• ERM launches the Council on Sustainability Transformation to guide private sector leaders on sustainability challenges.
• The Council’s first position paper calls for stronger communication between companies and investors to align decarbonization plans with long-term business value.
• Founding members include former global executives from IKEA, Anglo American, and Royal DSM, leveraging cross-industry expertise.

ERM, the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, has launched the Council on Sustainability Transformation to drive corporate progress on sustainability amid economic and political pressures. The Council brings together senior leaders from corporations, governments, and academia to offer practical strategies for achieving ambitious environmental and social targets.

Who’s on board:

The Council’s members are recognized for leading complex sustainability transformations:

Peter Agnefjäll, former CEO of IKEA Group, current Chair of Ahold Delhaize.

Mark Cutifani, former CEO of Anglo American.

Connie Hedegaard, former EU Commissioner for Climate Action.

Naoko Ishii, former CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility.

Hixonia Nyasulu, former Chair of Sasol, current board member of Anglo American.

Feike Sijbesma, former CEO of Royal DSM, current Chair of Philips.

Johannes Teyssen, former CEO of E.ON.

Rachel Kyte, former CEO of the UN’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative and an original Council member, now serves as an alumna.

Focus areas:

The Council’s guidance will be disseminated through position papers addressing corporate-investor engagement and sustainable innovation. The first paper advocates for new approaches to communication between companies and investors to unlock climate solutions.

Key point: Companies need to better articulate how their decarbonization plans align with future-proofing their business, the paper argues, while investors need clearer frameworks to evaluate these plans.

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ERM’s Global Leader of Sustainability & Risk Sabine Hoefnagel emphasized the importance of collaboration: “ERM has always been committed to driving meaningful change at scale. The formation of the Council on Sustainability Transformation reflects our belief that collaboration between sustainability leaders across industries is essential to solving today’s most pressing sustainability challenges.”

The Council’s inaugural sessions took place at COP28 in Dubai (2023) and Climate Week NYC (2024), with further discussions scheduled for COP29 in Baku (2024). These gatherings will shape future papers and recommendations for executive leadership.

“By bringing together pioneers who have successfully navigated complex sustainability transformations, we aim to provide actionable insights for the world’s largest corporations as they balance climate action with financial resilience,” Hoefnagel added.

Future position papers will address feedback gathered from these key events, strengthening the private sector’s ability to implement sustainable strategies effectively.

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