An often-overlooked aspect of digital sustainability is the digital talent needed to manage digital sustainability solutions. Unlocking the benefits of digital sustainability and managing its unintended consequences requires the right digital talent. This Advisor shares three best practices for growing the talent pool for digital climate transformations.

1. Identify Climate-Resilience Skills & Capabilities

• Assess your organization’s specific needs for climate resilience in both internal operations and external market impact.

• Develop a toolkit of digital-native capabilities that address these needs.

Upside: A climate-focused toolkit can enhance your innovation roadmap and foster a community of digital learners, breaking down silos of specialized knowledge.

2. Leverage Collaborative Tools & Research for Learning

• Use open, collaborative databases and global climate simulators like En-ROADS to inform decision-making on optimal sustainability practices.

• Design digital communities and pilot projects for faster learning, trend detection, and process streamlining.

Upside: Open collaborative networks can provide valuable experience in navigating digital and ecological disruptions.

3. Embrace AI & Feedback for Advancement

• Explore generative AI and autonomous agent pilots to streamline sustainability efforts and create sector-specific solutions.

• Recognize the potential of these pilots for knowledge transfer to suppliers, aligning their talent, products, and operations with climate priorities.

Upside: Gather long-term feedback from these initiatives to advance climate R&D in new domains.

[For more from the author on this topic, see: “Digital Talent: The Key to the Climate Transition.”]