Unlocking Climate Action: The Power of Data, Collaboration, and AI

As the lead sustainability officer at Qlik, I've had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the collaborative spirit and escalating urgency driving climate action today. Events like Climate Week NYC, the C40 World Mayors Summit, and COP30, highlight a clear reality: commitments are essential, but implementation and accountability matter more — within private and public sectors alike. And at the heart of this transition lies a powerful trio: data, collaboration, and AI.

Events during Climate Week in NYC this September — including ours, "How AI is Disrupting Sustainability Reporting," — underscored a critical shift. AI isn't just a buzzword; it's fundamentally transforming how companies gather sustainability information, compile data, and communicate their impact. Through partnerships, like one between SustainServ and Palau Project, AI is proving invaluable in tasks from extracting information and mapping it to standards, to drafting disclosures and supporting robust review workflows. This technological leap ensures that reporting is not just faster, but also more accurate and meaningful, allowing companies to focus on the high-value work beyond reporting to action.

Cities, so often at the forefront of innovation, are demonstrating the immediate impact of data-driven action, as demonstrated at the C40 World Mayors Summit in October. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and their member cities are making significant strides, committing to halving fossil fuel use by 2030, and outpacing national governments in per-capita emissions reductions. Our partnership with C40 Cities supports this momentum, by equipping member cities with tools to visualize emissions footprints, assess the impact of various initiatives, make informed decisions, and collaborate with other cities facing similar challenges to transform ambitious goals into tangible progress.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil in November further highlighted both the meaningful progress and persistent challenges in global climate action. We saw momentum around implementation and adaptation, renewed Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and deeper recognition on the vital role that data plays in achieving climate goals. Still, significant challenges remain — particularly the disconnect between private sector efforts and national climate goals. With companies accounting for up to 70% of emissions in many countries, linking corporate sustainability progress with national commitments is essential.

This brings us to a crucial inflection point: Can AI serve as the missing link between the work done by companies and the climate goals set by the public sector?

I believe the answer is a resounding yes. AI, when integrated with robust data analytics and governance frameworks, can bridge this gap. By leveraging AI to share information across sectors, streamline data collection, and analyse the efficacy of climate strategies, we can create a clear, verifiable connection between individual corporate actions and national progress. This process would foster the collaborative effort needed to accelerate understanding and drive a transition forward with meaningful climate solutions.

In conclusion, the global climate crisis demands not just ambition, but also meticulous data, strong collaboration, and bold transformation leveraging AI. As a company dedicated to empowering organizations with data, Qlik is committed to harnessing the power of AI to make this future a reality. By equipping all stakeholders with the tools to understand, act, and verify their impact, we can collectively move beyond promises and truly deliver on the promise of a sustainable world.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African proverb