The latest edition of the Capgemini Research Institute’s report, A World in Balance 2025: Unlocking Resilience and Long-Term Value Through Environmental Action, shows that businesses are doubling down on environmental sustainability as a key strategy for long-term competitiveness, innovation, and resilience. More than four in five organizations plan to raise sustainability investments within the next 12–18 months, up eight percentage points over last year. However, the study warns that many companies still equate planning with execution, revealing a significant gap between perceived preparedness and actual climate resilience.
Regulatory compliance remains the top driver of environmental action, but profitability, cost savings, and operational efficiency are gaining importance. At the same time, two-thirds of executives report rising pressure to deliver measurable, science-based outcomes — yet only 21% of organizations have developed detailed transition roadmaps with interim targets and capital allocation. Internally, progress is slowed by budget limitations, data challenges, and siloed operations, while geopolitical instability is cited by nearly two-thirds as a factor slowing the pace of sustainability projects.
Over 70% of executives say they have experienced climate-related supply chain disruptions, production delays, or raw material shortages, and two-thirds expect growing difficulties in managing insurance and financial risk. While most organizations identify climate adaptation as a priority, over half admit they are underprepared for climate impacts. Few have taken concrete steps to mitigate risks — just 38% are upgrading infrastructure, 31% are shifting production to safer geographies, and only 26% are redesigning products for climate resilience.
Nearly two-thirds of companies report using artificial intelligence to advance their sustainability goals — from optimizing energy use to reducing waste. But its environmental footprint is under scrutiny, with 57% of executives now discussing the carbon cost of generative AI (Gen AI) at the board level. The share of leaders who believe the benefits of Gen AI outweigh its environmental impact has dropped sharply from 67% in 2024 to 57% this year, signaling a more cautious approach to AI adoption.
Public trust in corporate sustainability claims continues to decline, with 62% of consumers believing companies are guilty of greenwashing — nearly doubling since 2023. Over three-quarters of consumers expect corporations to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, yet just one in four considers sustainable products affordable. Only 16% feel they have adequate access to sustainability information, pointing to an urgent need for clear, verifiable, and accessible communication from brands.
Capgemini works with global enterprises to accelerate their transition toward a digital and environmentally responsible future, delivering solutions from strategy and design to engineering and deployment. With a team of 350,000 professionals in more than 50 countries and €22.5 billion in revenues in 2023, the Group combines deep industry knowledge, AI and cloud expertise, and a strong partner ecosystem to create meaningful business and societal impact. The Capgemini Research Institute — ranked the world’s leading corporate think tank by independent analysts — operates research centers across India, Singapore, the UK, and the US, driving data-backed insights on technology’s role in transforming large enterprises.
