Study Reveals Declining Corporate Commitment to Sustainability Among German Companies in 2026

A recent study from the Bertelsmann Stiftung has spotlighted a troubling trend: sustainability and climate protection are losing significance within German companies. This marks a notable shift in corporate priorities amidst increasing concerns over climate change.

According to the study, nearly 60% of the 822 surveyed companies reported that sustainability has become less important internally—a stark rise from only 14% the previous year. Despite this decline, 73% of firms still maintain responsibility for sustainability at the executive level. Furthermore, the proportion of companies with self-imposed climate goals increased from 53% to 59%, with banks showing a particularly strong rise, jumping from 46% to 65%.

The report identifies political uncertainty and a lack of clear market incentives as the primary barriers hindering further progress in corporate sustainability efforts. Concern over these issues has surged by 30 percentage points compared to last year. Jakob Kunzlmann, a sustainability expert at Bertelsmann Stiftung, warned, "Without clear signals from politics and markets, the transformation process could stagnate."

This development contrasts with the German government's ambitious commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. The fourth edition of the Sustainability Transformation Monitor, conducted in partnership with Stiftung Mercator, Universität Hamburg, and the Peer School for Sustainable Development, aims to provide critical data to inform decisions on advancing sustainability.

The trend highlights a need to address the obstacles companies face to keep climate protection and sustainability high on the corporate agenda, particularly amidst growing global environmental challenges. It also signals potential implications for the future of corporate responsibility and environmental policy in Germany as businesses recalibrate their focus amid changing economic and political landscapes.