AI is transforming how we work and do business. But while companies are embracing the opportunities, are we paying enough attention to the environmental, social and ethical implications?
AI adoption is moving faster than responsible AI strategies
AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday business – from writing and analysis to customer service and decision-making. And sustainability professionals are no exception.
According to Deloitte’s 2025 Global C-suite Sustainability Survey, 81% of respondents are already using AI to support sustainability efforts, with another 16% planning to do so.
But there’s another side to the story.
A 2026 Copenhagen Business School study found that 84% of top management respondents reported having no company AI strategy.
And a global analysis of 1,000 companies by the Thomson Reuters Foundation revealed that while 48% publicly disclosed AI strategies or guidelines, 97% of the companies studied did not consider environmental impacts, such as energy use and carbon footprint, when deciding which AI systems to deploy.
We see a similar disconnect in our own network. In a recent quick poll among our Sustainable Business Change Manager Alumni, around half of respondents reported having an AI policy – but none had yet integrated AI into their ESG strategy.
These findings point to an important distinction: Using AI for sustainability is not the same as using AI sustainably and responsibly.
Responsible AI is more than an IT responsibility
AI creates opportunities for innovation, efficiency and positive impact. But it also raises questions about data ethics, human rights, environmental footprints and dependence on global technology suppliers.
Connecting these agendas requires IT, ESG/Sustainability and Business Development to work together.
To help organisations get started, we’ve developed a Responsible AI Readiness Checklist covering five corporate capabilities:
- Organisational Readiness – Skills, culture and competencies
- AI Governance – Policies, responsibilities and safeguards
- Ethics & Quality – Transparency, human oversight and trustworthy AI
- Digital Sustainability – Energy consumption, resource use and digital waste
- Digital Sovereignty – Data control, jurisdictions and supplier dependencies
Together, these five areas provide a practical starting point for connecting AI with responsible and sustainable business practices.
From AI dilemmas to organisational action
The question is not whether we should embrace AI, but how we ensure that it creates value for business and society – while respecting people and planetary boundaries.
And that starts with understanding where your organisation stands today.
Sources
- Deloitte – Technology for Sustainability, 2025
- Copenhagen Business School – AI is Lagging Behind at Work, April 2026
- Thomson Reuters Foundation – AI Governance Gaps Are Creating ESG Risks, December 2025
The SBCM Alumni quick poll is an informal community snapshot, not a representative survey.
Læs også artiklen på CSR.dk (på dansk): AI er rykket ind i virksomhederne. Men hvor blev ESG af?
How ready is your organisation for Responsible AI?
Download our complimentary Responsible AI Readiness Checklist to assess your organisation across the five corporate capabilities and identify where to focus your efforts.
WORKSHOP | Responsible AI & Digital Sustainability in Practice
From AI dilemmas to collective action
Together with LAKRIDS BY BÜLOW, we’re inviting companies to a co-creative workshop focused on turning responsible AI challenges into practical organisational action.
Using the five corporate capabilities as a shared framework, participants will assess their AI readiness, exchange experiences and develop concrete action plans through facilitated Action Labs.
Date: 25 November 2026, 09:00–16:30
Location: Kosmopol, Copenhagen
Format: Interactive workshop + online follow-up
For: ESG/Sustainability, IT/Digital and cross-functional business professionals
Outcome: Two prioritised action areas and practical next steps
Tania Ellis is a trend strategist, speaker and advisor in responsible and sustainable business. For more than 20 years she has helped companies turn societal trends such as climate, geopolitics and AI into value for both society and the bottom line.
Want to put responsible AI and ESG on the agenda in your leadership team or organisation?
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