What’s Next for Sustainability? Moving Forward in a Time of Friction

<div class="header alignfull header--article header--min-height-full has-background has-tonal-black-background-color"> <div class="header__layout"> <div class="header__content"> <h1 class="header__title has-h2-variant">Archives</h1> <div class="header__metadata"><div class="header__metas"><div class="favorite-block"> <button class="favorite" data-id="319341" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" /></svg></button></div> <div class="header__meta header__meta--date"> September 17, 2026</div> <div class="header__meta header__meta--taxonomy header__meta--tax-program_tax"> Business &amp; Society Program</div></div></div> </div> </div> <figure class="header__media" role="presentation"> <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" 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class="post-people__headshot"> <img decoding="async" width="287" height="300" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775-287x300.jpeg" class="attachment-mobile size-mobile" alt="" srcset="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775-287x300.jpeg 287w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775-764x800.jpeg 764w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775-768x804.jpeg 768w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775-1041x1090.jpeg 1041w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775-1146x1200.jpeg 1146w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775-645x675.jpeg 645w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775-646x676.jpeg 646w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Felicia_Edited-e1535131666775.jpeg 1422w" sizes="(max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </figure> <div class="post-people__info"> <h3 class="post-people__name"> <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/felicia-davis/" class="post-people__link"> Felicia Davis </a> </h3> <p class="post-people__position"> Assistant Program Director </p> </div> </div> <div class="post-people__person"> <figure class="post-people__headshot"> <img decoding="async" width="300" height="300" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Miguel_Padro_302-300x300.jpg" class="attachment-mobile size-mobile" alt="" srcset="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Miguel_Padro_302-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Miguel_Padro_302-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Miguel_Padro_302.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </figure> <div class="post-people__info"> <h3 class="post-people__name"> <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/miguel-padro/" class="post-people__link"> Miguel Padró </a> </h3> <p class="post-people__position"> Assistant Director </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:66.66%"> <p class="has-h5-variant wp-block-paragraph"><em>Seven shifts captured from the Aspen Business &amp; Society Summit</em></p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">At the <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/business-and-society-program/summit/">Aspen Business &amp; Society Summit</a>, corporate sustainability and impact leaders took stock of a moment defined by friction: a public retreat from sustainable business commitments, an energy system straining under AI-driven demand, mounting affordability pressures, and a trust deficit across major institutions. Faced with these pressures, leaders have chosen to recalibrate their approach rather than retreat. Across nearly every session, leaders highlighted the need to build a more resilient model for sustainability as a source of long-term business advantage.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Distilled from conversations at the Summit, seven shifts capture where the profession is heading and the decisions leaders are wrestling with now. As many Summit sessions were held under the Chatham House Rule, candid remarks appear without attribution. Together, these shifts signal where the field is headed and how leaders are adapting to the moment.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-50317781 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Whats-Next-for-Sustainability-Moving-Forward-in-a-Time-of-Friction.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DOWNLOAD PDF<span class="wp-block-button__effect"></span></a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-wp-interactive="core/file" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!state.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Whats-Next-for-Sustainability-Moving-Forward-in-a-Time-of-Friction.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of What&apos;s Next for Sustainability - Moving Forward in a Time of Friction."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-1c540ef8-9e27-41f8-835f-f996e94b3159" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Whats-Next-for-Sustainability-Moving-Forward-in-a-Time-of-Friction.pdf">What&#8217;s Next for Sustainability &#8211; Moving Forward in a Time of Friction</a><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Whats-Next-for-Sustainability-Moving-Forward-in-a-Time-of-Friction.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-1c540ef8-9e27-41f8-835f-f996e94b3159">Download</a></div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/whats-next-for-sustainability-moving-forward-in-a-time-of-friction/">What&#8217;s Next for Sustainability? 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