Congress of Business (COB), a key business legacy event from COP26, is set to return to Glasgow for its third consecutive year. Taking place on 13 May 2025 as part of Glasgow Climate Week, the event will be hosted at SWG3 and broadcast online.
Building on the Glasgow Climate Pacts established at COP26, COB is dedicated to driving meaningful change by transforming sustainable strategies into tangible action. Bringing together some of the UK’s most influential businesses alongside leading academics and policymakers, the event is a bridge between international UN climate gatherings.
Speakers include Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE, President of the British Chambers of Commerce; Jennifer Jordan-Saifi MVO, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative; Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor, University of Glasgow; Gerard Gallagher, Global Sustainability Leader- Clients & Industries at Ernst & Young; Will Attenborough, Climate Finance Strategist and Co-founder of Green Rider; along with other leading voices in the field of sustainability.
Congress of Business is supported by University of Glasgow, Barclays and E.ON and hosted by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Chambers network.
Alongside the main conference, two additional events have been added to the programme. COB Futures, hosted by DYW Glasgow in partnership with DYW West and DYW LED, aims to inspire young people to pursue careers that support a sustainable future.
COB Inspires is designed for students and recent graduates looking to enter the sustainability sector. Featuring talks, panel discussions, and interactive networking, the event will explore career opportunities and challenges in sustainability.
Alison McRae, Senior Director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, commented: “Congress of Business is an action-driven global event that reinforces Glasgow’s legacy as a COP host city. This year, we anticipate welcoming over 500 delegates from around the world to hear from business leaders, academics, and government officials about how we can collectively achieve the growth and innovation opportunities that a sustainable future offers.”
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “Congress of Business captures the collaborative spirit essential for meaningful change, uniting academia, industry and government to co-create solutions for a sustainable future.
“The University of Glasgow is proud to support the event, reflecting our commitment to driving innovation, building partnerships and advancing economic growth.”
Chris Norbury, Chief Executive Officer, E.ON UK, said: “Reaching net zero requires more than ambition – it demands collaboration, innovation, and a relentless focus on making energy more affordable and sustainable. Glasgow’s net zero determination is so aligned to E.ON’s, that our partnership for COB25 made perfect sense. This is a city that shares our commitment to innovative solutions and making new energy work for everyone. Together, I am confident we can accelerate progress, inspire change, and build a cleaner, more resilient future for all.”
Congress of Business is free to attend. To register for tickets, please visit: https://www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com/climate-chamber/congress-of-business/
