Capgemini: Clean Energy Credibility is Under Pressure

The credibility of climate action  is facing increased pressure according to Capgemini research.

While sustainable energy investment is rising and sustainability is viewed as a strategic value driver, climate adaptation execution lags behind expectations.

The growing energy footprint of AI systems also concerns industry leaders who must balance technological advancement with environmental responsibility.

Capgemini's report, A World in Balance 2025, draws on insights from more than 2,000 senior executives and 6,566 consumers across global markets.

Cyril Garcia, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Capgemini, says on LinkedIn: “Sustainability is no longer a side conversation. It’s becoming central to business strategy, resilience and long-term value.”

Credibility and consumer trust challenges

Two-thirds of executives report considerable pressure to deliver credible, science-based net zero progress with measurable outcomes.

Consumer perceptions show 62% believe organisations engage in greenwashing, up dramatically from 33% in 2023.

This widening credibility gap challenges energy companies maintaining stakeholder trust during complex clean energy transitions that require substantial infrastructure changes.

Only 21% of organisations have developed detailed transition plans with interim targets and clear implementation roadmaps.

Most companies (82%) plan net zero by 2041 or beyond, indicating varying transition paces across the sector and highlighting the need for accelerated action to meet climate goals.

Corporate sustainability investment trends

Most organisations (82%) plan increased environmental sustainability investment over the next 12-18 months, up from 64% in 2024.

Sustainability has become an investment criterion for 66% of companies, with 59% of executives recognising a clear business case including operational efficiency gains and regulatory compliance benefits.

Just 22% believe sustainability costs outweigh benefits, showing broad economic acceptance of environmentally responsible practices.

Nearly all organisations (92%) maintain net zero timelines despite economic uncertainty and fluctuating energy prices affecting investment decisions.

Progress may be slowing with only 1% considered sustainability front-runners, down from 7% previously.

Geopolitical tensions, budget constraints and inadequate data systems slow initiatives for 65% of executives who cite integration challenges between legacy systems and new sustainability technologies.

AI applications in sustainability

In the report, 64% of executives say their organisation uses AI to achieve its sustainability agenda.

Generative AI use decreased from 65% to 52%, suggesting strategy recalibration as companies focus on practical applications rather than experimental technologies.

Over half discuss generative AI's sustainability impact at board level, reflecting growing awareness of AI energy consumption requirements and computational demands.

Agentic AI remains early-stage at 29%, potentially managing end-to-end energy processes including predictive maintenance, demand forecasting and renewable integration rather than predefined individual tasks.

Energy companies are deploying AI for real-time monitoring of emissions, optimising turbine performance in wind farms, predicting maintenance needs for solar installations and managing smart grid distribution to reduce energy waste.

Energy sector leadership strategies

Miguel Sossa-Mardomingo, Vice President, Deputy Americas Sustainability Lead at Capgemini, spoke at Sustainability LIVE Chicago 2025 in The CSO Strategy Forum.

The panellists explained that sustainability needs to be reframed when it comes to growth, profit and business risk rather than being treated as a side initiative. 

Sustainability leaders were encouraged to act boldly rather than wait for perfect data or conditions. 

Sol Salinas, Executive Vice President, Sustainability Lead for the Americas at Capgemini spoke to Sustainability Magazine at the event.

“As we do our work at Capgemini, we recognise that increasingly we have to engage multiple functions within the enterprise,” he says.

“The Chief Sustainability Officer role is one that is a convening role in many ways and they have to rely very heavily on their colleagues, whether it's in procurement, supply chain, IT, HR, marketing or others.”

Sol advises: “The more that we as sustainability practitioners engage with our colleagues in other parts of the enterprise, the better off we'll be and the more likely we are to succeed.”

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