New research finds that more than six in ten business sustainability professionals are experiencing burnout as a result of their work within the last year. Some issues that are causing these feelings of stress and overwhelm include understaffing and a lack of support to build critical green skills.Â
About the study and its findings
These findings were published in a survey conducted by Oxford Brookes University’s Business School and Climate Change Coaches and featured 150 individuals. The survey covered environmental sustainability professionals in businesses in all sectors and of all sizes.Â
A third of the individuals surveyed said they cannot focus on ‘green transition’ work because they have to juggle priorities or oversee other workstreams. Moreover, almost three-quarters of those surveyed said their employer had appointed five or fewer full-time employees to activities concerning the ‘green transition’.Â
Many had none, with the work being overseen by individuals responsible for other workstreams. Even when organisations have more appropriately sized teams, respondents raised concerns about their influence, capacity, and seniority. This is impacting the ability of teams to plan for the long-term and maximise the impact of their projects.Â
One participant claimed the head of sustainability does not have enough capacity to drive much corporately. Along with neglecting understaffing and poor governance structures, the research unveiled that many businesses are not adequately supporting sustainability professionals with the mental support they need.Â
Many respondents in the survey reported feeling a heavy burden as if the responsibility of tackling the entire climate crisis fell on their shoulders. Others said they would appreciate more general support for resilience throughout times of turbulence and setbacks, such as the current economic downturn.Â
The importance of critical soft skillsÂ
Those surveyed were asked to pinpoint the most critical skills they need to build to be successful in their roles and the majority highlighted soft skills. Approximately 8 percent of respondents said technical skills such as carbon data management are essential to starting out in the profession.Â
By contrast, 61 percent and 47 percent said collaboration and coalition-building, plus empowering other teams, are critical skills respectively. The respondents also felt it was vital for those in sustainability positions to:
- Set strategies and an inspiring vision (45 percent)
- Help other teams navigate complex topics and projects (39 percent)
- Act as internal challenges, questioning organisational norms (36 percent)
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Not enough investment in green skills development
Unfortunately, the study also showed that most sustainability experts do not think their company is investing enough in the development of critical soft skills for current and future employees. The report suggested a number of recommendations for businesses, such as:
- Defining competency standards, skills, and/or frameworks integrating both soft and technical skills
- Offering 1:1 specialised support, considering practitioners are working in a highly emotionally charged fieldÂ
- Investing in soft skills training, for now, and for the future, as part of a broader green transition strategy
- Creating a formal mandate for climate leadership
- Enhancing workplace wellbeing and eco-anxiety provisionsÂ
- Creating outlets for practitioners to better manage their workload
- Giving sustainability teams the tools to tell other departments about their vision
- Integrating ‘green transition coaching’ into employee development plans
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Conclusion
The research from Oxford Brookes University and Climate Change Coaches underscores the urgent need for businesses to better support their sustainability professionals. It’s clear organisations must invest in both the people driving the green transition and the structures that empower them.Â
Offering targeted support, prioritising skills development and providing resources for mental resilience are essential to ensuring sustainability teams can effectively guide organisations toward their green goals. By implementing these changes, businesses can better equip their workforce to tackle the climate crisis, creating both a sustainable future and a supportive work environment.
