Competitive Advantage Is Top Motivator for Corporate Emissions: Survey

In its second annual survey of corporate sustainability leaders, Optera reveals that corporate sustainability efforts have made remarkable strides over the past year. All surveyed executives have either implemented sustainability initiatives or are actively developing plans.

More than 75% say the opportunity for product or brand differentiation is a top motivator for tackling corporate emissions. Shoring up business practices for a low-carbon future ranks second.

"The survey results clearly demonstrate that sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, but a core business strategy,” says Tim Weiss, Optera CEO. “Companies that can gather and take action on quality emissions data will separate themselves from their competitors."

Key Takeaways:

• The survey also reveals that emissions reporting, verification and science-based target setting are rapidly becoming standard practices. 
• 91% of respondents report emissions either publicly or to regulators and customers.
• 75% have their emissions verified by a third party.
• 73% have set a science-based target.
• This year’s survey also showed persistent data management challenges, with 40% of respondents citing data gathering as the most challenging aspect of adherence to climate regulations. The number rises to 55% for companies with revenues above $10 billion, highlighting a significant pain point in emissions management for enterprise organizations. Notably, 60% of respondents indicated an interest in using AI (with human oversight) for report generation and forecasting decarbonization impacts, reflecting a growing interest in AI approaches to the complexities of emissions reporting.