94% of business leaders claim that climate disruptions have caused financial losses to their companies in the last two years, and 30% report losses exceeding one million dollars, according to the report Sustainability in Action 2026 by Sweep and Capgemini. However, more than three-quarters (79%) state that their sustainability data is insufficient to accurately guide the overall business strategy, as it has not yet been properly integrated throughout the organisation.
Compared to the data from the 2024 report, the present reveals a significant decline in business confidence in sustainability data. This does not mean that sustainability has dropped off the business agenda. In fact, the surveyed companies remain convinced of the commercial importance of sustainability. 85% of respondents say their company must transform towards a low-carbon economy, and 86% view this transition as a growth opportunity rather than a hindrance.
However, the quality of the sustainability data on which these decisions are based is deteriorating. In 2024, more than half (53%) of respondents stated that their data lacked the necessary reliability to underpin the business strategy, compared to 79% recorded this year.
At the same time, AI is emerging as a powerful enabler helping companies make their sustainability data more reliable, actionable, and strategically valuable. Eight out of ten respondents (79%) claim that the adoption of AI has increased investment in sustainability, with benefits including greater access to investment, increased accuracy and preparedness for audits in the data, and a reduction in the time spent on gathering and processing information.
The study involved 1,000 senior executives in the United States, United Kingdom, France, the DACH region (the German-speaking European countries), and the Nordic countries.
