Global sustainability efforts are expected to maintain momentum despite geopolitical uncertainty, with commercial and technological drivers increasingly shaping the pace of climate action, according to the World Economic Forum’s inaugural Chief Sustainability Officers Outlook.
The survey found that 63% of chief sustainability officers (CSOs) expect global sustainability progress to remain steady or accelerate over the next 12 months.
However, 78% expect geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures, including conflict, policy uncertainty and weaker multilateral cooperation, to weigh on progress.
Artificial intelligence is emerging as both an opportunity and a challenge.
About 73% of CSOs expect AI to accelerate sustainability efforts, particularly through improved measurement, efficiency and risk analysis.
At the same time, 77% identify the energy and resource intensity of AI infrastructure as its most significant negative sustainability impact.
Climate adaptation is also gaining priority, with 85% of CSOs expecting it to become more important over the next three years. However, 62% identify uncertainty over the costs and benefits of adaptation investments as a major barrier, while 77% say private-sector investment will be critical to scaling adaptation.
