Listicle:

Net zero: how can managers shift the dial?

Written by Dave Waller Wednesday 26 November 2025

At the launch event for CMI’s Leading the Pathway to Net Zero report, a panel of experts shared their top sustainability tips for businesses and managers

“Sustainability is no longer a standalone environmental issue. It’s increasingly a core business skill set.”

So said Petra Wilton, CMI’s director of policy and external affairs, at the launch event for our new research report, Leading the Pathway to Net Zero.

Read the report

The transition to a net zero economy is reshaping the labour market and the way we all work. At the heart of this transformation are skilled managers and leaders. However, there is a persistent gap between ambition and delivery. Our report Leading the Pathway to Net Zero explores the growing skills gaps that risk slowing our progress and makes the case for embedding sustainability into the core of management.

Find out more

Petra flagged key findings from the report, including:

workers with ‘green skills’ are being hired at a 47% higher rate than the global workforce average
demand for these skills is rising twice as fast as the number of people acquiring them.

“This is now a clear talent and productivity advantage for those organisations that are investing early,” said Petra.

At CMI, we’ve developed a full suite of sustainability management and leadership qualifications, giving managers practical pathways to embed sustainability in their day-to-day roles.

To get you started, here are five practical takeaways from the panellists at our launch event …

1. Know what has to change

The first step? Establish which of your current practices will have to be done differently to become more sustainable, said Jonathan Oxley CMgr FCMI, senior manager in the CBI’s net zero team.

“This is where the work of managers really comes in, to identify the key ingredients that need to be unlocked and brought together to actually deliver that change.”

You can then start to focus and build the teams to deliver that change and solve some of the problems.

Jonathan also stressed the importance of finding out what your colleagues, partners and competitors are thinking and doing in this space. “Stay curious and make sure you keep informed about what’s going on,” he said.

Sustainability Leadership Qualifications

Designed in collaboration with industry experts, CMI's Sustainability Leadership Qualifications equip learners with the skills needed to implement, lead and embed sustainable practices across industries.

Find out more

2. Set clear expectations

The Leading the Pathway to Net Zero report found that more than half of managers in UK organisations with a net zero plan say they still lack clarity on what’s expected of them.

Dr Karen Cripps, associate professor of responsible management and leadership at Oxford Brookes Business School, emphasised how leaders need that awareness in order to equip graduates and interns for the green transition.

“The students are dependent largely upon the leaders they’re working with in organisations to be aware of those opportunities and to be leveraging them, so they can engage in that work,” said Karen. “It starts with awareness, raising recognition that every job role and every function can contribute. This is about mobilising everybody in the workforce, not just siloed teams.”

Keep reading – three more tips

Login

If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article.

Confirm your registration

Register for Free Access

Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox.

You have successfully registered

As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits.

Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article.