The European Commission’s Omnibus I
In February, under pressure to prioritise competitiveness, the European Commission released Omnibus I to ease regulatory burdens. This roundtable explored how to position sustainability as a competitiveness driver through streamlined yet effective standards and how to simplify rules without compromising credibility, especially for SMEs, using tools like the VSME framework.
The UK Modern Industrial Strategy
Clean energy features among eight growth-driving sectors in the government’s ‘Invest 2035’ modern industrial strategy green paper, released in October. Roundtable participants reached a consensus on the need to develop
a comprehensive framework encompassing established sustainability goals — net zero,
social cohesion — together with ESG and geopolitical risks to achieve the strategy’s stated objective of “achieving sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth”
Sustainable development in the Global South
Despite the recent COP29 agreement’s commitment to triple annual climate finance for developing countries to $300bn by 2035 participants expressed concerns that a shifting geopolitical climate would affect investor attitudes, limiting spending.
The Transition Finance Market Review
Released in October 2024, the Review highlighted both the significant challenges and the vast potential of transition finance. McKinsey projects a £1 trillion opportunity for UK companies by 2030, but warns that urgent action is needed to maintain the UK’s competitive edge, as other markets are advancing quickly.
CISL’s competitive sustainability report
Participants at this roundtable of the Policy Liaison Group, chaired by Victoria Collins MP, acknowledged that while ESG disclosures have raised awareness, transformative incentives are key to driving systemic change. Bridging this gap will require bold policy decisions and a shift in business mindset, aligning profitability with sustainability to secure a resilient future.
ESG under Labour
The King’s Speech marked the new Labour government’s green agenda, with a strong focus on the energy transition and sustainability. This session of the PLG engaged with the government’s ambitions, exploring additional priorities as we look to accelerate the green transition.
Group litigation
The rising volume of group litigation cases puts pressure on boardrooms to prioritise ESG strategy and reduce exposure to risk. As group litigation evolves, questions around regulatory mandates, the risk of green hushing, and the ethics behind often massive third-party funding commitments will become more pertinent.
The Future of ESG
A range of factors leads to persistent confusion among investors and corporates, underlining the need for ESG reporting to be more targeted and specific. Regulation is supporting this transition, but there are questions around how best to harness value creation, and how to fill the “vacuum” between corporates (sustainability) and investors (ESG).
Corporate governance
The group’s inaugural roundtable explored a diverse range of topics in the UK’s corporate governance landscape – reform, the regulatory scope of the FRC, changes to the Governance Code, and the review of the Stewardship Code. We were honoured to host Richard Moriarty, CEO of the Financial Reporting Council, and Peter Swabey, Policy and Research Director at the Chartered Governance Institute, who led the discussion.
