As global priorities shift urgently toward sustainability, organizations require practical, transformative solutions to advance more rapidly. Despite 85% of executives acknowledging sustainability as strategically important, only 16% have fully integrated it into their business strategies. Today, Microsoft introduces new data and AI tools in Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, delivering essential capabilities to help organizations move further along their sustainability journey. These offerings include enhanced ESG (environmental, social, and governance) data analytics, AI-driven decision support, and other advanced tools designed to accelerate impact.
Microsoft Fabric: An Integrated Platform for Sustainability Data
In May 2023, Microsoft launched Microsoft Fabric, an end-to-end analytics SaaS platform that consolidates all enterprise data, including previously siloed ESG data. This unified platform allows organizations to integrate data from any source, harness AI-powered analytics for actionable insights, and embed these insights in the tools that drive daily business decisions. Now in preview, Microsoft Fabric’s sustainability data solutions help organizations gain rapid ESG insights through ready-to-use data models, connectors, and reporting features, turning volumes of data into actionable progress.
AI-Powered Decisions with Copilot and Intelligent Insights
Microsoft’s new Copilot in Microsoft Sustainability Manager, now in preview, leverages AI to facilitate smarter, faster decisions through natural language queries. Copilot enables organizations to:
Quickly analyze environmental data and surface areas for reduction, such as carbon and water usage.
Interact with sustainability data using natural language to get rapid answers.
Draft preparatory sustainability reports, freeing time for strategic priorities.
Additionally, Intelligent Insights in Microsoft Sustainability Manager provides an AI-driven model that helps organizations delve deeper into emissions data. This interactive tool allows them to:
Identify areas where data is missing or needs cleaning.
Scan for reduction opportunities across the organization.
Base decisions on historical trends and anomalies for a clearer sustainability roadmap.
Södra, Sweden’s largest forest-owner association, uses these AI capabilities to improve sustainability reporting and streamline information collection, enhancing productivity and accelerating sustainability goals. “The Copilot feature is easy to use, and my vision is that it will help us work faster,” says Cristian Brolin, Chief Digital Officer at Södra.
ESG Value Chain Solution: Empowering Supplier Collaboration for Emissions Reductions
Supplier activities contribute to a large portion of most organizations’ emissions, often accounting for 80-90% of their total footprint. Microsoft’s ESG Value Chain Solution in Sustainability Manager, now generally available, simplifies the process of collecting and analyzing ESG data from suppliers. By bringing this data together, organizations can identify reduction opportunities across the supply chain. Microsoft’s procurement team found that consolidating siloed reports and data for shared insights has not only accelerated its sustainability progress but also allowed more agile responses to regulatory shifts.
Sustainability as a Growth Opportunity
According to the UN and Accenture, 98% of CEOs view sustainability as central to their roles, with two-thirds forming partnerships to drive sustainable practices. The Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders and the 2024 Super Bowl venue, uses Microsoft Sustainability Manager to support energy-efficient operations. The stadium has achieved LEED Gold certification, is powered entirely by renewable solar energy, and relies on Microsoft solutions to manage data and inform resource use decisions.
Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability’s extensibility is further enhanced through partnerships with organizations like Avanade, whose ESG copilot simplifies compliance reporting by generating audit-ready reports in line with ESG frameworks. Microsoft’s expanding network of sustainability partners is instrumental in delivering solutions that address complex sustainability challenges globally.
With Microsoft’s responsible approach to AI, organizations are empowered to align sustainability efforts with transformative business goals, create new growth opportunities, and chart a course toward a sustainable future. The combination of data and AI now allows for more accurate decision-making and innovation, setting a new standard for progress across industries.
