Insight of the Week

Featured Insight

• Our Standout Insights in 2025: What Engaged Our Community

  2025: A Year in Insights

  As we wrap up another year at GlobeScan, we’re celebrating six years of publishing our Insights of the Week. Over the years, this series has delivered timely strategic research to help leaders across business, civil society, and government navigate a rapidly changing world and respond to evolving societal and stakeholder expectations.

  This year’s selection of ten standout Insights of the Week tells a compelling story: a world grappling with deep divisions and rising disengagement, an urgent call to recalibrate the sustainability agenda, and encouraging signs of progress. These themes shaped the conversations and priorities of 2025, offering valuable lessons for the year ahead.

  The Insight of the Week team will be back after the holidays. Thank you for being part of our growing community. We look forward to sharing even more insights with you in 2026.

  1. Divided America: A World-defining Start

  

  
  The year began with Donald J. Trump’s return to the presidency, underscoring deep divisions across American society, including on climate. These fractures shaped global discourse and created a challenging environment for businesses, NGOs, and many other institutions navigating polarized landscapes.

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  2. Young People Are Disengaging

  

  Gen Z’s personal commitment to sustainable behaviors is declining despite their high level of concern for the planet.​ A rising sense of futility is replacing action as many young people feel their individual efforts will not make a difference.​ This disengagement adds another layer of complexity to the sustainability challenge. But Gen Z is not giving up, and instead, they are crying out for support, clarity, and hope. 

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  3. The Sustainability Backlash Is Happening, But Not Everywhere

  

  Political pressure fueled a backlash against sustainability in North America and parts of Europe, while other regions remained committed. This divergence highlights the need for regionalized strategies rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.

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  4. The Sustainability Agenda Needs Recalibrating

  

  Experts agree that the global sustainability agenda needs a major reset. From incremental progress to transformative change, professionals are calling for a different approach to meet the urgency of today’s challenges.

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  5. Understanding Stakeholder Mindsets Matters More than Ever

  

  As organizations recalibrate their sustainability approaches, understanding stakeholder perspectives is critical. Organizations that listen and adapt are better positioned to maintain trust and navigate complexity. With sustainability stakeholders divided between system-preserving and transformation-driven mindsets, a “Yes, and” strategy becomes essential, balancing compliance with innovation, equity with efficiency, and system stability with transformation.

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  6. Consumers: The Other Half of the Equation

  

  Understanding consumers, alongside other stakeholders, is critical for shaping effective engagement. Two key segments driving sustainable living today – the Enthusiasts and the Minimalists – are essential for developing targeted messaging and impactful consumer engagement strategies.

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  7. Health and Well-being: The Consumer Engagement Catalyst

  

  Nearly half of consumers worldwide fear climate change will harm their health within five years, more so than having a negative effect on their finances. Framing climate action around health and well-being offers a powerful way to re-engage the public.

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  8. Harnessing People’s Emotions to Drive Climate Action

  

  Beyond health, emotions also play a pivotal role in shaping climate action. From hope to fear, emotional responses to climate change vary globally. Understanding these differences is key to crafting messages that inspire action rather than paralysis.

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  9. Despite COP30 Stalemate, Support for the Green Transition Is Real

  

  Despite headwinds, global research shows overwhelming support for a green economy. Fair, effective climate solutions and renewable energy remain non-negotiable for the public.

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  10. Positive Developments as We Look to 2026

  

  Ending on a hopeful note, legislation, renewable energy, and nature-based solutions emerged as the year’s most significant positive developments. Despite challenges, sustainability progress is real and worth celebrating.

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  As we close out 2025, these insights remind us that while divisions and disengagement pose significant challenges, the call for recalibration and the growing consensus for a green transition offer hope. Progress may not always be linear, but momentum is building through legislation, innovation, and public demand for change.

  Thank you for joining us on this journey. Here’s to shaping a more sustainable and equitable future together in 2026.