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AB SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND, INC.  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)  
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys or sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These transaction costs, which are not reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Examples, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 37% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 37.00%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates Total Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Examples
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock
The Examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Examples assume that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses stay the same and that any fee waiver remains in effect for only the first year. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
 
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
The Fund pursues opportunistic growth by investing in a global universe of companies that are positively exposed to sustainable investment themes. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of issuers located throughout the world that the Adviser believes are positively exposed to sustainable investment themes.
The Adviser employs a combination of
“top-down”
and
“bottom-up”
investment processes with the goal of identifying securities of companies worldwide, fitting into sustainable investment themes. The Adviser identifies sustainable investment themes that are broadly consistent with achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These themes include climate, health and empowerment and may change over time based on the Adviser’s research. In addition to this
“top-down”
thematic approach, the Adviser also uses a
“bottom-up”
analysis of individual companies, focusing on prospective earnings growth, valuation, and quality of company management and on evaluating a company’s exposure to environmental, social and corporate governance (“ESG”) factors. The Adviser emphasizes company-specific positive selection criteria over broad-based negative screens in assessing a company’s exposure to ESG factors.
The Adviser normally considers a large universe of
mid-
to large-capitalization companies worldwide for investment.
The Fund invests in securities issued by U.S. and
non-U.S.
companies from multiple industry sectors in an attempt to maximize opportunity, which should also tend to reduce risk. The Fund invests in both developed and emerging market countries. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Adviser) in securities of
non-U.S.
companies. In addition, the Fund invests, under normal circumstances, in the equity securities of companies located in at least three countries. The percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in securities of companies in a particular country or denominated in a particular currency varies in accordance with the Adviser’s assessment of the appreciation potential of such securities. The Fund may invest in any company and industry and in any type of equity security, listed and unlisted, with potential for capital appreciation. It invests in well-known, established companies as well as new, smaller or less-seasoned companies. Investments in new, smaller or less-seasoned companies may offer more reward but may also entail more risk than is generally true of larger, established companies. The Fund may also invest in synthetic foreign equity securities, which are various types of warrants used internationally that entitle a holder to buy or sell underlying securities, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and
zero-coupon
bonds.
The Fund may, at times, invest in shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) in lieu of making direct investments in securities. ETFs may provide more efficient and economical exposure to the types of companies and geographic locations in which the Fund seeks to invest than direct investments. Investments in ETFs will not be subject to the Fund’s sustainable investment themes or ESG factors.
Currencies can have a dramatic impact on equity returns, significantly adding to returns in some years and greatly diminishing them in others. Currency and equity positions are evaluated separately. The Adviser may seek to hedge the currency exposure resulting from securities positions when it finds the currency exposure unattractive. To hedge all or a portion of its currency risk, the Fund, from time to time, invests in currency-related derivatives, including forward currency exchange contracts, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swaps and options. The Adviser may also seek investment opportunities by taking long or short positions in currencies through the use of currency-related derivatives.
The Fund may enter into other derivatives transactions, such as options, futures contracts, forwards, and swaps. The Fund may use options strategies involving the purchase and/or writing of various combinations of call and/or put options, including on individual securities and stock indices, futures contracts (including futures contracts on individual securities and stock indices) or shares of ETFs. These transactions may be used, for example, in an effort to earn extra income, to adjust exposure to individual securities or markets, or to protect all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio from a decline in value, sometimes within certain ranges.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading PRINCIPAL RISKS
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
•  
Market Risk:
The value of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate as the stock or bond market fluctuates. The value of its investments may decline, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, simply because of economic changes or other events, including public health crises (including the occurrence of a contagious
disease
or illness), that affect large portions of the market. It includes the risk that a particular style of investing may underperform the market generally.
•  
Sector Risk:
The Fund may have more risk because it may invest to a significant extent in one or more particular market sectors, such as the information technology or health care sector. To the extent it does so, market or economic factors affecting the relevant sector(s) could have a major effect on the value of the Fund’s investments.
 
•  
ESG Risk:
Applying ESG and sustainability criteria to the investment process may exclude securities of certain issuers for
non-investment
reasons and, therefore, the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use ESG or sustainability criteria. Securities of companies with ESG practices may shift into and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions, and the Fund’s performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of funds that do not use ESG or sustainability criteria.
 
•  
Foreign
(Non-U.S.)
Risk:
Investments in securities of
non-U.S.
issuers may involve more risk than those of U.S. issuers. These securities may fluctuate more widely in price and may be more difficult to trade due to adverse market, economic, political, regulatory or other factors.
 
•  
Emerging Market Risk:
Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory, or other uncertainties.
 
•  
Currency Risk:
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments or reduce its returns.
 
