2025 AI 时代下的可持续发展研究报告：融合势在必行 Sustainability in the Age of AI The Integration Imperative

SustainabilityintheAgeofAI

TheIntegrationImperative

ContentsForeword3

ExecutiveSummary4

1.Introduction5

2.TheIntegrationImperativeWhySustainabilityandAIStrategiesMustConverge8

2.1WhyIntegrationMatters11

2.2AIApplicationsinEnterpriseSustainability:FromStrategytoImpact

13

3.TheStrategicValueofAIIntegrationinMaximizingSustainabilityImpact2

1

3.1SustainabilityStrategyandAIAdoption2

4

3.2IsAIIndispensabletoOrganizationalSustainabilitySuccess?2

6

3.3TheDifferenceAIAdoptionMakes2

7

3.4PromisesofAI’sSynergisticChainEffects31

4.FromStrategytoImpact:ExecutingSustainability+AIIntegration3

4

4.1TheExecutionPlaybook:CriticalElementsforSuccess3

6

4.2FrameworkforSustainableIntegrationandImpact4

1

5.ABoldVisionforLeadershipFromAIInvestmenttoSustainableImpact43

6.Appendix4

5

6.1DemographicBreakdownoftheResearch4

6

6.2Fuzzy-setQualitativeComparativeAnalysis4

7

6.3KeyFactorsforAI-DrivenSustainabilityIntegration49

7.References

50

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Foreword

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PierreLeManh,PMPPresident&CEO

ProjectManagementInstitute

ThroughPMIxAI,ourglobalinitiativetoleadAIinproject

management,theProjectManagementInstitute(PMI)has

steppeduptoleadboththeAItransformationofproject

managementandtheprojectmanagementofAI

transformations.WithaseriesofeLearningsofferings,researchreports,thoughtleadership,andguides,we’veeducated

projectprofessionalsonthenuancesofgenerativeAI,howthispowerfultechnologycanbeleveragedtodrivemore

successfulprojects,andhowprojectprofessionals,inturn,canleadmoresuccessfulAItransformations.

PMIThoughtLeadership’slatestcontributiontothisspace–SustainabilityintheAgeofAI:TheIntegrationImperative

–seekstounderstandhowleadingorganizationsareapplyingAItotackleoneofthemostpressingchallengesofourtime:theurgentneedtoadvancesustainabilityeffortsaswecareentowardpotentialenvironmentalcatastrophe,whetherwe

accepttorecognizeitornot.

Weexaminedtheexperiencesofmorethan650organizationsacrossmultiplesectorsandregions,allofwhicharepursuingsustainabilityandAIstrategiescurrently.Thefindings

challengesomecommonassumptionswhilevalidatingothers,providingaroadmapfororganizationsatanystageoftheirAIandsustainabilityjourneys.

ThisreportdemonstratesthatAIcanbeacriticalenablerin

helpingorganizationsmoreeffectivelypursuetheir

sustainabilitygoals.Itcanbeusedtogenerateshort-termcostsavingswhileilluminatingthelong-termbenefitsofa

comprehensivesustainabilitystrategy.

But,there’sacatch.AIalonecannotdrivepositivesustainabilityoutcomes.Itneedstobeleveragedproperlyinthecontextofalargersustainabilityecosystem.Engagedleaders,clear

strategy,cleandata,andareadyculturearenecessaryforsuccess.Integrationonthestrategylevel,inotherwords,isimperative.

IsAIthe“silverbullet”thatwillsolvehumanity’sdaunting

challenges?Perhapsnot.But,asthisreportreveals,itcanplayanimportantroleinhelpingorganizationsdelivermore

effectivesustainabilityprojectsandoutcomes.Collectively,thatishowwe,asaglobalcommunity,canachievelastingimpactandelevateourworld.

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ExecutiveSummary

TheIntegrationImperative:

SustainabilityintheAgeofAI

Integratingartificialintelligence(AI)withsustainabilityisessentialasorganizationsfacethedualchallengeofambitioussustainabilitygoalsandresourceconstraints.OurresearchshowsSustainability+AIis

transformative,drivinglong-termimpactandvaluecreation.

Weanalyzed650+organizationsworldwideandgroupedthemintothreegroupsbasedontheirreportedlevelsofsuccessin

implementingsustainability-focusedprojectsthatareaidedbyAI:

Leaders,FollowersandLaggards.

