Sustainability professionals are cutting emissions and improving environmental performance – despite shrinking budgets, fewer staff and reduced access to senior leaders, according to a new industry report.
The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals found 64% of respondents were actively reducing greenhouse gas emissions, up from 52% last year. Waste reduction and water performance also improved.
However, organisational support is weakening.
The proportion of sustainability professionals reporting directly to a board or chief executive fell from 48% to 42%, while 44% of organisations now operate without a dedicated sustainability budget, up from 32%.
The State of the Profession Report 2026 said rising expectations are increasingly being matched by fewer resources.
Social value and impact grew by 20% year on year, while biodiversity and nature now feature in 63% of sustainability roles.
Budgets are also shifting towards compliance, reporting and assurance rather than innovation and transformation.
Artificial intelligence is creating further pressure, with only 14% of organisations including sustainability considerations in their AI policies.
The rapid expansion of sustainability teams may also be slowing. Some large organisations reported fewer specialist staff and greater reliance on sustainability champions elsewhere in the business.
Despite the squeeze, almost half of professionals remain optimistic about the future.
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