The trend reflects the largest jump in stakeholder influence since the study's inception in 2007, as investors place ever greater pressure on businesses to map risks and understand opportunities presented by the transition to a 1.5 C net-zero world, according to Peter Lacy, Accenture's global sustainability services lead.

"With only a narrow window of time left to meet these goals, and with the physical effects of climate change being felt sooner than most CEOs expected, leaders must stand up and be held accountable for measurable performance," said Lacy, who is also Accenture's chief responsibility officer and member of the global management committee.

"We are showing our commitment to progressing AI technology to empower physicians to make more efficient and impactful care decisions," said Bill Lacy, vice-president, medical informatics, Fujifilm.