19 May 2026
Nearly half of businesses are increasing their investment in sustainability this year, according to new findings revealed at this year’s Congress of Business (COB).
Held as part of Glasgow Climate Week, COB brought business and sustainability leaders together to learn from organisations using climate action to drive long-term resilience and growth.
Since its inaugural conference in 2023, Congress of Business has engaged over 1,660 individuals and hosted 35 renowned speakers, building momentum behind business-led climate action.
New data from this year’s Congress of Business reveals that nearly half (49%) of leaders are investing more in sustainability than last year. However, many warn that limited access to funding could slow progress.
Confidence also remains high despite ongoing economic uncertainty, with almost 93% of the nearly 330 business leaders surveyed feeling either as confident, or more confident, about achieving their climate goals compared with last year.
As a legacy project of COP26, Congress of Business further showcased Glasgow’s commitment to climate action through the Glasgow’s COP26 Legacy: A Business Perspective report, which was announced at this year’s conference.
The report outlines some of the progress Glasgow’s business community has made since the city hosted COP26 in 2021. It reinforces that climate action is an ongoing journey with sustained ambition, collaboration and practical support strengthening resilience across the city’s economy.
This progress includes strong engagement with the next generation, with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce alone supporting future skills and career pathways through engagement with 150 businesses and more than 4,800 interactions with young people.
Programmes such as Circular Glasgow and Step Up to Net Zero are further supporting organisations to embed sustainable practices into their day-to-day operations, reinforcing Glasgow’s reputation as a leader in the circular economy.
Alison McRae, Senior Director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said:
“These results show a more positive outlook from the business community than is often portrayed nationally. Glasgow's track record on sustainability is already opening doors, attracting new partnerships and demonstrating the long-term economic case for climate action.
“At a time of continued economic pressure, it is encouraging to see businesses of all sizes keeping sustainability firmly on the agenda and recognising the long-term economic opportunities it can deliver.
“Examples highlighted in Glasgow’s COP26 Legacy: A Business Perspective report demonstrate how far businesses have come in the past five years – from embedding sustainable practices into day-to-day operations to collaborating across sectors to deliver impact at scale.
