Key Takeaway
A report reveals that 92% of organizations have retained their net zero deadlines, but progress is slowing, with sustainability front-runners dropping from 7% to 1%. Executives cite geopolitical tensions, budget constraints, and data issues as barriers. While 64% use AI for sustainability, the adoption of Generative AI has decreased from 65% in 2024 to 52% in 2025. Discussions on Gen AI’s sustainability impacts are ongoing at the board level, with 29% of executives considering agentic AI, which can manage entire processes, as a tool for sustainability. Miguel Sossa-Mardomingo from Capgemini addressed these topics at Sustainability LIVE Chicago 2025.
A significant 92% of organizations have upheld their initial net zero deadlines.
However, despite strong intentions, actual progress seems to be slowing down.
The percentage of organizations identified as sustainability leaders has plummeted to just 1%, a steep decline from 7% in 2024.
The report indicates that 65% of executives point to geopolitical tensions as barriers to progress, alongside budget constraints, organizational fragmentation, and a lack of adequate data and measurement frameworks.
AI’s role in sustainability
The report reveals that 64% of executives report their organizations are utilizing AI to achieve sustainability goals.
Nevertheless, the share of executives whose organizations employ Gen AI for sustainability has decreased from 65% in 2024 to 52% in 2025.
More than half of executives acknowledge that the sustainability implications of Gen AI are being discussed at the board level.
“The application of agentic AI to further sustainability objectives is still in its infancy, with 29% of executives stating their organization currently uses or intends to use agentic AI/AI agents for sustainability,” the report states.
Unlike traditional AI or Gen AI tools, agentic AI has the capability to manage and execute entire processes rather than just carrying out predefined tasks.
How Chief Sustainability Officers are approaching AI
Miguel Sossa-Mardomingo, Vice President and Deputy Americas Sustainability Lead at Capgemini, presented at Sustainability LIVE Chicago 2025 during The CSO Strategy Forum.
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