From the Stage
"Let’s connect, build, and inspire each other — that’s what makes WBCSD unique."
Stephanie De Heer, Chief Member and Marketing Officer, WBCSD
On Stage at WBCSD: Four Quotes from Peter Bakker, President & CEO, WBCSD
“Three forces are driving economic uncertainty into every boardroom and every capital allocation conversation: Geopolitics. Artificial Intelligence. Physical risks. Leaders are being asked to lead through all three simultaneously. That is the reality. And it is rough.”
“Sustainability is not retreating. it is growing up and now has to compete for capital the same way every other investment does.”
“The deepest threat to sustainability today is not that the world has stopped believing in it. It is that the world has lost the attention span required to deliver on it.”
“The number one priority for WBCSD over the next three years is to translate sustainability into clear business value.”
Key messages from plenaries
The plenaries reinforced three core messages.
- First, transformation will not happen without decisive leadership from the top — delegation alone is no longer sufficient.
- Second, credibility is built through measurable progress, not narratives.
- Third, collaboration remains essential, but only when it is designed to solve specific problems at scale.
The tone from the stage was clear-eyed and action-oriented, reflecting a leadership community that understands the stakes and the constraints.
"Positive policy, quantifying physical risk, engaging with customer demand and really understanding the customer pull — these are all different perspectives that we wanted to bring to the room."
Fiona Watson, Vice President, Corporate Performance & Accountability, WBCSD
Standout insights
One standout insight was the reframing of risk: leaders repeatedly emphasized that delaying decisions now carries greater long-term cost than acting imperfectly. Another was the growing convergence between sustainability strategy and growth strategy—particularly around innovation, market access, and resilience. Finally, speakers highlighted the importance of trust: with investors, policymakers, employees, and society. Trust was described not as a communications challenge, but as an outcome of consistent delivery.