How do business strategies evolve in an economy that needs to reduce emissions? What skills do leaders need to assess climate risks, guide investment decisions and support organizational transformation? These are some of the questions addressed by Business Schools for Climate Leadership (BS4CL), the international partnership that includes SDA Bocconi School of Management.

The alliance brings together Cambridge Judge Business School, HEC Paris, IE Business School, IESE Business School, IMD, INSEAD, London Business School, Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford and SDA Bocconi. Their shared goal is to develop and share research and knowledge that can inform the decisions of today’s business leaders and those who will take on these responsibilities in the future.

The partnership draws on the schools’ research expertise, experience in management education and connections with the business community. It engages executives, students, faculty and policymakers to bring research insights into the decisions shaping the climate transition. Francesco Perrini, Associate Dean for Sustainability at SDA Bocconi, is part of the BS4CL team.

“The climate transition calls for decisions about investments, business models and people’s skills. Business schools have a responsibility to help organizational leaders understand these changes and make decisions grounded in research. Through BS4CL, we can bring together different perspectives and experiences, giving managers the tools to translate climate goals into strategic and operational decisions,” says Francesco Perrini.

The partnership’s work also includes developing future researchers and educators. The international doctoral course “Organizing the Climate Transition” explores the challenges of the transition through the lenses of strategy and organization studies. “Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability” helps build a community of climate finance scholars and prepares those who will teach the next generation of finance professionals.

The dialogue extends to professional and alumni communities. The 2024 BS4CL Forum explored how to finance the transition. In 2025, the partnership took part in ChangeNOW in Paris, with a session on the role of management education featuring deans and alumni from the partner schools. These events connect research with the experience of those managing the climate transition within their organizations.