Some 95% of corporate leaders view sustainability as a commercial opportunity, while almost all (99%) expect it to drive differentiated competitive advantage over the next three years, a new report by HSBC has found.
According to the HSBC Sustainability Pulse Survey 2025, businesses and institutional investors are viewing sustainability as a ‘key strategic consideration’ and growth catalyst.
Business strategy
“Today, sustainability strategy has become business strategy: defining value creation, competitive advantage and risk management – as demonstrated by our survey,” commented Natalie Blyth, global head of Sustainable Finance and Transition, HSBC. “This critical pivot is why we’ve launched our new ambitious strategy to support our clients with their transition – talk to us today.”
Among the key findings of the report are that 95% of corporate business leaders and 79% of institutional investors view sustainability as a growth driver, while close to two thirds (63%) of companies surveyed described themselves as ‘advanced adopters’ of climate technologies.
On a sector-by-sector basis, commercial real estate and technology, media and telecommunications, report higher levels of climate technology adoption. This is particularly the case in Indonesia, Singapore and India, where leaders plan to accelerate their sustainability investment over the next three years.
Investor confidence
As HSBC noted, institutional investors are increasingly linking sustainability strategies with long-term performance and risk management, suggesting that investor confidence remains strong.
‘Our survey tells us that companies and investors alike are aligning on the importance of climate transition as a driver of competitive advantage and long-term resilience,’ it said. ‘This momentum is supported by the recognition of technological opportunities and robust capital allocation patterns, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable investment.
‘Despite some financial barriers, the demand for scalable climate technologies presents significant opportunities for innovation and investment, helping companies to potentially turn transition strategies into a fundamental aspect of business transformation and growth.’ Read more here and here.
