The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) today warns that the UK’s legally binding climate targets are under threat, as a new report, Leading the Pathway to Net Zero: Transforming Management and Leadership for a Sustainable Future, reveals a critical management and leadership skills gap stopping organisations from turning net zero ambitions into action.
The research, spanning organisations across the UK economy, highlights a fundamental “say-do” gap in the net zero transition: while nearly three-quarters of managers (74%) say sustainability is a priority for their employers, one-third (33%) lack confidence in their organisation’s readiness to deliver the necessary change.
The management and leadership skills deficit
The report also shows that the net zero challenge is managerial, not just technical. Over half of managers (57%) in organisations with a net zero plan report lacking clarity on what is expected of them, leaving strategies stuck on paper instead of translating into practical day to day action. At the same time, demand for green-skilled management has soared by 69% between 2015 and 2024, highlighting the urgent need for capable leaders to drive what will be complex organisational changes.
Closing this skills gap is not just about hitting climate targets, it’s also a business imperative as organisations are increasingly required to demonstrate their sustainability commitment for procurement opportunities and in the face of consumer demand for businesses that behave responsibly when it comes to their environmental impact. The CMI research also shows that investing in management can boost organisational performance by 23%, demonstrating that skilled managers are also essential to improved productivity.
Professionalising the Green Transition
The report concludes that the UK cannot achieve net zero without upskilling leaders at all levels, from the C-suite to frontline managers. Successfully navigating the transition requires professionals capable of systems thinking, change leadership, and clear stakeholder engagement.
Ann Francke OBE, CEO of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), said:
“The transition to a sustainable, net zero economy is one of the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time. This transformation will reshape the labour market and redefine how we all work, and at the heart of that change are managers and leaders with the skills to turn sustainability ambitions into tangible actions.“This report highlights the scale of the challenge ahead, exposing the widening management and leadership skills gap that risks slowing our progress. To achieve lasting impact, we must develop managers who can lead sustainably, embedding environmental responsibility, resilience and innovation into everyday business decisions. Doing so well will benefit rather than burden the bottom line – so it’s a win for everyone.“
Martin Baxter FISEP, Deputy Chief Executive of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), added:
“There is an urgent need to embed green skills across a wider range of different professions beyond environment and sustainability specialists, from finance and engineering, to accountancy and procurement. This research by the CMI highlights that skills gap extends to people in leadership and management positions as well – who are facing growing levels of responsibility and accountability for achieving net zero and sustainability goals more broadly.“At ISEP we are seeing more and more evidence that the success of any organisation in improving performance in areas like carbon reduction can be directly linked to management being visible champions and proactively leading efforts to support sustainability. And the best way to ensure this happens is for managers to have knowledge and skills developed through training and qualifications.”
CMI Sustainability Leadership Qualifications
To address this gap, CMI has launched a new suite of Sustainability Leadership Qualifications (Levels 3, 5, and 7) designed to build green management competencies across careers. These qualifications enable managers to:
Implement strategy: Translate high-level net zero plans into clear, measurable operational targets.
Lead change: Build the professional confidence to manage complex, systemic change and resistance effectively.
Professionalise the workforce: Equip organisations with a quality-assured pathway to develop managers capable of delivering on ESG commitments.
About the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
The Chartered Management Institute is the professional body for managers and leaders. We have a membership community of over 230,000 aspiring and practising managers and more than 150,000 people are currently studying on one of our management and leadership programmes. Our Royal Charter defines our charitable mission as increasing the number and standard of professionally qualified managers and leaders.
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Izzy Pougatch, Senior Account Executive, Atalanta +44 (0)7712 256399(Picture credit: Pexels.com)