2025 Sustainability trends in Natural Resources & Energy

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Turning point: Sustainability trends in natural resources and energy

Sustainability is no longer a peripheral issue. It’s a core component of long-term success in the Australian natural resources and energy sector. BDO’s inaugural Sustainability Trends Report reveals how the sector is responding to the growing imperative for sustainable change.

Based on insights from 107 senior decision makers, the report identifies six key trends that illustrate a sector in transition, from intention to execution, and from compliance to strategic integration.

Key sustainability trends in FY25

Formation to integration Organisations are establishing dedicated sustainability functions to navigate ESG complexities.

Balancing expectations with realities Companies are under growing pressure to meet diverse stakeholder demands while navigating cost, complexity and implementation constraints.

Real-time data is transforming sustainability decisions Investment in real-time data systems is driving more strategic decisions and strengthening sustainability performance.

Technology and innovation drive commercial value Short-term investments in technology and product innovation are modernising mining operations and accelerating sustainability gains.

Building a workforce for a sustainable future Current workforce strategies fall short in developing the skills needed to meet sustainable mining objectives.

Sustainability for strategic advantage Businesses are moving beyond risk mitigation and compliance to unlock financial and operational value.

Who is responsible for a company’s sustainability strategy?

An important question we asked respondents is: who is responsible for developing and delivering a company’s sustainability strategy? Our research shows that a gold standard has yet to emerge, but the common involvement of executive leadership and operations/safety suggests that it is seen as a strategic lever, and an enabler of safe, resilient operations.

Leadership and operational teams are taking the lead on ESG strategy and execution.
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Sustainability is no longer a siloed initiative, an add-on or a compliance obligation. It is an enterprise-wide enabler of long-term value. Download the full report to explore how Australia’s natural resources and energy sector is evolving - and what it will take to lead in a sustainable future.

Download the report

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