Corporate Leaders Groups

📢 Business leaders urge the UK government to set a world-leading example by setting ‘ambitious’ and ‘investable’ climate targets. Read the full letter coordinated by the UK Business Group Alliance for Net Zero (BGA) ➡ https://lnkd.in/ePcfRGCd More than 50 businesses, investors and financial institutions have signed a letter to the Prime Minister, put forward by the BGA, urging the government to reassert its climate leadership on the world stage 🌍 With the #COP29 conference just weeks away, signatories including the UK Corporate Leaders Groups (CLG UK), Unilever, SSE plc, IKEA and BT Group are calling for the UK to be one of the first countries to announce an ‘ambitious and investable’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035 🎯   The letter states that the NDC must align with the Paris Agreement and the UK’s 2050 #NetZero emissions target - and be underpinned by credible delivery mechanisms that encourage other countries to follow suit. 🤝 By working together as businesses, investors, financial institutions and government, we can be a powerful catalyst for global change. To coincide with the letter, CLG UK has also published a report that shows how the UK can regain its climate leadership position over the next few years through five key actions. If implemented, these policies will close the 2030 delivery gap: 🔌Deliver on electrification: incentivise and facilitate large-scale electrification, while phasing out the use of fossil fuels 🤝 Deliver on markets: support decarbonisation through market creation 💡 Deliver on skills: plan and prepare for a future-fit workforce 🏠 Deliver on homes: implement comprehensive and stable policies to ensure UK homes are comfortable, energy efficient and low carbon 🍃 Align climate and nature targets: make climate change mitigation, adaptation and nature targets mutually reinforcing Beverley Cornaby, Chair of the BGA and Director of CLG UK, said: 🗣 “If the Government can accelerate policy action towards achieving its 2030 climate target, the UK has an opportunity for growth, innovation, investment and to build resilience. The private sector stands ready to work with policy makers in delivering this, with over 50 signatories calling for a new era of UK climate leadership, showing what we already knew: businesses have consistently shown their support for net zero ambition and action. The UK government needs to demonstrate leadership in this decade of delivery."  #BGALetter #BGANetZero #CLGUK #2035NDC #EnergyTransition #climateleadership #climateaction #businessaction #naturepositive

⌛ H️ave you registered yet? On 10 December 2024, 13:00 – 14:30 CET, CISL will launch the 2024 edition of the Competitive Sustainability Index. This updated and extended second edition provides fresh insights into the EU’s competitive sustainability performance, benchmarking it against major global players like the US and China, and highlights the urgent challenges and the strategic opportunities facing the EU. During the launch event, we will be joined by:   Martin Porter (Executive Chair, CISL & report co-author) (Moderator) David Cembrero (Senior Associate, CISL & report co-author) Ann Mettler (Vice President, Breakthrough Energy ) Michaela Saisana (Head of the Science for Modelling, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Joint Research Centre, EU Science, Research and Innovation) Alexandr Hobza (Chief Economist, DG Research & Innovation, European Commission) Linda Kalcher (Executive Director, Strategic Perspectives) Ramon Arratia (Chief Sustainability Officer and VP Public Affairs, Ball Corporation)   Gonzalo Saenz de Miera (Climate Change Director, Iberdrola) Suzana Carp (Deputy Executive Director, Cleantech for Europe) Ursula Woodburn (Director, CISL Europe)   🔍 Discover how the Index can drive competitive sustainability at the heart of Europe’s industrial strategy and sustainable development. Join the event https://lnkd.in/eCASzeKZ     #CompetitiveSustainability #SustainableEconomy

As COP29 Azerbaijan came to a close in the early hours of this morning, we examine the role of the UK in the final outcome. While the overall agreement fell short on what was hoped, the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) announcement in week one by PM, Keir Starmer, and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero - of an 81% decrease in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 - has set it on its path to net zero, encouraging other countries to follow suit with ambitious statements.  Our UK Corporate Leaders Group Director, Beverley Cornaby, explores what this means for UK climate leadership. “At a time when global climate leadership was desperately needed and the overarching COP29 outcome - particularly on finance - is disappointingly unambitious, the UK has shown it is back as a global climate leader. As one of just a few parties that came forward early with an enhanced, 1.5-aligned NDC target, the UK has set a high bar for others to follow. However, for the UK to firmly regain its position as a climate leader, it also needs to deploy action, and fast.  “The announcements the UK made during COP29 show how it is ensuring implementation happens via the alliances and initiatives it is leading or part of. This includes launching the Global Clean Power Alliance and signing the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge. As well as financial pledges of over £300m new support for poorer countries. “The UK has demonstrated that even if the COP process does not produce an ambitious outcome, it is still possible for strong leadership at a national level to support global goals. Over the coming months, pressure is needed for more of the parties to come forward with ambitious and investable NDCs. As governments will not be able to deliver these alone - with the need for the private sector to be on board - these should set out the critical role of business and unlocking private investment in supporting that implementation.”    #CISLCOP29 #UKAtCOP29 #BusinessLeadership

