A climate doomsday is fast approaching, and there’s not much our dear leaders are doing about it. 

As preparations for COP30 gather pace, with world leaders set to meet in Brazil, the UN has said that just 64 nations have put forward plans to cut their carbon emissions, a paltry number that even put together can’t stop the world from tipping past the 1.5°C threshold set ten years ago in Paris.

But while presidents and prime ministers fail to take charge of the climate emergency, new data from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants shows that industry is at least heading in the right direction.

The ACCA’s latest Climate Tech Forecast shows that two-thirds of businesses (66%) believe climate technology is essential, with 21% already investing within their existing budgets, and the same number (21%) planning to do so in the next two to three years.

While only 15% of firms are investing in climate tech with a clear financial or strategic rationale, momentum is building – 42% are reportedly exploring cautious investments, and more than a fifth (21%) are prioritising non-financial returns, such as ESG impact and brand value in their climate planning.

The study found that energy efficiency initiatives, carbon compliance, and sustainable supply chains are leading climate-focused tech investments, while green finance, carbon offsetting, and climate risk planning are emerging as strategic priorities.

Yet despite these strong intentions, the ACCA identified a readiness gap that’s limiting organisations’ ability to deliver measurable value.

Data remains the biggest obstacle to scaling climate tech, with 72% of firms struggling to navigate fragmented information, weak governance, and suffering from limited expertise. Even when data is available, 20% say they can’t interpret it, and 15% are unable to measure ROI from climate-related investments.

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“These investments often involve high upfront costs, long payback periods, and benefits that are more environmental or strategic than immediately financial,” said Emmeline Skelton, head of sustainability at ACCA.

“However, the true return of climate technology lies in strengthening resilience, reducing long-term risk, and creating sustainable value in the shift to a low-carbon economy.

“Climate tech investments can take time to pay off, but finance teams are central in helping organisations see beyond quick returns.”

To support finance professionals in making these investments, the ACCA has developed a Climate Technology Readiness Toolkit, providing a five-step roadmap for embedding climate technology into strategy, finance, and operations. 

The aim is to guide organisations from setting climate goals through to achieving ongoing assurance, with the ACCA saying it can serve as a practical guide to assess, align and accelerate climate technology adoption.