Only 16% Integrate Sustainability, Tech Seen as Key

Kyndryl, the world's largest provider of IT infrastructure services, has partnered with Microsoft to unveil the findings of The Global Sustainability Barometer study.

This research, conducted by Ecosystm, reveals that while 85% of organisations deem achieving sustainability goals as strategically important, a mere 16% have successfully integrated sustainability into their strategies and data.

In the face of escalating climate-related challenges, businesses are under increasing pressure to leverage technology for sustainable solutions. Despite 80% of surveyed organisations acknowledging the significance of technology in achieving their goals, only 32% believe they are fully maximising its potential within their operations.

Faith Taylor, Chief Sustainability and ESG Officer at Kyndryl, notes the varying stages of sustainability maturity among companies, emphasising the application of technology to unlock sustainability's full potential beyond regulatory compliance.

Shelly Blackburn, Vice President, Cross Solutions Area at Microsoft, underscores technology's pivotal role in achieving sustainability goals, with the promise of even greater contributions through advanced AI tools.

Survey highlights include the recognition that CEOs and boards prioritise sustainability and digital transformation yet struggle with integration and execution. While 61% use AI to monitor energy use, only 34% utilise current data for predicting future energy consumption. Customers emerge as the most vocal advocates for sustainability, followed by employees, investors, and government regulators.

The study outlines sustainability best practices:

Elevate sustainability to a CEO and Boardroom priority, aligning with finance and technology.
Integrate sustainability with technology modernisation, leveraging automation and digitisation.
Establish an integrated data foundation for informed decision-making.
Harness AI for predictive sustainability, expanding its use to include predictive analytics.
Empower employees, addressing the lack of dedicated resources and limited internal expertise.

Ullrich Loeffler, Co-Founder & CEO of Ecosystm, stresses the need for collective action across governments, industries, enterprises, and individuals in response to unprecedented climate-related events.

The study, conducted globally with 1,523 technology and sustainability leaders across 16 countries, underscores the urgency for organisations to take impactful steps outlined in the report titled "From Vision to Impact: The Global Sustainability Barometer."

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Source: Kyndryl