🌍 Strong laws, stronger businesses   Two weeks ago, we joined 60+ companies and 180+ civil society organisations in calling on the incoming European Commission to focus on smart, effective, and ambitious implementation of climate and environmental legislation. Today, this message is more urgent than ever.   📢 Discussions about potential omnibus legislation that could merge critical frameworks—Taxonomy, CSRD, and CSDDD—are raising significant concerns. While simplification is important for workable reporting standards, businesses need clarity, consistency, and stability—not weakened ambition or unpredictability.   New laws on corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence promote: • Greater climate ambition and transparency in environmental action; • A level playing field, applying equally to EU and foreign companies. ⚠️ Deregulation—whether through lowering environmental or social standards, reneging on international commitments, or reducing the EU’s climate ambition—threatens the stable and predictable legal framework businesses depend on for long-term planning and competitiveness.   🔑 As highlighted in our joint letter, strong environmental standards foster innovation, drive long-term competitiveness, and ensure a just, resilient, and sustainable transition for Europe.   We urge the European Commission to prioritise support for a robust implementation that maintain the ambition of the European Green Deal while addressing challenges and provide practical support to private actors who are in the front line of implementation.   💼 The road to a future-proof Europe must balance ambition with practical support for implementation, ensuring Europe remains competitive and sustainable. 📚 Read more in our Business Agenda: https://bit.ly/3RLsHsuC #EuropeanGreenDeal #Sustainability #EnvironmentalPolicy #BusinessLeadership #FutureOfEurope

📩 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐬! 📝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨-𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲! 🌿 🌱 🌍 CLG Europe is looking for a dynamic consultant to co-produce a report for CLG Europe on the political economy mapping of nature-positive policy in Europe. 🔍 About the Project: We are inviting submissions for competitive proposals to collaborate with us and deliver services to the University of Cambridge in partnership with CISL Europe. This unique opportunity involves contributing to an analysis that explores the obstacles and opportunities around shifting land-use policies towards more sustainability in Europe. 🌐 Context: CLG Europe has been a dedicated supporter of nature positive action at the European and global level, and came forward for instance to secure the adoption of the Nature Restoration Law earlier this year. There’s a need to continue on that path, as environmental and biodiversity crisis are worsening, and CLG Europe wishes to develop an approach that can contribute to broadening the support for nature positive policies in the EU. 📝 How to Get Involved: If you are a consultant passionate about sustainability, business, agriculture, and nature, with sound knowledge of the EU policy environment and eager to contribute to a green and sustainable future, than we want to hear from you! Review the specifications in the link below and submit your competitive proposal. 📬 Application Deadline: If you are interested in applying, please submit the following information to clg.europe@cisl.cam.ac.uk by close of business on 26 November: • CV(s) (max 4 pages per person) • Quotation (including staff cost breakdown, excluding VAT) • Description of the approach you would take (max 2 pages) • Overview of project timeline for delivery by proposed date (max 1 page) • Examples of relevant publications and writing samples (max 5 pages) 🗓️ Contract Award Decision: The University expects to decide the award of the contract by 16 Dec 💻 Find out more: bit.ly/3Z2NPr9 Roger Martinez-Dolz Adeline Rochet Harry Greenfield Edmund Dickens Elizabeth Clark Anum Yousaf Sheikh

As Martin Porter, Executive Chair CISL Europe, says “To find a stronger basis for a genuinely new European Competitiveness Deal and a Clean Industrial Deal, the EU needs to go ‘beyond Draghi’ and into competitive sustainability.” As the EU faces mounting economic and geopolitical pressures at home and internationally to step up as a climate leader, the key question is how do we redefine competitiveness in this new reality? The answer lies in competitive sustainability— a new economic thinking that emphasises purpose-driven innovation, focusing on solutions that enhance social welfare within our planet's boundaries, instead of viewing economic productivity as the only growth indicator. ⌛ Join us on 10th December to explore how the 2nd Competitive Sustainability Index can place this approach at the heart of Europe’s industrial strategy and sustainable development. Register 👉 https://lnkd.in/eCASzeKZ #SustainableEconomy #CompetitiveSustainability #Innovation #CleanIndustry 

