Sustainability Remains a Top Priority for Executives in 2025

Executives choose sustainability. Shareholder pressure eases. Political challenges grow. Still, business leaders keep sustainability near. A recent Deloitte survey shows this.

Key Findings from Deloitte’s Executive Survey

• Sustainability Priority: For four straight years, 45% of C-suite leaders mark sustainability as a top challenge. They pair it with technology adoption and AI.
• Increased Investment: Eighty-three percent of executives now boost their companies’ sustainability funds. They invest more this past year.
• Technology as a Catalyst: New technology helps meet sustainability goals. Companies use AI widely. Four out of five now run AI to improve how they work and lower emissions.
• Business Drivers: Revenue growth drives sustainability plans. Next comes meeting rules.
• Climate Impact: One-third of leaders see extreme weather disrupt business. They feel climate change in daily operations.

Shifts in Stakeholder Pressure and Actions

Shareholders, boards, governments, customers, and employees now pressure less on sustainability. For example, shareholder pressure drops from 71% to 58% between 2022 and 2025.
Fewer companies now tie executive pay to sustainability or push suppliers to meet green rules.
Tasks like buying renewable energy, making sustainable products, using green materials, and choosing energy-efficient tech fall a bit as well.
Some leaders even call for less sustainability work.

Business Case for Enduring Change

Delta Air Lines’ Chief Sustainability Officer Amelia DeLuca makes her point clear. She says, "We do this not just for sustainability but because it makes sense for our business. That is why our plans stick."

Conclusion

The Deloitte survey tells us that even with less outside pressure, sustainability stays at a company’s heart. More companies use AI and tech to mix green ideas with daily work and profit aims. This change moves from rule-following to a core business plan. It helps build steady growth and tough operations in a changing climate.

Source: Deloitte Survey reported by Jesse Klein, Morning Brew Inc., November 19, 2025.

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