Council on Sustainability Transformation
Explore actionable insights to drive sustainability transformation in business
The Council accelerates private-sector action on critical sustainability challenges.
Convened by ERM, the Council on Sustainability Transformation (the Council) helps business leaders and stakeholders to navigate the complexities of sustainability transformation.
Members engage through global forums, workshops and white papers to develop practical recommendations for C-suite, board members, and other industry stakeholders—including investors, policymakers, regulators, and civil society.
Central to its mission are facilitating cross-business dialogues and awareness-building initiatives to help companies overcome their sustainability barriers and future-proof their operations.
Media coverage Hide
17 June 2026 - David Carlin's Digest: Your Guide to a Changing World
Featuring: Naoko Ishii
Link: Q&A: Naoko Ishii on Aligning Climate, Nature and Markets
11 August 2025 - Forbes C-Suite CEO Newsletter
Featuring: Mark Cutifani
Link: How CEOs Can Reframe Sustainability As Vital To Business
18 June 2025 - Real Economy Progress news coverage
Link: Greenhushing mustn’t become default, warn ex-CEOs and corporate chairs
5 June 2025 - Fortune Op-ed
Featuring: Mark Cutifani, Johannes Teyssen
Link: Climate change and nature loss merit radical prioritization amid a sprawling sustainability agenda, say former CEOs
13 March 2025 - Financial Times Sustainable Views Op-ed
Featuring: Connie Hedegaard
Link: Triple short-termism is blocking climate action
1 February 2025 - Environmental Analyst* news coverage
Link: ERM Launches Body to Support Sustainability Transformation in Global Companies
10 January 2025 - ESG News news coverage
Link: ERM Launches Council of Global Senior Leaders to Accelerate Action on Corporate Sustainability
6 December 2024 - Reuters Op-ed
Featuring: Mark Cutifani, Naoko Ishii, Johannes Teyssen
Link: Comment: How companies can accelerate climate action even as governments falter
23 December 2024 - Fortune Op-ed
Featuring: Peter Agnefjäll, Hixonia Nyasulu, Feike Sijbesma
Link: To help save the climate, CEOs need to become 'Chief Coalition Builders'
23 December 2024 - Fortune CEO Daily Newsletter
Featuring: Peter Agnefjäll
Link: Exclusive: Fortune 500 CEOs double down on decarbonization
Practical perspectives from leading executives to help you navigate today’s sustainability challenges.
As climate and nature risks accelerate, short-term thinking is not enough.
Who are the Council Members?
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Peter AgnefjällFormer CEO of IKEA Group; former Chair of the Supervisory Board of Ahold Delhaize;former Member of the Board of Directors of Orkla; current Non-Executive Director to the Board of Directors of WPP
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Mark CutifaniFormer CEO of Anglo American plc; former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vale Base Metals Limited; former Non‑Executive Director and Chair of the Sustainability Committee of the Board of Directors of TotalEnergies SE; current Independent Non-Executive Director to the Board of Woodside Energy Group; Inaugural Chairman, Global Tailings Management Institute
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Connie HedegaardCurrent Board member of BBVA, Danfoss and the Villum Foundation; current Chair of the European Commission’s Mission Board on Adaptation to Climate Change; current Chair of the OECD Round Table for Sustainable Development; former EU Commissioner for Climate Action
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Naoko IshiiFormer CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility; current Professor and Director of the Center for Global Commons at the University of Tokyo
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Hixonia NyasuluCurrent Senior Independent Director of SSE plc; current Non-Executive and Independent Director, Vice Chair of the Board, and Chair of the Sustainability Committee of Olam Agri Holdings; former Non‑Executive Director of Anglo American plc; former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sasol Ltd
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Feike SijbesmaFormer CEO of Royal DSM; current Chair of the Supervisory Board of Royal Philips; current Co‑Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation
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Johannes TeyssenFormer CEO of E.ON; current Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG; current President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alpiq Holding AG; current Non-Executive Director of the Board of Directors of bp plc; current Senior Advisor for KKR; current Senior Advisor for Viridor plc; current Member of the Partner’s Committee at Encavis GmbH
Founding Member and Council Alumni
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Rachel KyteFormer CEO of UN's Sustainable Energy for All, current UK Special Representative for Climate
The Council is an independent entity whose deliberations are supported by ERM, the world's largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability. The views and opinions expressed by the Council do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of ERM.