The sustainability landscape has shifted — and not in a simple, linear way.
Accenture’s new CEO Study with UN Global Compact confirms what many of us sensing in boardrooms already know: the case for sustainability is stronger than ever, yet volatility is growing. https://lnkd.in/d65JXKN4
Over the past months, I’ve interviewed CEOs across sectors—and here’s what’s clear:
💡Geopolitical tension, trade disputes, regulatory ambiguity are creating headwinds for sustainability investments.
💡Many leaders are less comfortable broadcasting progress, even if the work continues behind the scenes.
💡Yet CEOs are doubling down: 88% believe the business case for sustainability is stronger now than five years ago.
What this tells me is that sustainability is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s becoming a lens through which strategy is assessed, and a key pillar of resilience in uncertain times.
In my conversations, I’ve been impressed by how many leaders frame sustainability not as philanthropy, but as essential to running a resilient, future-proof, profitable business.
Yes, the outlook is more volatile. Regulation may swing. Capital may tighten. But the challenges of climate, social equity, resource constraints—they are not going away.
My advice to leaders right now:
1. Revisit assumptions: scenario-planning for regulatory shifts, supply chain shocks, carbon cost trajectories.
2. Embed sustainability deeply: integrate it into product design, operations, M&A, and risk — it cannot sit on the sidelines.
3. Invest in digitalization: use data, AI and tech to support decision-making, commercialization, and integrated ownership of sustainability.
4. Collaborate for system change: partner across industries and with policymakers to reshape structures and incentives that reward sustainable choices and accelerate the transition.
Carolina Ramberg Sofia Broderick Ann-Christin Menke Frida Andersson Isabel Rath Silje Eeg Asmma Chaudry Landfeldt Jens C. Laue Matias Pollmann-Larsen Wytse Kaastra Alexander Holst Sandro Orneli Stephanie Guimbellot Marie Georges Nina Jais Michael Hughes
Strategy | Business Development | Artificial Intelligence | IoT and M2M | Group-Wide Transformations | Data Governance | Digital Transformation
2wAt a time when countries seem to be openly revisiting their commitments, this updated scoring comes as a tribute to the teams who continue to secure Zain’s commitment to a bright and sustainable future. Kudos to the teams.