AI and Sustainability: Revolutionary Insights for Green Companies!

AI and Sustainability: Revolutionary Insights for Green Companies!

On September 25, 2025, the 30th meeting of the Sustainable Business Roundtable (SBRT) took place at ESMT Berlin. This important gathering brings together leading companies to share experiences, challenges and solutions in the area of ​​sustainability. The SBRT meets twice a year and thus offers a platform for confidential exchange that is also non-competitive. Members have the opportunity to discuss both successes and obstacles to develop practical solutions and break down silos within their organizations. The main goal is to integrate sustainability more deeply into corporate strategies.

In his speech, Kunal Chandra from RWE AG emphasized the importance of sustainability in corporate strategy and the benefits that arise from participation in the SBRT. In over a decade, the SBRT has established itself as an important platform for jointly tackling sustainability challenges. The initiative has launched numerous cross-sector projects, including those in support of the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which has been in force since January 5, 2023.

Focus on AI and sustainability

A significant focus of this session was the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability. Joanna Radeke from ESMT encouraged companies to join the SBRT and actively participate in shaping a sustainable future. The discussion also includes ongoing research into greening the AI ​​supply chain. Strategies to address environmental challenges include optimizing the energy efficiency of AI systems, using renewable energy sources, and developing efficient cooling technologies for data centers.

Using large AI models on edge devices, such as smartphones and smart speakers, is seen as a sustainable alternative. These technologies can reduce energy consumption for data transfers in the cloud, significantly reducing environmental impact. However, there are also concerns about the environmental costs of generative AI (GenAI), particularly when using such tools.

Economic influences of AI

A recent study by PwC UK on behalf of Microsoft estimates that the use of AI in environmental management could add up to $5.2 trillion to the global economy by 2030. This increase corresponds to an increase of 4.4 percent compared to the expected economic development. In addition, AI applications could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent, or 2.4 gigatons of CO2, by 2030. This amount of emissions corresponds to the expected emissions of Australia, Canada and Japan in 2030.

The implementation of AI has the potential to create up to 38.2 million new jobs worldwide, which will have a positive impact on the emergence of new, highly qualified professions in the transformation process. With the increasing focus on sustainability combined with technological progress, it is clear that companies now have an increasing responsibility to develop sustainable and innovative solutions.

ESMT and its members are actively committed to addressing these challenges and showing how companies can work together to shape a sustainable future by harnessing the power of AI while respecting the principles of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

The next meeting of the SBRT is already underway and will provide information on the topics recently discussed as well as welcoming new members interested in sustainable business.

In summary, it can be said that the SBRT discussions at ESMT not only provide significant impetus for sustainable strategies, but could also play a pioneering role in the field of artificial intelligence and its integration into business practices. The challenges are clearly defined; Commitment and collaboration are essential to finding solutions that are both environmentally friendly and economically viable.