Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

Over the past four decades, sustainability has evolved from a niche concern into a defining global agenda. From the foundations laid by the Brundtland Report to the rise of ESG, net-zero commitments, and global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the field has expanded rapidly and entered the mainstream. Yet today, many working in sustainability sense that the agenda is entering a new phase. ​ Sustainability at a Crossroads , a global consultation conducted in 2025 by GlobeScan, ERM, and Volans, explored how practitioners are experiencing this moment. Drawing on perspectives from sustainability professionals across regions and sectors, the research pointed to a period of reflection and reassessment about how progress can be accelerated. While views differ, there is a recognition that the current approach needs to evolve to better meet the scale and complexity of today’s challenges. At the same time, this moment should not be seen as a setback, but as an opportun...

Summary of the report:  Sustainability at a Crossroads was jointly developed and fielded by GlobeScan, ERM, and Volans. This survey of 844 sustainability experts across 72 countries reveals a pivotal inflection point in the evolution of the global sustainability agenda. While the field has matured and expanded over decades, a striking consensus has emerged: the current approach is no longer fit for purpose. Download the full report here. View the webinar here More than nine in ten experts agree that a shift is needed with over half calling for a radical overhaul. But rather than viewing this as a crisis, this moment should be embraced as a glass-half-full opportunity. It marks a necessary course correction - one that opens the door to bold, future-fit strategies capable of meeting the challenges of our time. Key report insights include: Stalled progress and rising backlash:  Experts express frustration with the slow pace of change and note the growth of organized resistance to...