As I pack my case to head to COP30, I’ve been reflecting on how important it is to keep up momentum and action between these annual summits; to keep building those networks and learning those lessons that help us make progress. For example, I found the recent United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Summit in London a useful convening of business leaders, policymakers, innovators and activists all united by one question: how do we move from ambition to action on sustainability?

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Held against a backdrop of accelerating climate commitments and evolving global regulation, the Summit offered both reflection and renewal. A moment to take stock of how businesses are reshaping their models for a more sustainable future.

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From Targets to Transformation

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Across plenary sessions and roundtables, one message rang clear: the pathway to 2030 cannot be driven by compliance alone.

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Many organisations are feeling the weight of complex frameworks and standards (from SBTi and CSRD to new due diligence directives), yet the conversations at UNGC suggested a growing appetite to go beyond “tick-box” targets. Leaders spoke of turning compliance into opportunity: using it as a foundation for innovation, investment, and long-term resilience.

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It was heartening to see a shift in tone — away from simply meeting requirements, and toward embracing sustainability as a driver of competitiveness and creativity.

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The Power of Connection and Collaboration

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The diversity of voices in the room was inspiring. From global companies such as BP, AstraZeneca, Unilever and HSBC to passionate SMEs, NGOs like WWF and WRAP, and policymakers from Defra and the Department for Business and Trade, the Summit felt like a microcosm of the collective effort needed to achieve systemic change.

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A recurring theme was collaboration across the value chain. Practical guidance came in the form of engaging suppliers through shared targets, pilot programmes, and sector-wide initiatives. One standout example was Energize, a collaboration of pharmaceutical companies helping suppliers decarbonise electricity use through pooled expertise and resources, a testament to what’s possible when competition gives way to collective ambition.

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Bridging Profit, Planet and Purpose

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Another strong current running through the Summit was the recognition that sustainability cannot sit apart from business strategy. One keynote speaker from Asahi captured it neatly with the “Five Ps”: profit, planet, people, portfolio, and purpose.

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This integrated approach resonated throughout the day, a reminder that the journey to net zero must align commercial success with social and environmental progress. As one participant put it: “It’s time for businesses to lead, not wait”.

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That sense of momentum was palpable. Whether through new investment models, partnerships or technology, many organisations are now looking to the road to 2050 as an opportunity for reinvention, not restriction.

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Innovation with Integrity

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Technology was another focal point, both as a solution and a challenge. IT systems already account for around 4% of global emissions, more than the aviation sector, and that figure is rising fast. Yet digital innovation also holds immense potential for efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

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The discussions reinforced a simple truth: progress in sustainability will rely as much on responsible innovation as on regulation. At an organisational level, that means embedding smarter energy practices, using remanufactured equipment, and designing systems that are as sustainable as they are smart.

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Policy, Partnership and the Path Ahead

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Government engagement at the Summit was strong, reflecting the growing alignment between trade, regulation, and responsible business. International Trade Minister Sir Chris Bryant MP spoke about ensuring that “free and fair trade” must also mean “sustainable and responsible trade”.

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In a smaller roundtable, George Foster, DBT’s Head of Business Regulation, invited business leaders to help shape practical standards that make sustainability both achievable and affordable. These conversations underscored the power of partnership, when policy and enterprise work together, sustainable transformation becomes a shared mission rather than a burden to bear.

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Looking Forward

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The UNGC Summit was an inspiring reminder of the scale of change underway, and the collective will driving it. For me, it reinforced the importance of staying actively engaged: asking questions, sharing experiences, and connecting with others who are equally committed to shaping a more equitable tomorrow.

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That’s why, despite the increasing urgency of the challenge and a complicated context, I’m heading off to COP30 this weekend with my head and hopes high. No greater forum exists to upskill, or to build the partnerships and innovation that we need to keep moving, ever faster, toward a sustainable future.

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