Sarah Mukherjee, CEO of ISEP, highlights how 21,000 sustainability professionals are proving that the green transition is accelerating. Their work shows sustainability is now driving business growth, efficiency, and resilience despite persistent scepticism.
COP30 should be raising hopes.
Sarah brings refreshing optimism. For a big majority of businesses the green transition is not slowing down: it is accelerating.
“Less than 2% of respondents say their sustainability budgets have decreased,”
Her insights reflect a shift in how organisations now view sustainability. It is no longer a side initiative or an act of goodwill. It is a core business strategy that drives efficiency, innovation, and long-term resilience.
“If you use less power, less stuff, you have more money on your bottom line.”
She urges the sector to communicate success more effectively beyond insider circles. “We’re really good at talking to ourselves. We need to make the case to normal people.”
Sarah challenges the way the sustainability sector communicates its message, calling for a move away from insular conversations that few understand, towards broader public understanding.
For Sarah, making sustainability relatable is essential. Success depends on highlighting its everyday value to businesses, communities, and individuals alike. She emphasises the growth of green jobs, new industries, and the economic opportunity in adapting to a changing climate:
“Whatever you think the reason is for the changing climate, you have to adapt to it.” That does not require perfection. “Let’s not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
This conversation reminds us that optimism is not naïve. It is strategic. By reframing sustainability as both a moral and economic opportunity, Sarah highlights the proven potential for a more resilient and prosperous future.
Listen for 20 minutes to the full conversation. Discover how when fully recognised, sustainability is becoming the growth story of our time.
Sarah Mukherjee
Sarah Mukherjee MBE is a widely respected sustainability leader, known for turning complex environmental challenges into practical action for organisations and policymakers. As CEO of ISEP, she represents 21,000 sustainability and environmental professionals whose work shows that the green transition is accelerating, not slowing.
A former BBC environment correspondent, Sarah brings clear, evidence-led insight to the public and private sectors, helping decision-makers understand what’s happening on the ground and why it matters. Her expertise spans sustainability strategy, risk, professional standards, and communication, making her a trusted voice in guiding leaders through uncertainty with confidence and purpose.
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