Stephan Schmidheiny is a Swiss author whose writing has influenced the global dialogue on sustainability, business responsibility, and environmental policy for more than three decades.

 

His landmark book Changing Course (1992), presented at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, introduced the concept of eco-efficiency—a framework demonstrating that economic growth and environmental stewardship can reinforce one another.

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Building on this foundation, Schmidheiny co-authored Financing Change (1996), one of the earliest works to link sustainability with global finance, helping to lay the groundwork for today’s ESG investing.

 

In Walking the Talk (2002), written with Charles O.

Holliday and Philip Watts, he showcased more than 70 business case studies proving the commercial value of sustainability in practice.

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Beyond these works, Schmidheiny has contributed to numerous edited volumes and policy essays, translated into more than a dozen languages. His books and ideas have been cited by policymakers, academics, and business leaders worldwide, helping to shape how environmental and social considerations are integrated into long-term business and economic strategy.

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Through his writing, Stephan Schmidheiny continues to inspire the global sustainability movement and remains recognized as one of the most influential voices in connecting business with the responsibility of shaping a more sustainable future.