•  
Capitalization Risk:
Investments in
mid-capitalization
companies may be more volatile than investments in large-capitalization companies. Investments in
mid-capitalization
companies may have additional risks because these companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources.
 
•  
Derivatives Risk:
Derivatives may be difficult to price or unwind and leveraged so that small changes may produce disproportionate losses for the Fund. Derivatives, especially
over-the-counter
derivatives, are also subject to counterparty risk.
 
•  
Focused Portfolio Risk:
Investments in a limited number of companies may have more risk because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s net asset value, or NAV.
 
•  
Management Risk:
The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively-managed investment fund. The Adviser will apply its investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there is no guarantee that its techniques will produce the intended results. Some of these techniques may incorporate, or rely upon, quantitative models, but there is no guarantee that these models will generate accurate forecasts, reduce risk or otherwise perform as expected.
As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with all investments, you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading BAR CHART AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The bar chart and performance information provide an indication of the historical risk of an investment in the Fund by showing:
 
•  
how the Fund’s performance changed from year to year over ten years; and
 
•  
how the Fund’s average annual returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
You may obtain updated performance information on the Fund’s website at
www.abfunds.com
(click on “Investments—Mutual Funds”).
The Fund’s past performance before and after taxes, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
On November 1, 2016, the Fund implemented its current investment strategies (previously, the Fund’s investment strategies did not emphasize sustainable investment themes) and also changed its name from AB Global Thematic Growth Fund to AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund. Accordingly, the performance shown below for periods prior to November 1, 2016 is based on the Fund’s prior investment strategies and may not be representative of the Fund’s performance under its current investment strategies.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns how the Fund’s performance changed from year to year over ten years; andhow the Fund’s average annual returns for one, five and ten years compare to those of a broad-based securities market index.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.abfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The Fund’s past performance before and after taxes, of course, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Bar Chart
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Fund’s Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be less than those shown. The annual returns for the Fund’s Class Z shares are not presented in the bar chart and would differ from the annual returns of the Fund’s Class A shares only to the extent that the Class Z shares do not have the same expenses as the Class A shares. Through
June 30, 2021
, the
year-to-date
unannualized return for Class A shares was 10.02%.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The annual returns in the bar chart are for the Fund’s Class A shares and do not reflect sales loads. If sales loads were reflected, returns would be less than those shown.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
During the period shown in the bar chart, the Fund’s:
Best Quarter was up 27.20%, 2nd quarter, 2020; and Worst Quarter was down
-25.03%,
3rd quarter, 2011.
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading Performance Table Average Annual Total Returns (For the periods ended December 31, 2020)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns:–Are an estimate, which is based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes;
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred actual after-tax returns depend on an individual investor’s tax situation and are likely to differ from those shown; and–Are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns:–Are shown for Class A shares only and will vary for the other Classes of shares because these Classes have different expense ratios;​​​​​​​
AB SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND, INC. | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (23.71%)
2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 12.97%
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 22.62%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 4.49%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 2.46%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 2.69%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 37.16%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (9.88%)
2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 29.48%
2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 39.37%
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel year-to-date
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Jun. 30, 2021
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 10.02%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 27.20%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (25.03%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 33.44% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 17.00% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.51% [1]
AB SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND, INC. | Class Z  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Exchange Fee rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.65% [2]
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses: Transfer Agent rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.02%
Other Expenses rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.05%
Total Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.07% [3]
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.01%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.73%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.01%) [4]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 0.72%
After 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 74
After 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 232
After 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 405
After 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 906
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 39.77% [5]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.41% [5]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.37% [5]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Jul. 26, 2021 [5]
AB SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND, INC. | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 30.98% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 15.63% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.86% [1]
AB SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND, INC. | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Class A  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 21.03% [1]
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 13.31% [1]
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.60% [1]
AB SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND, INC. | MSCI ACWI Index (Net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes except the reinvestment of dividends of non-U.S. withholding taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 16.25%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 12.26%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 9.13%
[1] After-tax returns: – Are shown for Class A shares only and will vary for the other Classes of shares because these Classes have different expense ratios; – Are an estimate, which is based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes; actual after-tax returns depend on an individual investor’s tax situation and are likely to differ from those shown; and – Are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
[2] Management fee was effective as of June 18, 2021.
[3] Total Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[4] In connection with the Fund’s investments in AB Government Money Market Portfolio (the “Money Market Portfolio”) (except for the investment of any cash collateral from securities lending), the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee from the Fund and/or reimburse other expenses of the Fund in an amount equal to the Fund’s pro rata share of the Money Market Portfolio’s effective management fee, as included in “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses”. The agreement may only be terminated or changed with the consent of the Fund’s Board of Directors.
[5] Inception date for Class Z shares: 7/26/21. Performance information for periods prior to the inception of Class Z shares is the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares adjusted to reflect the expenses of the Class Z shares.