Key Takeaways
- Backlash against the sustainability agenda is intensifying: Seventy percent of experts surveyed now say there is a significant backlash against the sustainability agenda in their country, up 13 percentage points from 2024.
- North America is most polarized: Over nine in ten experts in North America report significant backlash compared to just 38 percent in Asia-Pacific.
- A fragmented global picture: The uneven perception of this backlash highlights the need for regionally tailored strategies that reflect local political, economic, and cultural dynamics.
New findings from the 2025 Sustainability at a Crossroads survey, conducted by GlobeScan, the ERM Sustainability Institute, and Volans, reveal a rise in concern among global sustainability professionals about backlash against the sustainability agenda, including ESG. Globally, seven in ten experts now say there is a significant backlash in their country, up 13 percentage points from 2024.
This shift is especially pronounced in North America, where over 90 percent of experts report experiencing significant resistance. In contrast, nearly two-thirds of experts in Asia-Pacific say there is little to no backlash, underscoring the uneven and regionally fragmented nature of the pushback. In Europe, seven in ten experts believe there is a backlash, while Latin America and the Caribbean (60%) and Africa and the Middle East (61%) fall in between, reflecting a globally uneven but broadly felt sense of resistance.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The surge in backlash – especially in North America and to a lesser extent in Europe – reflects growing polarization around sustainability. In these more resistant markets, progress will require careful messaging, stronger coalitions, and reframing sustainability in ways that resonate with local priorities and issues.
Meanwhile, in less-polarized regions, particularly in Asia–Pacific, opportunities abound to accelerate impact, scale innovation, and demonstrate the value of sustainability as a driver of economic and social resilience.
This analysis is based on a survey of 844 sustainability practitioners across 72 countries globally. To explore how experts are responding to this shifting landscape, read our new report: Sustainability at a Crossroads
Survey Question: How significant do you think the current backlash against the sustainability agenda (including ESG) is in your country?
