CSO headcount at US companies falls for first time in 15 years

The number of chief sustainability officers at big publicly traded U.S. companies dropped this year for the first time in 15 years, falling 10 percent to 193, down from 216 in 2025. That's according to recruiter Weinreb Group, which tracks these roles. Mostly, the drop happened because companies didn't replace CSOs who left, not because of mass layoffs.

Some of this reflects less pressure on companies to show they're acting on climate and sustainability, amid pushback from the current administration and earlier anti-ESG efforts from other Republican leaders. A few companies had created these titles mainly for appearances, and that pressure has eased. But the picture isn't all retreat: some companies have folded sustainability duties into other executive roles rather than cutting them. One example cited is WM (formerly Waste Management), where the chief sustainability officer moved into the chief operating officer job this May, keeping sustainability as part of the role.

A separate survey of sustainability staff at companies with at least $1 billion in revenue found a similar slowdown rather than a collapse. In 2024, 74 percent of companies were growing their sustainability teams and just 4 percent were cutting them. This year, only 50 percent grew their teams, while 26 percent cut staff.

None of this changes rebate programs or upgrade incentives available to homeowners. It's a signal about how seriously corporations are staffing climate and sustainability work right now, not a change to any home energy program.