Sustainability has officially crossed the threshold from a boardroom ESG reporting exercise to a non-negotiable operational mandate.
According to IDC’s FutureScape: Worldwide Sustainability/ESG 2026 Predictions, a convergence of regulatory pressure, economic volatility, and the Agentic AI revolution is forcing enterprises to move beyond ambition and into the era of day-to-day execution.
The shift:
For years, ESG was treated as a long-term goal, often siloed within specialized departments. IDC predicts that by 2027, 80% of sustainability services engagements will focus exclusively on operationalizing strategy rather than defining it. This shift marks a transition where sustainability targets are no longer just pledges—they are being translated into specific system requirements, measured by execution velocity and tangible impact.
AI: the engine of real-time ESG
The role of artificial intelligence has evolved from generating reports to managing risk in real time. By 2030, IDC forecasts that over 65% of global enterprises will deploy agentic AI-driven ESG software. These autonomous systems will ingest logistics and supplier data to mitigate Scope 3 emissions and model sustainability risks before they escalate. For modern leaders, an investment in AI is now effectively an investment in sustainability.
“IT is a critical enabler for organizations shifting from ESG compliance to the operationalization phase of sustainable transformation,” said Bjoern Stengel, Global Sustainability Research and Practice Lead, IDC. “The era of AI everywhere creates exciting new possibilities to accelerate change, and it makes sustainable IT adoption more crucial than ever.”
Front-line transformation:
The push for operational impact is most visible in resource-intensive sectors. By 2027, 40% of manufacturers will utilize AI-driven analytics to slash carbon emissions by as much as 30%. Similarly, data centers are facing a new standard of accountability. By late 2027, 80% of AI-focused facilities will be required to report granular metrics on water consumption and pollution, making environmental performance inseparable from infrastructure strategy.
Circular economy:
Sustainability is also redefining the lifecycle of technology. By 2028, 75% of enterprises will establish formal IT asset circularity goals, with a staggering 90% of assets expected to be returned to the circular economy.
This circular IT model is being justified not just by values but by financial discipline, as procurement teams align ESG goals with cost optimization and waste reduction.
A new era for the CSO:
As sustainability moves into the systems of the business, the role of the chief sustainability officer (CSO) is expanding. By 2026, 60% of CSOs in large organizations will lead AI deployment in procurement to scrutinize supply chains. The CSO of the future is no longer a policy writer but a technology-enabled change agent who integrates business, risk, and technology functions.
