The path to resilience, growth and sustainability by 2030.

As these challenges mount, CEOs around the world are pointing to issues traditionally considered outside the business sphere—such as climate change or sociopolitical conflicts—as concerns in driving value and impact for all stakeholders. . With just eight years to go to deliver the SDGs, almost half (43%) of CEOs say their sustainability efforts have been hampered by the geopolitical environment, and that number is even higher for those in developing countries (51%). Examining the net zero targets set by the world's largest companies, Accenture also found that almost all will miss their own targets unless they double the pace of reducing carbon emissions by 2030.

However, some CEOs continue to make a big positive impact, bringing value to stakeholders and competitive advantages in their sectors, reshaping the future of sustainable development through innovation and collaboration. Two-thirds of CEOs (66%) say their companies are engaging in long-term strategic partnerships to increase resilience. These leaders are reconfiguring underlying supply chains, reskilling their workforce, reassessing their relationship with natural resources, and reimagining planetary boundaries through technological advances that span physical, digital, and biological solutions.

" Failing to deliver on the promise of the SDGs is a real concern but, at the same time, a huge opportunity for companies that reinvent their businesses and harness sustainability as one of the key forces of change in the next decade," said Peter Lacy . , Global Head of Sustainability Services and Chief Responsibility Officer at Accenture. "CEOs are clearly concerned with resilience, but one leader's resilience is another leader's opportunity for growth. New waves of technology investment and breakthrough innovation can bring the SDGs back within reach, but only if leaders turn to sustainability for resilience to help create new markets, products and services that can correct the current trajectory and drive growth in times of disruption ."

CEOs also identify a clear need to focus on technology to find solutions that address global challenges and drive growth. Leading CEOs are already integrating sustainability into their companies through launching new sustainability-focused products and services (63%), improving sustainability data collection in their value chains (55%), and investing in sources of renewable energy (49%). Almost half (49%) are transitioning to circular business models, and 40% are increasing R&D funding for sustainable innovation .

In their interviews, the CEOs identify key initiatives to increase business resilience, from setting science-based climate goals and investing in the diversity of their workforce to engaging in cross-industry partnerships on technology solutions, improving the visibility of the supply chain and promoting greater biodiversity. In addition, CEOs continue to call for governments to commit to policy changes1 that prioritize long-term measurable goals such as standardized ESG reporting frameworks, a global carbon market, and incentives for sustainable business models.

"Despite the setbacks, there is room for hope. CEOs surveyed increasingly recognize that they can build credibility and brand value by committing to the Ten Principles and Sustainable Development Goals across their operations, not just because it's the right thing to do, but also because it makes business sense," Ojiambo added.

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