CEC: European Managers Step Up for Climate Leadership: From Parliament to COP30

Brussels, 20 October 2025 – This week marked an important moment for Europe’s leadership community. On 15 October, CEC European Managers and its Nordic member organisation Ledarna brought together nearly 100 European policymakers, Members of the European Parliament, scientists, and business leaders at the European Parliament for the forth edition of the Sustainable Leadership Summit.

The next day, on 16 October, CEC’s General Assembly, representing over one million leaders and managers across Europe, unanimously endorsed the CEC Climate Leadership Pledge — setting out a vision for European climate leadership built on responsible, forwardlooking management.

The announcement comes ahead of the Environment Council on 21 October, where ministers are expected to adopt conclusions preparing the European Union’s common position for COP30 in Belém, Brazil (10–21 November 2025).

European leaders and managers are positioning themselves as the essential actors behind the continent’s transition towards sustainability, competitiveness, and social justice.

Sustainable Leadership at the Heart of the European Project
At the European Parliament on 15 October, the Sustainable Leadership Summit — organised by CEC European Managers and Ledarna — explored how leadership can become a catalyst for Europe’s green and just transition. The event gathered a diverse audience of around 100 participants, including MEPs, EU officials, business representatives, researchers, and social partners.
The discussions held in the European Parliament among managers, stakeholders and the EU institutions revolved around how leaders and managers can transform sustainability ambitions into tangible action — in companies, institutions, and society at large. In his opening remarks, Maxime Legrand, President of CEC European Managers, underlined that sustainable leadership is not an abstract idea but a daily practice:

“Leadership is what connects the EU’s climate ambitions with real transformation on the ground. Managers have the will to act, but too often lack the means, the training, and sometimes even the recognition to lead this change.”

The Summit also showcased best practices and managerial perspectives on sustainability from across Europe. It emphasised that sustainable leadership means combining environmental commitment with social responsibility and competitiveness — ensuring that no one is left behind in the green transition.

A Climate Leadership Pledge for Europe’s Future
With the Environment Council and the United Nations COP30 approaching, the Sustainable Leaders Summit at the European Parliament has built momentum for climate leadership.
Just a couple of hours after the summit, during the CEC European Managers General Assembly in Brussels, delegates representing CEC’s national member organisations and sectoral federations officially adopted the CEC Climate Leadership Pledge, a forwardlooking manifesto for Europe’s climate ambition.

The pledge expresses strong support for the EU’s 2040 climate target of a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. It reaffirms CEC’s commitment to help the EU become a global leader in the green transition while ensuring competitiveness, fairness, and geopolitical resilience. The text of the pledge stresses that “acting now is good leadership” and that the “cost of inaction is far higher than the cost of action.”

It highlights the key role of managers in bridging the gap between policy and implementation by:

• Driving change and embedding sustainability in corporate strategies,
• Shaping culture and motivating people to act together,
• Advising policymakers on practical and future-proof regulation,
• Enabling everyday sustainable choices, and
• Thinking systemically across social, environmental, and economic dimensions.

“We Are the Bridge Builders” – Managers at COP30
CEC European Managers pledge concludes that “visionary corporate managerial leadership may be Europe’s untapped green superpower”, and CEC’s President Maxime Legrand and Secretary General, Torkild Justesen, will take this message directly to COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Both President Maxime Legrand and Secretary General Torkild Justesen will represent Europe’s managers at the UN climate conference in November.

Speaking after the adoption of the pledge, Torkild Justesen emphasised the unique role of CEC as the only cross-sectoral organisation representing leaders and managers in the EU’s social dialogue:

“This COP30 is about how to deliver and who is in charge of implementing. We are the key bridge builders between politics and practice. As leaders, we must ensure that the EU maintains its green leadership position and does not allow other regions to take over. The green transition will be a decisive competitive factor for European companies, and it can strengthen the EU both economically and geopolitically“

CEC’s participation in COP30 will focus on the intersection of leadership, implementation, and just transition — ensuring that Europe’s voice is one of credibility, responsibility, and real capacity to deliver.

A General Assembly Shaping Europe’s Future of Work
Beyond the climate pledge, CEC European Managers‘ General Assembly also explored the broader challenges and opportunities shaping the European workplace. Key discussions included the AI-MANAGE project, proposed to the European Commission, which aims to develop principles and tools for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence and algorithmic management in the workplace.

Olga Molina, CEC Director, updated the attendees on the European Social Dialogue, including progress on the Quality Jobs Roadmap, the review of Joint Procedures, and negotiations for the next European Social Dialogue Work Programme. Throughout the discussions held at the Assembly, member organisations reaffirmed that Europe’s competitiveness depends on quality leadership and that sustainable leadership is the foundation for both economic and social progress.

Deputy Secretary General Silvia Pugi highlighted that Europe is at a strategic crossroads:

“We are squeezed between the US, China, and Russia. But Europe’s strength lies in our values and our social model. Managers have a social role to play — to defend democracy, foster innovation, and make Europe stronger through responsible leadership.”

Toward Belém, and Beyond 2030
The publication of the CEC Climate Leadership Pledge ahead of the EU Environment Council sends a clear message: Europe’s managers are ready to lead — and to support the EU in delivering on its climate ambitions. The pledge calls for stronger recognition of managers’ roles in the implementation of climate policies, investment in leadership and management skills, and “clever regulation” that turns EU directives into actionable tools rather than bureaucratic burdens.

As Europe prepares its position for COP30, CEC European Managers stands ready to work with EU institutions, employers, and workers to ensure that leadership — in all its forms — becomes the decisive factor in achieving a fair, competitive, and sustainable future.

“European managers are ready to take responsibility — for people, for business, and for our planet.”

Download the Pledge: A Vision for European Climate Leadership