WBCSD Heads of Climate Base Camp 2026: Leading through collaboration in times of uncertainty

Potsdam, 9-12 June 2026

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) hosted the fourth edition of its Heads of Climate Base Camp in Potsdam. This time, bringing together 13 Heads of Climate from leading European companies for a period of intensive exchange, reflection and collaboration. Over the course of four days, the group stepped back from day-to-day pressures, connected with peers, and worked through shared challenges shaping the future of corporate climate action.

 “The Base Camp, both last year and this year, has been the best investment of time for developing in my role in each of the years.” – Base Camp participant

The program was built around outcomes, not a strict agenda. Small group conversations, deep listening, reflective practices, and informal exchange gave senior climate leaders room to engage with each other in a deeper way, rather than just sharing successes. This created an environment where participants felt comfortable discussing both progress and challenges, leading to more open and meaningful exchanges.

Decision-making through unsettled times

A central theme ran through the week: how to maintain and scale climate action amid increasing uncertainty? Companies are facing evolving standards and shifting policy landscapes, while continuing to manage short-term business pressures.

There was a shared concern that slow timelines and increasing complexity can make it harder to act quickly. In practice, leaders are often required to make decisions with incomplete guidance, balancing the need for credibility with the urgency of progress.

What came through was less a search for certainty than an appetite for practical steps that hold up regardless of how politics shift. This reinforced for participants the importance of staying focused on real-world impact, while using emerging standards as a guide rather than a constraint.

Geraldine Matchet, who chairs the GHG Protocol Steering Committee and sits as a non-executive director at ABB, Nestlé, and Swiss Re (and was previously Co-CEO and CFO of dsm-firmenich), reflected on her own leadership journey and on the importance of continually aligning climate strategy with shifting business priorities. Her account prompted a broader discussion among participants on how organizations can adapt to changing circumstances without losing sight of long-term targets.

Collaboration as a scaling lever

As discussions unfolded, participants identified cross-industry collaboration as key to scaling decarbonization solutions. Despite real structural barriers, at the Base Camp, participants were eager to listen to their peers facing similar challenges and to learn from one another’s approaches. This growing recognition that shared challenges require shared solutions sets the stage for deeper discussions on how collaboration can accelerate progress.

 “The [Base Camp] is a super community engagement enabler, making bridges between people, challenges, and action levers, but also opinions and values.” – Base Camp participant

With a high level of expertise across the group, conversations quickly moved beyond surface-level topics. Participants shared what is working, where progress is slowing down, and where uncertainty is creating tension. This created a strong sense of trust and made it possible to explore challenges in a more meaningful way.

Space to reflect and connect the dots

Participants also had room to step back and think about their own role inside their organizations. Hearing how others are handling similar problems brought fresh perspectives, and for several participants, sparked practical ideas they could take back to their own teams.

One message emerged consistently throughout the discussions: learning from peers can strengthen decision-making, even as every company charts its own course. This exchange of perspectives, alongside concrete takeaways, reinforced participants’ focus and a renewed sense of momentum to carry into the work ahead.

 “Great mix of focus on leadership and climate content that are both very relevant for my role. I have several takeaways that will significantly contribute to my work.” – Base Camp participant

Looking ahead

By fostering open dialogue, building trust, and focusing on actionable insights, the Heads of Climate Base Camp continues to play a key role in supporting leaders to navigate complexity and stay on track. It has grown into an alumni network, now bringing together 60 individuals committed to advancing climate action and learning from one another.

Stay tuned for updates on the next edition of the WBCSD Heads of Climate Base Camp and how you can be part of this growing community of committed climate leaders. For more information on future events and WBCSD’s Climate Action initiatives, contact climate@wbcsd.org