SAP: AI and ESG Data Drive Smarter Sustainable Business

As sustainability mandates grow more stringent and climate risks escalate, organisations are being compelled to reassess how they govern environmental, social and governance performance.

At the same time, a defining question is advancing on the global agenda, including at COP30 in Belém, Brazil: how can durable climate finance be put into practice to deliver meaningful environmental outcomes?

For SAP, the solution is to embed sustainability into the enterprise’s digital core while widening responsibility beyond emissions reduction to the regeneration of the natural systems that underpin economic stability.

Trust through AI-driven sustainability data

Meaningful sustainability progress begins with reliable data.

SAP Sustainability solutions unify business and ESG data across finance, operations and supply chains, establishing a single, auditable foundation aligned with financial reporting standards.

Embedded AI breaks down data silos and delivers real-time insight, enabling organisations to manage ESG performance with the same rigour as financial results.

“If sustainability is not part of the current AI conversation in your organisation, it risks getting left behind while strategy and budgets are open,” says Sophia Mendelsohn, Chief Sustainability and Commercial Officer, at SAP.

“Sustainability is emerging as one of the most impactful enterprise applications for AI.”

This approach not only strengthens compliance with frameworks such as ESRS and the EU Taxonomy, but also supports faster, more confident decision-making as sustainability becomes a core business priority.

Why nature-based investment is imperative

The connection between business and nature is no longer abstract.

Roughly US$44tn in global economic value generation relies directly on nature, from food systems and water resources to climate stability.

“At SAP, we believe tackling climate change means working closely with nature,” writes Matthias Medert, Global Head of Sustainability at SAP, on LinkedIn.

“That’s why we invest in projects that protect forests, clean water and support communities... all helping to secure a healthier planet and stronger economies.”

As natural capital declines, systemic risk intensifies for companies across every sector.

For SAP, investing in forest ecosystems and nature-based climate initiatives is not philanthropy but risk management.

By financing projects that restore degraded ecosystems, SAP helps safeguard long-term economic resilience while supporting food security, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.

Sustainability Magazineranked SAP 63rd on its Top 250 World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2025 list, recognising its sustainability progress and commitments.

A comprehensive pathway to net zero

SAP has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2030, aligned with a 1.5°C future and brought forward by 20 years from its original target.

The strategy follows a clear hierarchy: avoid and reduce emissions first, then neutralise what remains.

SAP aims to cut gross greenhouse gas emissions by 90% across its value chain, with no more than 10% neutralised through high-quality, verified carbon removal projects.

“By making sustainability impacts measurable across environmental, social and economic dimensions, we gain clarity on what matters, set clear priorities and take responsibility for where we can create the most material positive impact, for business performance and long-term sustainability,” says Matthias on LinkedIn. 

Through 2030, SAP will finance projects that reduce and remove more CO₂ from the atmosphere each year than its operations emit, taking accountability for its operational footprint while scaling decarbonisation efforts.

From climate finance to enterprise-wide impact

SAP’s commitment to climate finance is already producing tangible results.

Since 2012, the company has built one of the technology sector’s most comprehensive corporate reforestation programmes, planting more than 20.51 million trees toward its target of 25 million by 2030.

Long-term investments in the Livelihoods Carbon Funds back 10- to 20-year projects that combine reforestation, forest protection, agroforestry and rural energy, delivered in direct partnership with local communities.

Technology is central to scaling this impact.

Through its partnership with Fundação Amazônia Sustentável, SAP uses the SAP Sustainability Control Tower to monitor deforestation rates, revenue and other key indicators, enabling data-driven stewardship of the Amazon rainforest.

This approach aligns with initiatives such as Brazil’s Tropical Forest Forever Facility launched at COP30, illustrating how sustained, transparent corporate climate finance can restore ecosystems, strengthen communities and build resilience far beyond a single company’s value chain.

At Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit, Sustainability Magazine will host discussions on nature-based solutions, water sustainability, circularity and more.

The two-day event will take place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, London, on 4–5 March 2026, bringing together sustainability experts from around the world for insightful panels, hands-on workshops and unparalleled networking.

Featuring more than 50 expert speakers, 10 focused content tracks and 4 high-impact executive workshops, the programme helps leaders turn ambition into execution.

Secure your tickets to attend now and save more than £200 with our Early Bird offer.