus will be on working with the private sector – from multinational businesses to entrepreneurial startups, from major financial institutions to next generation wealth owners - in order to support and empower them to contribute to genuine change, both shifting ‘the rules of the game’, and also innovating to transform sectors, from aviation and buildings to food and land use.”
CEO
Products and services
CISL Convening
We organise and enable collective leadership and action to transform economies, systems and sectors. Our collaborations shape new norms, narratives, policies and markets, supporting leading networks and institutions around the world.
CISL-convened sustainability leadership groups
CISL has pioneered partnerships between business & finance leaders, policy-makers and academics to help unlock the economic change required to deliver the safe and sustainable economy of the future and achieve the goals of critical international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Business leadership for a sustainable economy
Corporate Leaders Groups (UK and Europe)
Membership group of businesses committed to supporting the transformation to competitive, sustainable, inclusive economies that will deliver net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through exchange of evidence-based ideas and influential discussions with policymakers and peers, the Corporate Leaders Groups advocate for robust business and policy solutions to the environmental and sustainability challenges facing our planet.
Corporate Leaders Network
Global network bringing together business groups representing more than 450 companies across the globe.
Taskforce for Climate Neutral and Circular Materials and Products
Brings together companies committed to using climate neutral and sustainable materials, raising awareness about the need for measures to help decarbonise materials.
Business and Nature
CISL collaborates with companies to identify what the ecological crisis means for their businesses and take steps to transform their operations and strategies. We provide the structured path that businesses need to establish sustainability solutions and create momentum at scale.
Financial system transformation
Centre for Sustainable Finance
Through a unique combination of deep industry collaboration, high-calibre research, and exceptional education programmes, the Centre for Sustainable Finance (CSF) helps financial institutions to play a leading role in building a more sustainable economy. Working with over 50 global financial institutions across banking, insurance and investment, CSF provides the insight needed to challenge current assumptions and lead change.
ClimateWise (insurance)
comprises leading insurers, reinsurers, brokers and industry service providers who share a commitment to reducing the impact of climate change on society.
Read more
Banking Environment Initiative
a group of global banks committed to pioneering actionable pathways towards a sustainable economy.
Investment Leaders Group
Leading investment managers and asset owners with over $9 trillion under management working to help shift the investment chain towards responsible, long-term value creation.
Sector level transformation
Aviation Impact Accelerator
The AIA is an international group of practitioners and academics convened by the University of Cambridge. Benefitting from its ability to draw from a multi-disciplinary range of expertise, it develops interactive, evidence-based models, simulations, and visualisations. This provides tools for decision-makers and the wider engaged public to understand the pathways to net zero flight.
Fashion Pact
CISL’s partnership with The Fashion Pact and Conservation International, Textile Exchange and the Science Based Targets Network which provides an introduction to science-based targets for nature, helping fashion, apparel, and textile organisations enable an equitable and nature positive future.
Water catchment management
CISL convened the Catchment Leadership Network, which aims to gather commitment and action for a multisector approach to catchment management.
Multisector alliances
Multi-stakeholder alliances
We are part of multiple networks and alliances, enabling us to expand the reach and impact of our work, giving us valuable insight and influence into national and international debates as well as opportunities to raise political, policy and market ambition and to contribute to effective international solutions.
CISL's Innovation Services
CISL runs the Canopy. An innovation hub, housed in CISL’s award-winning sustainable retrofit, The Entopia Building. Canopy's purpose is to accelerate sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship by uniquely integrating academia, corporates, and startups.
Through Canopy's workspace, programmes, partnerships and our global community of 500+ entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and corporations we support purpose-driven startups, foster corporate innovation, and scale systems-level change to enable ventures and organisations to create impactful, commercially relevant solutions for sustainability challenges.
Whether you want to join our startup community and workspace, attend our programmes and events, join our online course for sustainability innovation, or enable industry-level innovation we can work with you to lead the way.
- Join the Canopy - our startup community and workspace
- Accelerator Programmes and Events - face to face programmes, events, webinars and hackathons, designed to provide startups and small businesses with the knowledge and skills to advance sustainability.
- Canopy's Global Innovation - Create next-generation products and business models with the world’s most disruptive startup innovators, facilitated by the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership's Innovation Team.
- Our Built Environment Living Lab - Join us in our award-winning sustainable retrofit, The Entopia Building. Where innovators, academics and pioneering companies in the built environment can come together to pilot and test new interventions in the design, operation and use of lived spaces – and to communicate and share the results for public benefit.
- Sustainability Innovation Education - Join our online short course which shares insights from CISL's expert Innovation team, along with frameworks to help you and your business integrate sustainability into your innovation strategy - and thrive in the transition.
CISL's Education Services
For over three decades, CISL has been at the forefront of sustainability education.
We have a deep understanding of the changing global context and access to a wealth of world-leading research into sustainable business. Our programmes draw upon leading academics, practitioners and innovators to help inform business strategy and inspire action.
Programmes include:
- Accredited Postgraduate Programmes with Cambridge University
- Online Learning Courses
- Tailored Programmes for Business
- Open application seminars for executives and Board members
For over three decades we have been at the forefront of sustainability education, delivering programmes for executives and mid-career professionals looking to embed sustainability into their careers and their organisations. We have a deep understanding of the changing global context and access to a wealth of world-leading research into sustainable business.
More than just sustainability training, CISL’s education courses draw upon leading academics, practitioners and innovators to help inform business strategy and drive transformational change. Participants leave with the knowledge and skills to shape strategic interventions that will deliver impact and long-term value for their organisations.
CISL's Foresight Services
Developing pioneering ideas, research and resources for better decision-making and system design.
We draw upon multi-disciplinary academic resources from across the University of Cambridge, insights from our global network and beyond to generate actionable ideas and evidence for a sustainable economy. Our frameworks and tools are designed to shape and scale transformative leadership and innovation across business, finance and policy.
