UN Global Compact: What CEOs Should Do for Sustainability
The business case for integrating sustainability into corporate strategy is stronger than it has been in the last five years, according to 88% of chief executives.
A report from The UN Global Compact (UNGC) indicates that executive opinion has moved past viewing sustainability as a purely moral concept, now seeing it as a central pillar of business strategy and resilience.
The UNGC’s 2025 CEO Study is one of the largest global surveys of CEO sentiment on sustainability collating insights from over 1,900 chief executives across 128 countries.
The findings show that 99% of CEOs are focused on at least maintaining their sustainability commitments.
Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, says: “CEOs are crystal clear: sustainability has moved from moral imperative to business fundamental.”
Moving from ambition to action
While factors like shared goals technological innovation and regulatory incentives remain critical factors for sustainability, the UNGC outlines some key approaches for leadership to act decisively.
The report stresses that these approaches work in tandem and ignoring one could mean leaving “vital opportunities locked away”.
The first is for leaders to collaborate on regulation.
CEOs identified global governance and policy alignment as crucial for achieving sustainability targets.
The report suggests leaders must advocate for policy coherence and engage in forums with governments and civil society to unlock the private sector’s potential.
Another key action is to harness consumer demand.
The study notes that CEOs rank consumer influence above that of governments and investors.
According to the report, 98% of CEOs agree the private sector can advance progress with sustainable products and services.
This involves embedding sustainability into product design pricing and partnerships.
It also means exploring new business models such as the transition from linear to circular structures with 73% of CEOs reportedly already prioritising circularity.
Integrating technology and future-proofing talent
To ensure sustainable innovation is inclusive and scalable, the report says leaders must expand access to technology by democratising digital tools and data.
Stephanie Jamison, Global Resources Industry Practice Chair and Global Sustainability Services Lead at Accenture, says: “Business leaders know that technology, data and AI are critical to meeting their sustainability targets, yet gaps persist as they move from ambition to execution.”
Despite this, the study found only 26% of CEOs currently rank digital innovation in their top three priorities.
Increased investment in local innovators and designing products with flexibility for customisation could accelerate sustainable development.
As artificial intelligence reshapes the future of work, the report warns that businesses must also rethink the skills needed to remain competitive while becoming more sustainable.
The UNGC advises that this can be achieved by providing workers with upskilling and reskilling programmes and by building future-ready talent pipelines through strategic investment in broad-based development.
Leading with purpose and credibility
The report also highlights the need for CEOs to lead with courage, credibility and consistency to build trust and create long-term impact.
This presents a challenge, as only 50% of those surveyed strongly agree that their companies are comfortable communicating their sustainability progress.
The UNGC says that CEOs can address this by clearly linking sustainability to long-term value creation and keeping external communications authentic, simple and ongoing.
Despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical headwinds, the UNGC believes these keys can help leaders close readiness gaps and strengthen resilience.
"As the world breached the 1.5°C threshold and with a $4.3 trillion annual SDG financing gap leaving 3.4 billion people in countries spending more on interest than on health or education, the private sector must close the execution gap—embedding sustainability into strategy and culture, scaling innovation across value chains, and partnering to shape rules that reward long-term business value," says Sanda.
“Companies that act on these findings will build resilience, unlock growth, grow industries, stimulate economies and accelerate delivery.”
António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, says: “We can only meet goals with stronger collaboration between Governments, and across society and sectors.
“Those that lag behind need not be a reason for us to be discouraged, but to increase our commitment to move forward.
“The rewards are there for the taking, for all those ready and willing to lead the world through these troubled times.
“We are at a turning point. I urge you to seize this moment; and seize the prize.”