Most sustainability leaders don’t believe they will achieve net zero: Survey

Three quarters of sustainability leaders don’t believe their companies will achieve net zero, as most sustainability teams remain under-resourced and sustainability priorities are still often misaligned with commercial goals.

These are the conclusions of an anonymous survey of more than 400 UK sustainability leaders, as well as in-depth interviews conducted with 50 Heads of Sustainability by sustainability recruitment firm Leafr.

The study, published on November 18 as world leaders enter the second week of climate negotiations at COP29, suggests that sustainability is still not a top priority for many businesses.

While almost 80% of respondents believe their company started undertaking sustainability initiatives due to a genuine commitment to climate action, 75% say their teams are severely or very under-resourced. 

As a result, the same proportion are doubtful that their organisations will be able to meet net zero targets, especially because sustainability is aligned with business objectives in only 29% of cases.

Budget constraints top list of challenges

When it comes to the reasons why they struggle to achieve their company’s sustainability goals, these professionals cited budget constraints as number one (nearly 60%), followed by ‘resource constraints’ (more than 50%).

Other reasons include difficulty gathering data, lack of external pressure from customers and lack of C-suite buy-in – a common challenge discussed by most Chief Sustainability Officers interviewed by CSO Futures. 

"Our report lifts the lid on what sustainability leaders are facing daily—struggles that rarely make it into public reports," said Gus Bartholomew, Co-Founder of Leafr. “From resource-starved teams to a serious disconnect between sustainability and profit goals, these leaders’ candid insights reveal a pressing need for strategic support if companies are truly committed to sustainability.”

Sustainable supply chain management

About 70% of sustainability professionals surveyed believe they have the necessary skills, training and experience to excel in their role, according to the report.

But when asked what skills are holding them back in pushing the sustainability agenda further, nearly 50% of leaders named sustainable supply chain management, while more than 40% cited biodiversity.

On the other hand, they seem confident in their renewable energy expertise and understanding of carbon offsets, regulation, energy efficiency and waste management: fewer than 10% listed these are skills holding them back.