Strategic Intelligence: ESG Executive Briefing (Second Edition)

Sustainability used to be just about saving the planet. Today, it has morphed into an umbrella term for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.

Adopting a holistic approach that encompasses all environmental, social, and governance issues can help company leaders ensure all aspects of sustainability are covered in their ESG strategy. In 2025, there is pressure on companies to be more transparent about their ESG credentials. The analyst’s ESG research is designed to help companies build trust with society at large and set them on a path toward a sustainable future.

Key Highlights

• Big Tech’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decelerated in 2024, but the analyst expects this slowdown to be temporary. Carbon offset purchases are ramping up, and 2030 net-zero targets are just about still achievable. There is a rising risk that data centers will run out of water, raising water costs and disrupting operations. Big Tech procurement practices will likely put greater pressure on suppliers to cut emissions by 2030.
• The EU has scaled back several key ESG-related regulations, reducing compliance costs for companies operating in the EU. Both the UK and EU are moving to allow heavy emitters to use carbon removal projects (e.g., reforestation or direct air capture) as an alternative to purchasing permits to emit through regional emissions trading schemes.

Scope

• The analyst’s ESG executive briefing provides quarterly analysis of the ESG trends impacting the corporate world.

Reasons to Buy

• This report will help you understand the business impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) themes.
• It includes analysis of the latest developments in ESG regulations and standards and corporate ESG strategies.
• This edition includes an analysis of whether AI has killed Big Tech's environmental goals.