Sustainability Goal Tracking: A Data-Driven Framework for Corporate Goal Setting Success

The corporate sustainability landscape looks very different in 2025 than it did even five years ago. In the early 2020s, bold pledges dominated the headlines: “Net zero by 2050,” “Carbon neutral by 2030,” “100% renewable by 2040.” These commitments helped set ambition, but as the years have ticked by, the spotlight has shifted, and momentum may be waning for corporations amid the current political climate. This doesn't change the fact that stakeholders like investors, regulators, and customers are now demanding accountability: Where are you now, and are you actually on track? 

2025 marks a natural checkpoint. Companies that set 2030 targets are already halfway there, and those with 2050 horizons have had enough time to show measurable early progress. This midpoint forces an uncomfortable but necessary truth: ambition without evidence is no longer acceptable. The conversation has moved from making promises to proving progress. 

This guide is designed as a practical framework for corporations to set, track, and evaluate sustainability goals in a way that is honest, data-driven, and resilient. It goes beyond one-dimensional net zero commitments to examine the broader portfolio of goals organizations may want to manage, such as energy, emissions, water, waste, supply chain, and social impacts, and offers a roadmap for turning pledges into tangible outcomes.