Leaders: what’s your main job when it comes to sustainability?

There was a time when many leaders could consider sustainability a “nice-to-have”, an optional extra they could pursue in order to do well by the planet and appeal to certain customers and potential talent along the way. 

Now, that choice has become an imperative. 

Extreme weather events are occurring at an alarming rate, net zero targets are a legal requirement and there’s growing demand for organisations to ensure their employees are skilled in green and sustainability practices.

In 2025, a CMI Manager’s Voice Pulse Point poll found that 82% of managers think everyone in their position will be required to have an understanding of net zero and sustainability in the next five years. 

That knowledge can take many forms. For example, the CMI Sustainability Leadership Qualifications cover everything from developing sustainability awareness (Sustainable Principles for First Line Managers Level 3), to using sustainability principles to drive strategy and embed sustainable practices into organisational culture and decision-making (Strategic Sustainability Leadership Level 7). 

• Learn more: How CMI’s Sustainability Leadership Qualifications could help you

But of all the possible roles leaders can play in driving sustainability, we were curious to find out which the CMI community felt was most important. When we put the question out as a LinkedIn poll, it drew 678 responses – and the result was close-run. 

A clear direction

Just under half (49%) of respondents said a manager’s key task when it comes to sustainability is to empower others to act, 46% said it is to set the vision and lead, 3% that operational success should be the prime focus and 2% said they were still learning or unsure. 

The question also sparked the usual lively discussion in the comments, many of which reiterated the vital role that strong leadership must play in order for sustainability strategies to succeed. 

“Sustainability starts at the top,” wrote Media Safari, a B2B enterprise tech marketing company. 

“Leaders who clearly articulate a vision and embed it into the culture give their teams the confidence and clarity to act with purpose. It’s not just about strategy, it’s about leading by example.”