Most sustainability experts say agenda needs significant change
A growing number of sustainability professionals believe the current sustainability agenda needs a major overhaul, with nearly six in ten (59 per cent) saying it should be radically revised, according to new global research from ERM, GlobeScan, and Volans. The findings come as businesses across Asia-Pacific navigate growing pressure to deliver sustainability outcomes while managing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
The Sustainability at a Crossroads 2026 report, based on a survey of more than 600 sustainability experts across 57 countries, found that 95 per cent support some form of change to the current sustainability agenda.
While support for sustainability remains strong, many respondents believe the current agenda places too much emphasis on reporting and compliance rather than the policy, economic, and systemic changes needed to accelerate progress. Nearly half of experts surveyed believe the agenda has become too narrowly focused on environmental issues at the expense of broader social and economic priorities.
The findings are particularly relevant for Asia-Pacific companies navigating evolving sustainability regulations and growing pressure to translate ambition into impact. This is especially true as governments and businesses across the region seek practical pathways to achieve climate and development goals amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Confidence in sustainability remains high, but confidence in outcomes does not
One of the report’s most striking findings is the growing gap between belief in sustainability and confidence in its results. More than half of respondents describe the business case for sustainability as very strong, yet only five per cent strongly believe companies will meet their 2030 climate commitments.
The results suggest that sustainability professionals increasingly see implementation, execution, and integration into business and financial decision-making as the sector’s central challenge. Seventy per cent of experts identified deeper integration within companies as a critical pathway for improving outcomes.
When asked what would have the greatest impact on accelerating progress, experts most frequently cited stronger regulation and enforcement, political leadership, and reforms to economic incentives.
A shift from compliance to impact
Chris Coulter, CEO of GlobeScan, said: “The sustainability community is sending a clear message: belief in the value of sustainability remains strong, but confidence in the current approach is fading. Experts see a growing gap between ambition and impact and are increasingly questioning whether today’s sustainability agenda is delivering change at the scale and pace required. This is not a rejection of sustainability. Rather, it reflects a growing desire to rethink how progress is achieved and how greater impact can be delivered in an increasingly complex world.”
Media Contact:
Stacy Rowland
GlobeScan
+1 416 992 2705
stacy.rowland@globescan.com
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