North American Sustainability Ambition Holds Firm Despite Pressures
Event summary
- Only 10% of sustainability professionals expect their organization's ambition to decrease, per a tri-national survey of 276 experts.
- 76% identify connecting sustainability to business value as a crucial capability.
- 61% say embedding sustainability into strategy and capital allocation should be a priority.
- Survey conducted across Canada, Mexico, and the USA in English, French, and Spanish.
The big picture
The survey reveals a counterintuitive resilience in corporate sustainability ambition amid growing economic, political, and regulatory pressures. As companies become more selective in their sustainability focus, the ability to translate environmental and social priorities into measurable business value is emerging as a defining test for leadership. This shift underscores the increasing integration of sustainability into core business strategy, particularly in strategy and capital allocation.
What we're watching
- Strategic Focus
- How organizations will balance targeted sustainability efforts with broader ESG commitments.
- Business Integration
- The pace at which sustainability becomes deeply embedded in core business strategy and capital allocation.
- Role Evolution
- Whether sustainability professionals can sustain influence across leadership and organizational change.