TheStrategicValueofAIinSustainability

EnvironmentalImpact

Carbontrackingdrives

stewardshipandefficiency.

SocialImpact

AIadvancessustainablymadeproductsand

workforceequity.

AIdeliversvalueacrossfourkeyareas:

FinancialImpact

Predictivemaintenance

andenergymonitoringcutcostsandwaste.

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WhyIntegrationMatters

OrganizationstreatingAIandsustainabilityseparatelyfallbehind.AIoptimizesoperations,tracksemissions,and

enhancesresourceefficiency.Leadersachievea26%CO2reduction,comparedto3%forlaggards,showcasingthebenefitsofcohesivestrategies.

Laggards

CO2reduction

3%

Leaders

CO2reduction

26%

GovernanceImpact

Sustainabilityimpact

measurementbyAIturnsskepticstochampions.

FromVisiontoExecution:

ARoadmap

2.LeadershipReadiness

Boardsandleadersaligningstrategies.

SuccessinSustainability+AIintegrationrequires:

3.StrategicPrioritization

UseleveragingAIinSustainabilityStrategy:formulation-execution-measuringoutcomes.

1.StrongDataFoundations

ReliablemetricsandAImodelreadiness.

TheRoadAhead

Bycreatingasynergisticchaineffect,AIamplifiesearly

successestofuelreinvestmentandcontinuousimprovement.Sustainability+AIismorethanastrategy—it’satransformativecalltoaction.OrganizationsintegratingAIintosustainabilitywillleadtheway,achievingbothimmediateandenduringimpact.

1.Introduction

5SustainabilityintheAgeofAITheIntegrationImperative

Introduction

Organizationstodayfaceadualimperative:tofulfillambitioussustainabilitycommitmentswhileharnessingthe

transformativepotentialofemergingtechnologies,inparticular,artificialintelligence2.Accordingtoourprevioussustainability

research,DrivingSustainabilityStrategyHome3,while93%ofexecutivesacknowledgesustainabilityasvitalforbusinesssuccess,only37%haveintegrateditintocoreoperations.

Earlier,a2017BCG-MIT-SRReport–CorporateSustainabilityatCrossroads1revealedthatwhile90%ofexecutivesagreedthatsustainabilityisimportant,only60%hadincorporatedit

intotheirstrategy,andjust25%felttheirorganizationswere

successfullyexecutingsustainabilityinitiatives.Thisdivergencebetweenprioritizationandstrategyimplementation

underscoresthechallengesorganizationsfaceinembeddingsustainabilityintotheircoreoperations.

Enterartificialintelligence–atransformativetechnologythatpresentsbothunprecedentedopportunitiesandnew

challengesforsustainabilityefforts.Thepromiseiscompelling:

AIcouldhelporganizationsoptimizeresourceusage,

accuratelymeasureandreduceemissions,identify

sustainabilityrisksandopportunitiesacrosscomplexsupply

chains,andscalesuccessfulinitiativesenterprise-wide.YetthisoptimisticvisionexistsintensionwithgrowingconcernsaboutAI’sownenvironmentalfootprint,exemplifiedbyMicrosoft’s

reportinga29%riseinemissionssince2020largelyattributed

toAI-relateddatacenters3.Toputitintoperspective,on

average,OpenAI’sChatGPTquerydemands10timesmore

energytoprocesscomparedtoaGooglequery,andaccordingtoGoldmanSachs,datacenterenergyconsumptionwill

increase160%by20304.

WhatmakesthismomentparticularlycrucialisthatAIhas

emergedinanerawheresocietyhasawakenedtothefinite

natureofresourcesthatsupporthumanlife.Unlikeprevious

technologicalrevolutionssuchasindustrializationandthe

internet,AI’sevolutionfacesunprecedentedscrutinyregardingitsresourceconsumptionfromtheoutset.OrganizationsmustcarefullyweighAI’sresourcedemandsagainstitspotential

benefits,particularlyinsustainability-focusedinitiatives.

Ourresearchrevealsanuancedpicturethatchallengesboth

unbridledoptimismandcategoricalskepticismaboutAI’sroleincorporatesustainability.WhileAIaloneisneithernecessarynorsufficientforsustainabilitysuccess,organizationsthat

effectivelyintegrateAIcapabilitieswithothercriticalsuccess

factorsarereportingenhancedresultsacrossmultiple

sustainabilitydimensions.Perhapsmostintriguingly,wefoundevidenceofapotentialsynergisticchaineffect,whereinitial

AI-drivensustainabilitygainsarebeingreinvestedtodrive

furtherimprovements–suggestingthatwhenproperly

deployedandmanaged,AIcouldhelpcatalyzeavirtuouscycleofsustainablebusinesstransformation.

