The UN Global Compact and Accenture launched the 2025 version of their annual report, Turning the Key: Unlocking the Next Era of Sustainability Leadership (September 2025). The study draws on insights from almost 2,000 CEOs across 128 countries.
Human Level’s Take:
- The study finds that CEOs are increasingly embedding sustainability across strategy, operations, and supply chains, with 86% reporting steps to integrate sustainability into their business. Key sustainability priorities for CEOs include compliance, responsible supply chains, GHG reductions, and reinventing products that meet both sustainability standards and consumer demands on quality and price.
- AI, digital tools and renewable energy are seen as key to sustainability, but adoption lags, as only 27% of CEOs currently prioritise using digital tools to tackle sustainability challenges. Progress in renewables and emissions reduction continues, with 72% of CEOs expecting major breakthroughs by 2050.
- In addition, rising expectations from customers, regulators, investors, civil society and employees are shaping company sustainability priorities. Employees are a major influence on sustainability priorities, with 39% of CEOs ranking them among the top three factors. Consumer demand is also critical, with 60% of CEOs placing it in their top three influences and 40% considering it the most influential over the next five years.
- The report suggests five “keys” to open the door to resilience and sustainability. CEOs can lead by: strengthening ESG governance and advocating for sustainability regulation; harnessing consumer demand through product design, shared industry standards and circular innovation; democratising technology access and skills; investing in future-ready workforces via skills development; and making the case by linking sustainability to risk management, regulatory readiness and ROI.
Some key takeaways:
- Top sustainability priorities for CEOs in 2025: The survey finds that CEOs are increasingly focused on integration of sustainability into other areas of the business, driven by rising expectations, stricter rules and a desire for supply chain traceability. While 86% say sustainability is already in core operations, only 34% feel real progress has been made in the past 25 years; 66% see greater potential ahead, with priorities including compliance, responsible supply chains, and GHG reductions. Reinventing products is a key focus, cited as top or significant by nearly half of CEOs. Another key opportunity is the pace of technological change. AI and digital tools can enhance productivity, resilience and sustainability tracking, yet adoption lags due to resource constraints and competing priorities. For example, while 97% of CEOs expect progress in digital tracking and supply chains, only 27% currently prioritise these tools. Emerging markets, especially across Africa, face added hurdles to adopting tech tools, but CEOs see additional opportunity in these markets as the potential for business growth and positive social impact is high. In addition, CEOs view decarbonisation as a top priority, with strong progress in renewable energy adoption: 93% credit business with driving advances since 2000, and 53% say it’s the area of greatest achievement. Emissions intensity has already fallen at 77% of the top 2,000 companies since 2023, and 72% of CEOs expect major renewable breakthroughs by 2050.
- Which perspectives are driving sustainability most: Sustainability is being accelerated by rising expectations from customers, regulators, investors and civil society, with these groups set to grow in influence over the next five years. CEOs see large companies and their partners as key drivers of sustainability innovation and change, with nearly all expecting progress through industry collaboration and embedding sustainability across value chains. Employee engagement is also an important driver, with 39% of CEOs identifying employees as one of the top three influencers of their sustainability priorities. Consumer demand is also a top driver of sustainability, with 60% of CEOs ranking it among their top three influences and 40% citing it as the most influential group over the next five years. While many consumers value sustainable products (and 54% of CEOs see potential for a premium) barriers like price, awareness and distribution gaps limit impact. CEOs see a need for stronger value chain and supplier collaboration, especially where buyers rather than end consumers are making decisions about what products are sold.
- Five keys to open the door: The report identifies five “keys” that can help companies be more resilient and see more growth. First, CEOs can collaborate on better ESG regulation, for example by strengthening internal ESG oversight, participating in cross-sector forums and investing in digital and AI tools to ensure compliance, data integrity and public trust. Second, CEOs can harness consumer demand by embedding sustainability into products and collaborating on sector-wide standards for topics like traceability, emissions and living wages. Third, innovation and technology are vital to sustainability, but impact depends on equitable access to new tech and new skills. CEOs can democratise technology access by investing in innovation, and designing inclusive, adaptable tools. Fourth, CEOs should invest in future-ready workforces and human-centered skills to advance sustainability by promoting decent work and worker agency through upskilling, re-skilling and fair transitions. They can also develop talent pipelines by investing in workforce skill-building for the future needs of the business. Finally, CEOs can build trust and long-term impact by framing sustainability as a strategic advantage linked to risk management, regulatory readiness and ROI. This will help them to better can engage employees, investors, customers and communities. This is a top focus for many leaders now: 90% of CEOs advising successors to invest in sustainability initiatives backed by a solid business case.