🇧🇷📢 In response to the UK Prime Minister officially launching the Global Clean Power Alliance at the #G20 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last night, Beverley Cornaby, Director of CISL's Policy and Systems Change Collaborations team, said: "Global carbon emissions target will not be met without a significant acceleration of clean energy and the transition away from fossil fuels. Agreed at COP28 last year, the tripling renewables and doubling energy efficiency targets now need to be delivered. The new Global Clean Power Alliance launched by the UK is aimed at helping the countries most at risk of being left behind in their own energy transition through unlocking finance and access to the technology they need. In delivering its own clean power by 2030 mission, the UK is now taking a lead in supporting the global transition." Global Clean Power Alliance will unite countries to speed up the clean energy transition globally, while bolstering the UK’s energy security and creating thousands of jobs, with 12 countries signing up to join its first mission. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/d2cNUpdJ #GlobalCleanPowerAlliance #2030 #UKPolicy Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 10 Downing Street

🌏 On the need for business to attend the likes of #COP29, Julie Kjestrup, head of policy at CLG member VELUX, said: “It’s a bit like not showing up for your football team just because they’re losing. It doesn’t work like that.” Jesper Brodin, head of fellow CLG member Ingka Group, is also quoted in this The Times article: https://lnkd.in/ezwKGeqY

The Corporate Leaders Groups (CLG) delegation engaged Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) during a closed-door roundtable at COP29 Azerbaijan. The discussion included CLG member businesses, as well as representatives from Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and We Mean Business Coalition, and focused on what business needs from the European parliament to drive action on climate change and to build on the theory of competitive sustainability. 🔑Key takeaways included: 🔐Both businesses and investors are looking for consistency, clarity and security across policy. When policies are rolled back (e.g. ban on internal combustion engine vehicles), the incumbent often wins rather than the innovative companies trying to scale up clean technologies. 📜It's important for the #COP29 delegations to finalise all aspects of Article 6; and business would like to see steps towards global carbon pricing. 💸Work is needed on the overall narrative of competitiveness: we need to be brave and show that this is not just about climate, but also about the economy; it’s not just environmental, but industrial. The benefits to markets, business and economies is vast and winning on the climate and nature agenda will give a competitive edge to those who engage. 🎯This COP also needs to deliver on finance – and it needs to be good enough to keep trust with the Global South. Strong statements from countries are needed with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and their New Collective Quantified Goal on finance (NCQG) for business to invest and get finance moving. 🔋There is a need for a Capital Market Union. This is the easiest way to deploy capital and free up capital requirements for certain critical infrastructure – not just renewables, but also extensions such as batteries. 🤝Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) require support to help them with reporting requirements. We shouldn’t forget the SMEs who find it hard from capacity and capability POV to complete those requirements. 🦾It’s time to drive forward implementation plans and bring in real-world solutions – we can’t keep discussing without actioning. Our upcoming Competitive Sustainability Index report will provide policymakers, corporate decision-makers, researchers and other interested civil society stakeholders with insight and evidence that bolsters the paradigm shift in economic thinking that the sustainability transition represents. Stay tuned via our Business Leadership hub: https://lnkd.in/e4vCevvu #COP29 #CISLCOP29 #COP29Baku Lindsay Hooper Eliot Whittington James Cole Ursula Woodburn Adele Williams Laura Cochrane-Davies Dr Nina Seega Viola A. M. Isabelle Cross Aoife Blanchard Tsvetelina Kuzmanova Jessica Attard

♻️ The EU has an opportunity to make the circular economy central to its economic and industrial future. As Martin Porter, Executive Chair of CLG Europe, highlights, embedding circular principles across the EU’s highest policy levels is essential—not only for achieving #CompetitiveSustainability but also for enhancing EU autonomy and delivering environmental and economic benefits for all. 🚀 Now it's the time for the incoming Commission to prioritise circular economy within its competition policy and Clean Industrial Deal, encouraging circular products that are affordable and the preferred choice for consumers. By integrating circularity into its industrial and market strategies and communicating its everyday benefits to citizens, the EU can demonstrate that circularity is not just an environmental goal, but a real advantage for all Europeans. Read more in our report: https://bit.ly/3ZhCjbF Stéphane Séjourné, Jessika Roswall