BusinessLDN recently convened members, policymakers, and sustainability leaders at London South Bank University (LSBU) for the latest meeting of our Sustainability Forum, bringing together voices from across business, academia, and City Hall to discuss how London can maintain momentum on the path to net zero.
The conversation reinforced a clear message: while the capital has made meaningful progress, delivering the transition will require stronger collaboration, clearer communication, and tangible results that resonate with businesses and the public alike.
Opening remarks from LSBU highlighted the growing importance of skills and innovation in supporting the transition, and attendees also heard from Peabody and Virgin Management on their unique approaches to sustainability reporting.
Mete Coban reflected on London’s recent environmental progress, including the success of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in improving air quality and the wider work underway to enhance green spaces and biodiversity across the capital.
But he also emphasised that the transition to net zero requires continued momentum. From addressing heatwave risks to scaling up retrofit and clean energy infrastructure, the focus now must be on accelerating delivery and unlocking investment at scale.
This reflects a broader theme in London’s climate agenda: collaboration between the public and private sectors will be essential if the city is to meet its ambitious environmental goals.
A key discussion point was how organisations communicate sustainability.
Participants noted that the traditional business case for sustainability has become more complex in the current political and economic environment. As a result, there is an increasing emphasis on clearly demonstrating the value of sustainability initiatives, not only through reporting but also through tangible benefits such as lower costs, improved resilience, and a better quality of life.
This shift is also changing how organisations think about data and reporting. Rather than focusing solely on compliance, businesses are exploring how sustainability information can become more accessible, meaningful, and relevant to different audiences – from investors to customers and employees.
The forum also explored the operational changes needed to support decarbonisation.
Housing and buildings remain a major challenge, with participants highlighting the importance of retrofitting existing homes, improving heat network efficiency, and expanding renewable energy solutions such as solar and battery storage.
Organisations are also embedding sustainability more deeply into business strategy, including introducing climate risk assessments for property portfolios and integrating sustainability KPIs across operations.
However, supply chains remain a critical piece of the puzzle. Many businesses currently rely on proxy data to estimate emissions, and improving the quality and accessibility of sustainability data will be essential to drive meaningful reductions.
Another key theme was the role of suppliers, particularly SMEs, in achieving net zero targets.
While ambitious goals are necessary, participants noted that rigid requirements can sometimes discourage smaller suppliers from engaging. A more gradual and flexible approach to targets, combined with training and support, may help bring more organisations along on the journey.
Encouraging suppliers to participate in sustainability discussions, share data, and build capability will be essential if businesses are to address scope 3 emissions and supply chain impacts.
Despite the challenges, the tone of the discussion was optimistic.
There was broad agreement that sustainability efforts are increasingly shifting from abstract goals to visible, practical action. Demonstrating real progress, whether through cleaner air, better buildings, or greener spaces, will be key to maintaining public and business support.
As London continues its journey towards net zero, forums like this provide an important platform for sharing ideas, strengthening partnerships, and translating ambition into action.
At BusinessLDN, we look forward to continuing the conversation with members and partners as we work together to build a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive London.
To learn more about our sustainability agenda, please contact Victoria Armstrong or Matthew Fell.