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AboutThisResearch

BetweenMayandJuly2024,weconductedaglobalstudy

encompassing650+respondents,withafocusonexecutives,seniormanagers,andotherdecision-makerswhoare

involvedwithdedicatedAIandsustainability-focusedstrategydevelopmentandimplementation.Theresearchcombines:

▶QuantitativeAnalysis:Surveydatafromkeyindustries

includingtechnology(16%),manufacturing(14%),financialservices(12%),healthcare(7%),retail(7%),andenergy(6%).

▶QualitativeInsights:In-depthinterviewswith16leaders

andexpertsprovidingreal-worldimplementationexamples.

▶ImplementationSuccessAnalysis:Organizationswere

classifiedasLeaders,Followers,orLaggardsbasedontheirreportedsuccessinimplementingsustainability-focused

initiativesthatareaidedbyAI.

▶AIAdoptionLevelAnalysis:Wealsoclassifiedorganizationsintofourgroups-fromideationthroughcross-departmentalimplementation-basedontheirreportedprogressadoptingAI–Integrating,Adopting,Piloting,andExploring.

▶ImplementationFocus:AllparticipatingorganizationswereactivelydevelopingorimplementingsustainabilitystrategiesandAIstrategies.

Inthisreport,wediscussindetail

▶WhyorganizationsmustmovebeyondtreatingAIandsustainabilityasseparateinitiatives.

▶HowAIemergesasbothenablerandpotentialbarriertosustainabilitygoals,requiringcarefulconsiderationofresourceconsumptionandROIthroughasustainabilitylens.

▶HoworganizationsaresuccessfullyleveragingAIforsustainabilityoutcomes,examiningwhat’s

working,whatisn’t,andwhy.

▶Criticalcapabilitiesandpracticesthatenableeffectiveintegration,includinghowleadingorganizationscreatevirtuouscycleswheresustainabilitygainsfuelfurtherprogress.

▶PracticalapproachesfororganizationalleadersandprojectmanagerstointegrateAIand

sustainabilitystrategieseffectively.

2.TheIntegrationImperativeWhySustainabilityand

AIStrategiesMustConverge

Inthissection,wedelveintowhy

andhoworganizationsareusingAI

tocatalyzetheirsustainabilityimpact

andanalyzehowdifferentlevelsof

AIadoptionamongorganizations

relatetosuccessfulimplementation

ofsustainability-focusedprojects.

8SustainabilityintheAgeofAITheIntegrationImperative

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KeyInsights

▶AIisdeliveringenhancedsuccessinprojectsthattargetsustainabilityimpacts,suchas

routeoptimizationinsupplychain&logisticsandenergyefficiencyinmanufacturing

&productions,amongothers.

▶OrganizationsthatreportedhighersuccessintheirsustainabilityinitiativesconsistentlyaremoreadvancedintheiradoptionofAI.

WhatdowemeanbySustainability+AIStrategy?

Inthisreport,Sustainability+AIstrategyreferstoanorganiza-tion’scomprehensiveapproachtoleveragingartificialintelli-gencetechnologiesspecificallyforsustainabilityoutcomes.Thisencompasses:

▶TechnicalInfrastructure:Datamanagementsystems,AItools,andcomputingresourcesdeployedforsustainabilityinitiatives.25%oforganizationsinthestudyuseAIforreal-timeenergyconsumptionmonitoring,and22%forcarbonfootprinttracking.Thesetoolsoptimizeresourceuseandprovidepredictiveoptimizationtoreduceemissions.

▶MaturityStages:Developmentandimplementationstages.OrganizationsadvancingtheirAIadoptionintointegrating

levelsachieved31%successratesinenergyefficiency

initiativescomparedtoonly8%forearly-stageadopters.

▶CapabilityDevelopment:Investmentinskills,expertise,andcross-functionalcollaborationneededtoeffectivelydeployAI.Inmanufacturing,33%oforganizationsadoptedpredictive

maintenancesystemstoreducedowntime,23%implementedqualitycontroltoenhanceproductreliability,and20%

improvedefficiencyandminimizewastebyproductionlineoptimizationinitiatives.

