Environmental Sustainability shifts into Top 10 Business Priorities
A recent survey by Gartner reveals a significant shift in the way CEOs and Senior Executives think about sustainability.
The survey found that CEOs are placing increasing importance on environmental sustainability. The topic ranks in 8th position in their business priorities – the first time it has appeared in the top 10.
About the Survey
The Annual Gartner CEO and Business Executive Survey took place between July and December 2021. Over 400 CEOs and other senior business executives were surveyed. The geographical spread includes North America, EMEA and APAC and takes into account multiple different industries, revenue and company sizes.
2022 – the Year the CEO Perspective Changed
Gartner research vice president Mark Raskino described 2022 as “the year that CEO perspectives truly changed”. He continued: “The pandemic gradually brought a number of deep societal trends to the surface, such as a desire to change the way we work and the fragility of long-distance global supply chains. More recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is amplifying macroeconomic factors that CEOs must now deal with, such as inflation”.
This desire to become more environmentally friendly means that for the first time in the survey’s history, environmental sustainability has entered the top priorities for CEOs and Senior Execs.
ESG Efforts Attract Investment
The survey also found that 74% of respondents agreed that increasing environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts helps to attract investors. What’s more, of the 80% who intend to invest in new or improved products over the next two years, environmental sustainability was cited as the largest driver.
“As business leaders feel the pressure from key stakeholders to do more on environmental sustainability, they are now treating the needed changes as opportunities to drive business efficiency and revenue growth.” Raskino explained.