Senior sustainability leaders, policymakers and business representatives gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels on 11 June for the latest meeting of the European Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Platform, organised by the UN Global Compact.
The event sought to address how businesses can continue investing in sustainability while responding to a changing regulatory, economic and geopolitical environment, in the process strengthening competitiveness, resilience and long-term value creation.
Enabling environment
This included discussions on creating the right enabling environment for companies to invest in sustainability actions that have real impact, through predictable policy signals and incentives that reward ambition.
It also focused on how businesses are responding to increasing expectations from investors, regulators and other stakeholders, as well as addressing the challenges created by economic uncertainty, technological change and geopolitical developments.
‘Increasingly interdependent’
“Europe’s competitiveness and sustainability ambitions are not opposing objectives; they are increasingly interdependent,” commented Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and executive director of the UN Global Compact. “Businesses are ready to invest in the transition, but they cannot do it alone.
“Unlocking long-term growth and resilience requires an enabling environment built on policy coherence, regulatory predictability and incentives that support innovation and investment. It also requires stronger collaboration between business, policymakers and civil society to ensure sustainability remains a driver of economic prosperity. The companies that will lead tomorrow’s economy need frameworks that reward ambition, accelerate innovation and create a level playing field for sustainable growth.”
The event also drew on findings from a recent UN Global Compact discussion paper, entitled Strategic Dilemmas Shaping the Future of Corporate Sustainability, which explored the changing responsibilities of chief sustainability officers and the strategic decisions facing organisations as sustainability becomes more closely integrated with business operations and risk management.
The European CSO Platform was established by the UN Global Compact’s Regional Hub Europe to strengthen the business case for sustainability, equip companies to take meaningful action and catalyse collective solutions. It forms part of the UN Global Compact’s wider strategy for 2026 to 2030. Read more here.
