IBM’s first-ever State of Sustainability Readiness Report 2024 revealed critical insights into the intersection of sustainability and technology. The report highlighted that 88% of business leaders plan to increase IT investments in sustainability over the next 12 months. The survey of 2,790 business leaders across 15 industries in nine countries uncovered significant barriers to progress, such as limited AI adoption and financial planning challenges. While 90% of executives view AI as a potential game-changer for sustainability, 56% of organizations have yet to adopt AI for these goals.

“Businesses see huge potential for AI to boost both their sustainability efforts and their bottom line, and it is exciting to see those incentives aligned,” said Christina Shim, Chief Sustainability Officer at IBM. “Leaders should stay thoughtful about minimizing environmental impacts while adopting AI, but the data shows a lot of opportunity for progress on both sustainability and costs.”

What the Experts Are Saying

IBM experts have shared key predictions with ESG News for how businesses will harness technology in 2025 to advance sustainability:

AI-Powered Automation:

“Companies will couple AI and automation technologies to progress 2030 sustainability goals. Organizations with ambitious targets should implement AI-powered automation capabilities, such as observability and resource management, to reduce data center energy consumption and enhance asset performance.” —Kendra DeKeyrel, Vice President ESG & Asset Management Product Leader, IBM.

Generative AI Adoption:

“More business leaders will experiment with AI for sustainability. Mounting compliance measures and energy-efficient processors will drive adoption, allowing businesses to measure emissions, identify opportunities, and improve sustainability.” —Kendra DeKeyrel

Secure Tech for ESG Reporting:

“The financial industry will prioritize adaptable and secure technology to meet increasing ESG reporting demands. Investments in solutions that harmonize data and ensure traceability will enable financial institutions to calculate and act on financed emissions.” —Kendra DeKeyrel

AI and Geospatial Data:

“Expect to see many more AI models trained on geospatial datasets. Governments, utilities, and private companies will use these tools to predict and mitigate disruptions from extreme weather and climate crises.” —David Blanch, Director, Product Management, ESG and Environmental Intelligence, IBM.

IBM’s 2024 Sustainability Software Releases

This year, IBM unveiled several cutting-edge AI tools to tackle sustainability challenges, covered extensively by ESG News:

• IBM Envizi Enhances ESG Planning and Forecasting with AI: New enhancements integrate Envizi with IBM Planning Analytics, streamlining emissions reduction planning.
• IBM Launches AI-Powered Solutions for Enhanced Asset Management and Emissions Tracking: Maximo Application Suite 9.0 introduces AI-driven features to optimize asset lifecycles and reduce emissions.
• IBM and WWF-Germany Collaborate to Build New AI Solution for Forest Elephant Conservation: This partnership aims to use AI for the conservation of keystone species like the African forest elephant.
• IBM and UNDP Launch Tools to Forecast Energy Access and Equity: Two AI models hosted on UNDP’s GeoHub analyze clean energy challenges globally.
• IBM Acquires Prescinto to Boost AI-Driven Asset Performance Management: Their acquisition enhances its Maximo Suite, improving renewable energy asset monitoring.
• IBM and SEforALL Launch AI Tools for Sustainable Urban Planning: Announced at COP29, these tools support sustainable city growth in developing regions.

IBM’s continued innovation underscores its commitment to bridging technology with actionable sustainability solutions, empowering businesses to overcome challenges and meet ambitious goals.