▶StrategicIntegration:LeveragingAIinitiativestodrive

sustainabilitystrategy.AI-basedrouteoptimizationinsupplychainswasidentifiedasakeyarea,with33%oforganizationsimplementingittoreduceemissionsandcutunnecessary

operation.

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HowdidwedefineleadersinblazinganAI-drivenpathtowardsustainability?

Wegroupedorganizationsbasedontheirreportedlevelsofsuccessatimplementingsustainability-focused

projectsthatareaidedbyAI(Sustainability+AIprojects).Participantswereaskedtoratethesuccessoftheir

Sustainability+AIprojects,from“notsuccessfulatall”

to“extremelysuccessful.”Basedontheirresponses,

organizationswereclassifiedintothreegroups(Figure1).

Figure1.AIforSustainability:ImplementationSuccessLevels

Leaders

31%

ofrespondents

(n=205)

FollowersLaggards

40%

ofrespondents

(n=262)

29%

ofrespondents

(n=194)

Organizationsachieving

exceptionalresults,reporting“verysuccessful”or

“extremelysuccessful”

implementationofAI-aidedsustainabilityprojects

Organizationsshowing

steadyprogresswith

“moderatelysuccessful”

implementationofAI-aidedsustainabilityprojects

Organizationsinearlystagesorfacingchallenges,

reporting“slightlysuccessful”or“notsuccessful”

outcomesofAI-aidedsustainabilityprojects

Surveyquestion:CouldyouelaborateontheextentofyoursuccessinimplementingtheseAIinitiativestoachieveyoursustainabilityobjectives?Ratedonascalefrom“NotSuccessfulatAll”to“ExtremelySuccessful”Basesize:Totaln=661

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2.1WhyIntegrationMatters

LeadersinSustainability+AIimplementationare

demonstratingsuperiorsustainabilityperformance.OurSustainability+AIStrategyQuadrant(Figure2)revealsastrikingpattern:Leadersrepresent39%oforganizationsintheimplementationquadrant(toprightcorner)—

nearlydoublingtheproportionofLaggardsat20%.

Thispatternreversesinearlierstages,particularlyinthedevelopmentphase(bottomleftcorner),whereLeaderstrailonlyat28%comparedtoLaggardsat33%.

Thisstarkcontrastinsuccessratesinstigatesa

compellinginquiryaboutapossibletransformative

powerofintegratedSustainability+AIstrategies.For

executives,themessageisclear:theintersectionof

sustainabilityandAIrepresentsmorethanan

operationalchoice—it’sastrategicopportunityto

accelerateandamplifysustainabilityoutcomes.

Organizationsthatmasterthisintegration,anddoit

deliberately,gainasubstantialadvantageintranslatingsustainabilityambitionsintomeasurableresults.

Forexecutives,themessageisclear:the

intersectionofsustainabilityandAIrepresentsmorethananoperationalchoice—it'sa

strategicopportunitytoaccelerateandamplifysustainabilityoutcomes.

IMPLEMENTING

aSustainabilityStrategy

DEVELOPING

aSustainabilityStrategy

Figure2.Sustainability+AIStrategyQuadrant

■Leaders■Followers■Laggards

12%11%14%39%31%20%

TOTALTOTAL

82(13%)200(30%)

TOTALTOTAL

198(30%)181(27%)

28%29%33%21%29%32%

DEVELOPING

anAIStrategy

IMPLEMENTING

anAIStrategy

Surveyquestion:IsyourorganizationactivelydevelopingorimplementinganAIstrategy?;Isyourorganizationactivelydevelopingorimplementingasustainabilitystrategy?

Basesize:Leadersn=205;Followersn=262;Laggardsn=194.

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Figure3showsourgroupingoforganizations–Leaders,

Followers,andLaggards-incorporatesustainabilitydomainswheretheyareusingSustainability+AIstrategytodriveimpactacrossESGdimensions.Theorganizationscategorizedas

LeadersconsistentlyoutperformFollowersandLaggards

acrossallmetrics,withparticularlystrongperformancein

Ecosystem/biodiversitymanagement(53%),Community

engagement(50%),andHumanrights/laborstandards(50%).TheperformancegapbetweenLeadersandLaggardsismostpronouncedinenvironmentalcompliance(32%difference)

andstrategicplanning(28%difference),suggestingthese

areasmaybekeydifferentiatorsforsuccessfulAI

implementationinsustainabilityinitiatives.Thiscomparison

providesvaluableinsightsintowhereorganizationsfocustheirAIintegrationeffortsforsustainabilityimpact.

