From June 30 to July 2, Católica-Lisbon SBE, in partnership with Santander Foundation, hosted the second edition of Lisbon Sustainability Week, bringing together leading national and international experts in Lisbon to discuss one of today's most pressing challenges: how to turn sustainability into a driver of competitiveness, resilience, and long-term value creation.
Over the course of three days, the conference brought together leading voices from academia, business, and public policy, creating a platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing on the pathways to accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable economic model. Speakers included Nobel Laureate Robert Engle and John Elkington, widely recognized as one of the pioneers of corporate sustainability, alongside many other experts and leaders from national and international organizations.
Organized by the Center for Sustainable Finance and the Center for Responsible Business & Leadership, the conference established itself as a unique forum for reflection, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, reinforcing the importance of turning sustainability discussions into concrete actions capable of generating meaningful impact across organizations and society.
As Filipe Santos, Dean of Católica-Lisbon SBE, emphasized, "We envisioned this conference as a meeting point for people who are passionate about sustainability and committed to building it together. More than fostering ideas and discussion, we aim to drive action and contribute to the development of an economic model that promotes prosperity for both people and the planet."
This vision was explored throughout the conference through diverse perspectives and practical case studies, highlighting the need to rethink how businesses, governments, and society create value by balancing economic prosperity, social well-being, and environmental stewardship.
Among the conference's most influential contributions was John Elkington's call for a transition to a new era of sustainability, one in which sustainability moves beyond isolated corporate responsibility initiatives to become a core element of business strategy. He argued for replacing a business model focused solely on profit with one built on three fundamental principles: responsibility, by encouraging leaders to act as stewards of the planet; resilience, through the ability to anticipate and respond to global challenges; and regeneration, by designing economic systems that restore natural resources while creating lasting value.
This shift in mindset was illustrated through real-world examples presented by companies such as IKEA, Mota-Engil, and Siemens, demonstrating how embedding sustainability across every aspect of an organization can foster innovation, increase agility, and better prepare businesses to navigate an increasingly complex global environment.
This perspective also reinforced the concept of real value creation, emphasizing that organizational success should be measured not only by financial performance but also by its positive contribution to society and the environment. Throughout the conference, speakers also highlighted the importance of responsible leadership, collaboration among businesses, academia, and public institutions, and the integration of natural capital into decision-making as essential drivers of a more resilient and sustainable economic model.
The discussion also extended to risk management. During the ECGI Wallenberg Lecture, Nobel Laureate Robert Engle argued that, in a context of growing economic, environmental, and social volatility, failing to measure and integrate ESG risks into strategic decision-making represents not only a sustainability challenge but also a failure of financial management. His message was unequivocal: sustainability risk is increasingly financial risk, making the integration of these factors into business strategy and long-term value creation essential.
Once again, Lisbon Sustainability Week demonstrated that collaboration is essential to accelerating the transition toward a more resilient, competitive, and sustainable economy. More than a forum for reflection, the conference consolidated its role as an action-oriented platform, promoting practical solutions to address today's challenges while helping shape the future.