Sustainability high on agenda within companies, says EY

Ottoline Spearman

Sustainability remains high on the agenda for companies, according to a new EY report released as COP30 continues.

73 per cent of respondents said sustainability is now embedded in how business priorities are set, while 69 per cent confirm that environmental and social factors are actively used to assess organisational performance.

The study shows that more firms are giving sustainability responsibility to senior leadership, with 62 percent assigning it at the C-suite level.

Sustainability targets are present within companies, but delivery confidence varies. 37 per cent of respondents report having a net-zero target, but only 26 per cent are confident that they will meet them.

Community impact, climate risk and water stewardship are the top priorities, while EY said that many companies are still not fully prepared for the upcoming EU reporting rules.

Aidan Meagher, Co-Head of Geopolitical Strategy at EY said in the report: "It’s great to see such positive and encouraging survey findings.

"In a global environment marked by geopolitical uncertainty, organisations are now treating sustainability as a smart, long-term priority.

"There is a recognition that the right sustainability strategy will have implications for brand resilience, customer engagement, and value creation."