Climate Week NYC 2025 preview: An interview with Sweep CEO Rachel Delacour

Sentiment around NYCW

Rachel, what do you make of suggestions that New York Climate Week has lost momentum this year and that companies have deprioritized sustainability? 

“I actually disagree with that narrative. Companies aren’t deprioritizing sustainability, they’re just being smarter about it. We’re seeing incredible momentum at Sweep, with major US players actively seeking our platform because the business case is undeniable.

Yes, companies are less vocal publicly, but behind the scenes they’re doubling down. Why? Pure business necessity. California’s climate laws and the EU’s CSRD aren’t going anywhere, and non-compliance means real financial penalties. Beyond regulatory risk, our clients, like Crocs, CH Robinson and L’Oréal, are identifying massive operational efficiencies and the opportunity to de-risk their supply chains.

The political noise is actually separating serious businesses from the opportunists. Companies that understand sustainability as a competitive advantage, not a PR exercise, are the ones thriving. That’s the real momentum we’re seeing, and it’s stronger than ever.”

AI & Technology in Climate Action

How is AI transforming carbon accounting, and what role should technology play in achieving net zero targets by 2030?

“Having built business intelligence platforms for two decades, I see AI as the game-changer that non-financial data accounting needs. At Sweep, we’re using AI to automate the most painful parts of the process, and move businesses more quickly onto the parts which create value. Our AI integrations turn messy supply chain data into accurate emissions calculations, they predict carbon emissions hotspots before they become problems, and make Scope 3 tracking actually feasible at scale.
But we must never forget: AI isn’t magic. It’s a tool that amplifies good data and strategy.
The companies hitting their 2030 targets, making cost savings, de-risking their supply chains and attracting new investment aren’t just using better algorithms, they’re using technology to integrate this work across their entire organization. When your procurement team can instantly see the carbon impact of supplier decisions, that’s when real transformation happens”

AI has a massive carbon footprint from data centers and model training. Isn’t it hypocritical for a sustainability company to promote AI technology that contributes to climate change?

“That’s exactly why we’ve taken a fundamentally different approach. We don’t want to apply AI everywhere. We use it deliberately where it creates the greatest efficiency gains. Our AI agents are designed specifically for non-financial data management workflows, not general-purpose computing that wastes energy.
By automating manual reporting tasks that currently require thousands of hours of human work, we’re actually reducing overall energy consumption. If you think about what it means in practical terms, we are replacing weeks of spreadsheet work, email chains, and data validation with targeted AI agents that run efficiently in the cloud.
We’ve focused on responsibility from day one, building lean, purpose-built agents rather than energy-hungry general models. The carbon cost of our AI is far outweighed by the emissions reductions our clients achieve through better, faster sustainability reporting and action. And Sweep is transparent: we track and report our own overall company emissions and help customers track their own cloud infrastructure and AI emissions associated with using the platform”

The ROI of nonfinancial data management

Climate Week occurs amid political uncertainty – how should businesses approach climate investment when policy landscapes keep shifting?

Smart businesses are investing in sustainability because it drives bottom-line results. At Sweep, we see companies like HP saving millions through better resource efficiency and supply chain optimization. These aren’t feel-good initiatives; they’re competitive advantages.
Policy uncertainty actually creates opportunity. While competitors hesitate, forward-thinking companies are locking in lower energy costs, building resilient supply chains, and attracting top talent who increasingly choose employers based on values alignment.
The data doesn’t lie. Sustainable operations reduce costs, improve margins, and future-proof your business against resource volatility. Whether regulations tighten or loosen, companies with robust sustainability programs consistently outperform.
Let’s not forget that just in the last couple of weeks, a major Dutch pension firm which is pivoting towards sustainability withdrew mandates from major investment management firms including BlackRock and Legal & General, over their stance on these topics.
It’s not about politics; it’s about smart business strategy that pays dividends regardless of who’s in power.