Insights and key takeaways from the GSoS Forum 2026

In this summary, Yanxi Zhou, Policy Analyst in the Global Impact Group, draws out the key discussion points and conclusions from the Global School of Sustainability Forum 2026: challenges and solutions for a sustainable future.

About the GSoS Forum 2026

The GSoS Forum 2026 explored how sustainability can be turned into practical action across economics, finance, nature, behaviour, law, and governance. A common thread across the discussions was that the transition will only succeed if it is treated as a whole-of-society challenge - one that links climate goals to growth, fairness, institutions, and public trust.

Session overview: Key challenges to sustainability: global, regional, and national perspectives

Sustainability is now central to growth, democracy, and long-term prosperity, but progress is held back by weak political will, fragmented institutions, and limited implementation capacity. Speakers argued that climate and development must be treated as one agenda rather than separate silos, with action framed around jobs, health, and visible benefits today rather than distant costs. The discussion highlighted the need for stronger public institutions, fairer financing across countries and generations, and updated rules for carbon markets, taxation, and technology so that the transition is both effective and politically durable.

Session overview: Views from the Co-founders

The conversation with Lord Stern and Lei Zhang reinforced that sustainability is a prosperity story, not a sacrifice. Lord Stern stressed that the costs of inaction far exceed the costs of action and that the next 15–20 years of investment will be decisive. Lei Zhang focused on making clean energy cheap enough to become mainstream, pointing to examples where renewable systems, green industry, and AI are already reshaping growth. The shared message was that urgent action, smart policy, and technological innovation can together deliver a new model of development that is both climate-safe and economically attractive.

Session overview: Generating sustainable economic growth and development

This session examined how the green transition can be understood as a driver of development, competitiveness, and resilience rather than as a constraint on growth. Discussions highlighted the importance of clean energy manufacturing, technology diffusion, finance, and international cooperation, particularly across emerging economies.

A key conclusion was that the main barriers are often institutional and financial, especially the cost of capital, uneven risk perception, and weak alignment between policy and investment. Climate action therefore needs to be framed in ways that connect directly to jobs, livelihoods, and industrial transformation.

Session overview: Creating sustainable finance and business

This session focused on how private capital can be mobilised more effectively for the transition, especially in emerging markets. Participants explored the limits of relying on exclusion alone, the role of blended finance, and the importance of clearer policy signals, better data, and stronger intermediaries.

The main takeaway was that finance needs to be made more practical, scalable, and investable if it is to support real economy change. The discussion also pointed to the need to connect finance more closely to sectoral transformation, value chains, and long-term transition strategies.

Session overview: Protecting and enhancing nature and biodiversity

This session explored how biodiversity can be integrated into economic and financial decision-making without losing sight of its intrinsic value. Nature was discussed as essential infrastructure for food systems, resilience, and sustainable growth.

A major conclusion was that nature must become more legible to markets and policymakers through better metrics, more useful data, and stronger links to investment and planning. The discussion also underlined the importance of communication: different audiences respond to different narratives, from economic and financial arguments to cultural and stewardship-based perspectives.

Session overview: Building sustainable societies and behaviours

This session examined how public attitudes, narratives, and behaviour shape climate and sustainability outcomes. Participants discussed how policy design interacts with psychology, why support for action does not always translate into implementation, and how norms can be shifted through leadership and communication.

The key conclusion was that effective policy also needs social legitimacy. People are more likely to support change when it is understandable, fair, and linked to tangible benefits in everyday life.

Session overview: Mobilising political, legal, and governance systems

This session considered the role of international law, diplomacy, regulation, and litigation in sustaining climate action. Speakers reflected on the limits of multilateralism, the continuing importance of legal institutions, and the growing use of litigation as a governance tool.

The main conclusion was that sustainability governance is becoming more multi-layered, with action now happening through courts, domestic regulation, international norms, and coalition-based initiatives as much as through formal treaties. The discussion also highlighted the need for more coherent governance across ministries, countries, and levels of decision-making.

Looking ahead

Across the GSoS Forum 2026, one message came through clearly: the transition will require stronger institutions, better finance, more effective communication, and closer collaboration across disciplines and sectors.

The Global School of Sustainability at LSE aims to be a place where research, policy, and practice come together to develop concrete proposals and practical solutions. The Forum was intended as the start of an ongoing conversation, with future work focused on urgency, scale, interdisciplinary collaboration, and delivery.