ESCP, ESSEC and HEC Paris Join Forces to Tackle Sustainability in the age of Minsinformation
How do we meaningfully sustain our collective efforts toward a fair socio-ecological transition in a world shaped by fake news, division, and public mistrust? This was the driving question behind a unique inter-school event that brought together HEC Paris, ESCP Business School and ESSEC Business School for the second year in a row.
On May 15–16, 2025, 120 Master’s students from the three institutions gathered at the Learning Planet Institute in Paris to confront one of the most complex challenges of our time: navigating sustainability in the age of post-truth. This ambitious two-day experience took place under the banner of PIVOTS (Partnership for Ideas, Vision, Opportunities & Tipping Points in Sustainability) — a collaborative educational initiative designed to foster inter-institutional learning, critical thinking, and actionable impact.
A Pedagogical Simulation Rooted in Real-World Urgency
Split into five thematic “Universes” — Media, Big Corporations, Government, Civil Society, and the Scientific Community — students explored how disinformation disrupts sustainability efforts within their assigned sphere:
- Working in interdisciplinary teams, they:
- Analyzed key mechanisms of fake news and greenwashing,
- Created worst-case disinformation scenarios,
- Designed credible, innovative proposals to restore trust and mobilize for sustainability.
Each group presented their final solutions on stage in front of a jury composed of academics, sustainability professionals, and media experts.
Guided by Experts, Powered by Students
The event was co-curated by:
Aurélien Acquier (ESCP),
Alexis de La Tour du Pin (ESSEC),
Pauline Laravoire (HEC Paris).
Why It Matters
In a world where sustainability debates are increasingly hijacked by misinformation, initiatives like this one help students not just understand the issues, but become part of the solution. This collaboration between three of Europe’s top business schools stands as a powerful example of academic institutions working together to empower the next generation of change-makers.