Environment

As the Middle East pushes ahead with its ambitious national net zero goals, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is calling for urgent investment in climate technology to ensure sustainable economic growth and resilience.

According to ACCA’s latest global report, The Climate Tech Forecast: A Guide to Driving Value Across Organisations, two-thirds of organisations (66%) worldwide believe that climate technology is, or will soon become, essential for their operations. From renewable energy to carbon capture, AI-driven sustainability analytics, and green supply chains, climate tech is now a present-day imperative rather than a distant ambition.

Climate tech as a driver of sustainable transformation

Climate technology — innovative solutions designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate impacts — is reshaping industries, investment priorities, and financial models. While only 15% of organisations currently invest in climate tech with a clear financial or strategic rationale, a growing 42% are making cautious investments, and 21% are prioritising non-financial returns such as ESG performance and brand value.

Leading areas of adoption include energy efficiency, carbon compliance, and sustainable supply chain management, with green finance, carbon offsetting, and climate risk planning emerging as the next strategic frontiers.

The role of finance professionals

The ACCA report underscores the critical role of accountants and finance leaders in embedding climate considerations into corporate strategies, guiding investment decisions, and ensuring transparent sustainability reporting.

Emmeline Skelton, Head of Sustainability at ACCA, said:

“These investments often involve high upfront costs and long payback periods, but their true return lies in strengthening resilience, reducing long-term risk, and building sustainable value in a low-carbon economy.”

Kush Ahuja, Head of Eurasia and Middle East at ACCA, added:

“Finance teams are central to helping organisations see beyond quick returns. By tackling the data crisis head-on, accountants can prove the measurable, long-term value of climate technologies.”

Bridging the readiness gap

The research reveals a significant readiness gap:

• 72% of organisations struggle with fragmented or inconsistent data, weak governance, or limited expertise.

• 20% are unable to interpret sustainability data effectively.

• 15% cannot measure ROI from their climate tech investments.

To close this gap, ACCA highlights the need for government support, including policy incentives, tax frameworks, and skills development. 77% of respondents cited such measures as critical enablers for climate tech adoption.

A roadmap for action

To support finance professionals, ACCA has introduced the Climate Technology Readiness and Investment Toolkit — a five-step roadmap designed to help organisations integrate climate technology into their strategy, finance, and operations. The toolkit offers practical guidance from goal-setting to assurance, helping organisations assess, align, and accelerate their climate tech adoption.

Creating long-term value through climate innovation

The ACCA report calls for a rethink of traditional ROI models, urging businesses and governments to look beyond short-term financial returns. The true return on climate technology, it concludes, is measured in resilience, reduced risk, and sustainable growth — outcomes essential for achieving net zero and driving future prosperity.

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