No going back: 99% of CEOs plan to maintain or expand sustainability commitments

The world’s business leaders are determined to embed sustainability in strategy and culture and are seeing the business case for sustainability strengthen despite recent regulatory backtracks, according to a new survey.

An Accenture and UN Global Compact survey of more than 2,000 CEOs worldwide, complemented by 33 in-depth interviews, suggests that sustainability has become a business fundamental – though CEOs might prefer to keep their efforts quiet in the current political climate.

Most (88%) respondents believe the business case for sustainability is stronger today than five years ago, and 99% intend to maintain or expand their sustainability commitments. However, only half feel very comfortable communicating their progress publicly. This sentiment coincides with recent reports showing that US companies in particular have delayed or cancelled sustainability reports this year.

Less talk, more action

In the era of greenhushing, 96% of CEOs are calling for pragmatic sustainability execution and integration in strategy and culture, and share five keys to unlock momentum at scale: collaborate on regulation; harness consumer demand; expand access to technology; upskill for the future; and lead with credibility and purpose.

“Business leaders know that technology, data and AI are critical to meeting their sustainability targets, yet gaps persist as they move from ambition to execution,” said Stephanie Jamison, Global Resources Industry Practice Chair and Global Sustainability Services Lead at Accenture. “Across industries and geographies, our clients are eager to move away from isolated projects toward adopting a multigenerational approach that compounds learnings, accelerates delivery and reduces cost. This can be a blueprint for growth that pairs sustainability commitments with bold, AI-driven reinvention that is built-in, not bolted on.”

Compliance as a priority

While sustainability reporting requirements have been halted at the federal level in the US and are being eased in the EU, most CEOs are still preparing for compliance, with 84% saying they are ready to meet upcoming regulations and 95% seeing compliance as a leading priority.

At the same time, other drivers of transformation, such as consumer preferences and investor and employee expectations, are also weighing in the balance. 98% of CEOs agree that the private sector can drive progress through sustainable products and services, and 96% advise their successors to embed sustainability in the company vision and culture. 

However they also identify persisting gaps around digital tools to track and measure sustainability performance across value chains, as well as tech skills.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact added: “CEOs are crystal clear: sustainability has moved from moral imperative to business fundamental. This study sets out a pragmatic playbook: work with regulators, meet fast-rising consumer expectations, invest in technology and skills, and communicate progress credibly. As the world breached the 1.5°C threshold and with a US$4.3 trillion annual SDG financing gap leaving 3.4 billion people in countries spending more on interest than on health or education, the private sector must close the execution gap – embedding sustainability into strategy and culture, scaling innovation across value chains, and partnering to shape rules that reward long-term business value. Companies that act on these findings will build resilience, unlock growth, grow industries, stimulate economies and accelerate delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.”