SustainabilityandESGinThisReport

Throughoutthisreport,whenwereference

"sustainabilityinitiatives,"weencompassthefull

spectrumofactivitiesthatcontributetoan

organization'ssustainabilitygoals—whichinmanywaysincludespecificESGmetrics.Ourresearch

reportdoesnotsuggestaninterchangeableuseofthetermESGandSustainabilitybutacknowledgesthatorganizationsoftenusetheseterms

interchangeablydependingontheirfocusandsustainabilitymaturityandapproach.

TheSustainability+AIintegrationframeworkpresentedhereisdesignedtobevaluableregardlessofwhetheryourorganizationframesitseffortsas"sustainabilityinitiatives"or"ESGprograms."Thecriticalinsight

remains:strategicAIintegrationcanpowerfully

accelerateprogressacrossenvironmental,social,andgovernancedimensionswhilecreatingbusiness

value—whateverterminologyyouusetodescribetheseefforts.

Inthisresearch,weapproachsustainabilityasa

holisticorganizationalimperativefocusedoncreatinglong-termvaluewhileensuringenvironmental

stewardship,socialresponsibility,andsound

governance—principlesthatalignwithProject

ManagementInstitute'svisionofsustainabilityasatransformativebusinessapproach.

WhileESG(Environmental,Social,Governance)

providesastructuredframeworkprimarilyfor

measurement,reporting,andinvestmentevaluation

basedonoutside-inrisk,sustainabilityrepresentsthebroaderstrategicvisionandoperationalphilosophy

thatdrivesorganizationaltransformationbothfrom

outside-inbutmoreimportantlyinside-out

perspectives.ESGmetrics,atbest,serveasimportantindicatorswithinthecorporatesustainabilityjourney

withwhichorganizationsdemonstrateprogresstostakeholdersquantitatively.

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Figure3.Sustainability+AISuccessfromESGLens

ENVIRONMENT■Leaders■

Followers

■Laggards

NaturalresourcemanagementEcosystem/biodiversity

Pollutionreduction

Wastereduction/recycling

Waterusageefficiency

Useofrenewableenergy

Energyconsumption/efficiencyCO2emissionsreduction

44%36%

33%

35%

19%

13%

20%

20%

13%

23%

23%

22%

Ecosystem/biodiversitymanagement

53%

53%

47%34%

46%34%

45%35%

52%

43%34%

Communityengagement

50%

45%33%

50%31%

42%33%

47%34%

50%31%

44%32%

50%33%

43%34%

SOCIAL

Communityengagement

Customerservice/engagementEthicalsupplychain

Humanrights/laborstandardsWorkplacediversity/inclusionFairpay/wages

Employeetraining/education

19%

25%

18%

19%

24%

17%

23%

Humanrights/laborstandards

50%

Workplacehealth/safety46%35%

GOVERNANCE

19%

Strategicplanning

45%34%

21%

Financialreporting

42%33%

24%

Riskmanagement

44%34%

22%

Internalaudits/controls

46%35%

19%

Accountability/transparency

44%33%

22%

Socialcompliance

45%35%

20%

Environmentalcompliance47%34%

19%

Surveyquestion:CouldyouelaborateontheextentofyoursuccessinimplementingtheseAIinitiativestoachieveyoursustainabilityobjectives?T2B“VerySuccessful”+“ExtremelySuccessful”.

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Basesize:Leadersn=205;Followersn=262;Laggardsn=194.

2.2AIApplicationsinEnterprise

Sustainability:FromStrategytoImpactFigure4illustratesthediverseandimpactfulways

organizationsareleveragingAItoadvancesustainability

acrosskeyoperationalandstrategicdomains.Fromoptimizing

energyconsumptionandsupplychainlogisticstotransformingcustomerexperiencesanddrivingsustainableinnovation,AIisreshapinghowbusinessesachievetheirsustainabilitygoals.

Energymanagementemergesasaleadingfocus,with25%

oforganizationsusingAIforreal-timeenergyconsumption

monitoringand22%employingitforcarbonfootprinttracking.TheseeffortsunderscoreAI’spotentialtoaddressimmediateenvironmentalconcernswhilereducingoperationalcosts.

Simi