Original research grounded in data from a global survey of 200+ sustainability professionals

Sustainability teams are entering 2026 at a pivot point. Programs remain lean and stretched across a widening set of demands—from evolving regulations to complex measurement—leaving decarbonization too often in the backseat. Most programs are still reporting‑driven, with the bulk of time going to data collection, analysis, and disclosures.

AI is finally helping—speeding up data prep and report drafting, catching errors, and lightening the load for teams buried in measurement. But concerns around accuracy and reliability, data and privacy, skills, and budgets limit how far AI can go.

This report captures where teams are now, where AI is already working, and what it will take to turn ambition into impact—so leaders can refocus 2026 on real reductions.

What’s inside:

• The reality on the ground: how teams are allocating time across measurement, action, and alignment—and why reporting still dominates.
• AI, from intern to impact: where it accelerates work today, what’s holding it back, and how to deploy it responsibly.
• Practical moves for 2026: build trust and governance, measure AI’s footprint, use procurement to drive provider transparency, and make more room for decarbonization.