Sustainability under scrutiny

Business sustainability is under the spotlight as never before. Heightened political, investor, and media scrutiny are challenging established assumptions and prompting difficult questions, leading to what some call a “sustainability recession” or “ESG backlash”.

In this thought-provoking and interactive session, Dr Steve Kennedy explores the real shifts shaping the sustainability landscape and what they mean for the logics underpinning the business case for action. You will examine whether the traditional rationale for sustainability still holds, and where its limits lie when it comes to meeting ambitious goals.

What you'll learn

• Understand the nature and scope of the perceived backlash – and its impact on corporate sustainability strategies.
• Reassess the business case for sustainability in today’s uncertain climate.
• Explore the boundaries of the “business case” logic and where alternative approaches may be needed.

Whether you are a business leader, sustainability professional, or simply curious about the evolving ESG debate, this webinar offers timely insights to help you navigate complexity, refine your strategy, and take informed, effective action.

When: Thursday, 4 September 2025

Time: 15.00 - 15.45

Where: Online via Zoom

Speaker

Dr Steve Kennedy is Associate Professor of Business Sustainability at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. His research approaches how systems and resilience thinking can help organizations to tackle grand societal challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Dr Kennedy has experience collaborating with partners on sustainability in a wide variety of sectors including finance, construction, agriculture, electronics, and chemicals. His research has featured in peer-reviewed scientific journals such as Journal of Management Studies, Strategic Organization, Long Range Planning, Business & Society, Journal of Cleaner Production and Business Strategy & the Environment. At RSM, he teaches a wealth of executive programmes, including Leading Sustainable Business Transformation and Sustainability for Business Impact.