The second Global Sustainability Barometer study released by Kyndryl, commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by Ecosystm, highlights the key role of data and AI as key drivers for actionable insights and future risk forecasting in the context of sustainability. Globally, 21% of organizations leverage technology to mitigate their environmental impact and inform sustainability strategies, but this figure rises to 54% in India.
Notably, there’s been a 31% increase in sustainability objectives and execution among Indian organizations over the past year.
Faith Taylor, Chief Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Officer at Kyndryl, highlighted this urgency; he said, “As climate-related challenges intensify, businesses are compelled to operationalize sustainability more robustly. This year’s Global Sustainability Barometer underscores the need for organizations to transition from conceptualization to actionable measures.”
By embedding sustainability into business frameworks, companies can optimize resources—human and technological—to achieve their objectives while fostering a positive environmental impact.
Key Insights from the Study Include: –
While 59% of Indian organizations have integrated sustainability goals into their reporting processes, only 12% fully utilize data for strategic planning and decision-making.
A substantial 99% of businesses in India track or measure their sustainability initiatives, yet 87% fail to leverage this data for guiding transformative processes.
While 29% of Indian businesses acknowledge the significant role of AI in achieving sustainability, 51% do not factor environmental implications into their AI strategies.
Matthew Sekol, Sustainability Global Black Belt at Microsoft, said, “By amalgamating sustainability data with operational and financial metrics, leveraging traditional analytics and advanced AI applications, companies can enhance resilience and fulfill commitments towards sustainability.”
The study presents actionable recommendations for organizations aiming to bolster their sustainability initiatives:
1. Align Technology with Strategic Planning: Only 34% of Indian businesses leverage IT to mitigate their environmental footprints. Only 20% see data and technology contributing to sustainability goals, and just 18% pursue dual objectives through tech. Organizations should prioritize integrating technological solutions into their sustainability strategies to convert vague goals into specific, actionable initiatives.
2. Reimagine the Role of AI: Although 76% of Indian organizations use AI to monitor energy consumption and emissions, only 28% utilize AI to forecast energy needs based on current metrics. Prioritizing AI-driven scenario modeling and climate risk assessments can facilitate a comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship, enhancing organizational readiness for future challenges.
3. Leverage Data for Transformational Insights: Fragmented data across enterprise planning systems poses a significant obstacle, with only 13% using data effectively to guide transformation efforts. A cohesive data integration strategy can yield a clearer understanding of environmental impacts, fostering informed and proactive sustainability decisions.
4. Cultivate a Culture of Collective Responsibility: With CEOs heavily influencing sustainability targets and 55% viewing Chief Sustainability Officers as crucial stakeholders, organizations need to engage cross-functional teams—including finance and technology—to embed sustainability into the core business strategy for effective implementation.
Despite the growing recognition of AI’s potential in advancing sustainability, concerns about its environmental impact persist.
Only 46% of Indian enterprises contemplate the energy implications of their AI solutions.
