• Only 17% of SDGs are on track; the private sector must leverage Gen AI to accelerate progress.
• Gen AI can drive innovation, productivity, and sustainable practices, offering transformative potential.
• Mitigating risks of Gen AI is crucial to ensure it supports, rather than undermines, sustainability goals.

A Critical Moment for Sustainable Development

The world faces significant challenges—geopolitical conflicts, the climate crisis, high inflation, and the lingering effects of COVID-19—that hinder sustainable development. Only 17% of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track to be met by 2030. As global leaders manage these simultaneous crises, the gap between action and goals widens.

At the same time, technology is reshaping economies. Generative AI (Gen AI), with its potential to transform industries, stands out as a powerful tool to help close this gap. If developed and deployed responsibly, it could significantly accelerate progress on the SDGs.

“In the past 30 years, there is no single technology except for AI that I have been able to stand up in front of CEOs and credibly and authentically say that it will have a material positive impact on every part of their enterprise.“
— Julie Sweet, CEO and Chair, Accenture

Gen AI’s Transformative Power

Gen AI offers unprecedented capabilities—access to hyper-specific information, cross-disciplinary innovation, and productivity gains—that can help businesses tackle the complexities of sustainable development.

The private sector, which drives 60% of global GDP, is uniquely positioned to lead this shift. By aligning Gen AI use with SDG priorities, businesses can create positive, far-reaching impacts.

Already, businesses are exploring use cases of Gen AI to drive sustainable outcomes, including optimizing logistics, enabling circular economies, and improving customer engagement through extended product life cycles. These innovations contribute to decoupling growth from resource use, advancing responsible growth.

Risks and Responsible Use of Gen AI

While the potential is immense, the risks of Gen AI—from data privacy to unintended consequences—cannot be ignored. These risks can outpace regulation, placing businesses in a vulnerable position if not managed properly.

Related Article: VF Corporation’s Green Bond Report Highlights $545 Million Allocation to Environmental Projects, Achieving SDG Goals

To ensure Gen AI supports rather than undermines sustainability, companies must adopt effective governance and risk management practices. This involves understanding both the benefits and the potential downsides of Gen AI deployment.

Accenture’s report, in collaboration with the UN, offers four key resources for CXOs, including a Playbook for Implementing Gen AI Responsibly and guidance on how to align Gen AI with corporate sustainability goals.

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