Our Insights

Around the world, more people feel “greatly affected” by climate change than a year ago. This sentiment has increased across all regions and is highest in Latin America, where a majority now feel greatly affected by climate change. While this is lower in North America, there is still a significant increase in the number of people who feel climate change is greatly affecting them.  This figure will likely continue to grow as temperatures rise and extreme weather events intensify, leading … “Insight of the Week: People Feel Increasingly Affected by Climate Change”

Most people around the world say that deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is a serious problem. People are more concerned about this than other challenges such as shortages of fresh water, lack of access to healthcare, and unemployment.  Concern is especially high in Latin America – specifically in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Europeans also express relatively strong concern. People farther from the Amazon region express comparatively less concern, but a wide majority around the world still say this … “Insight of the Week: Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest Seen as a Serious Global Concern”

Concern about overconsumption has increased significantly compared to before the pandemic, with majorities of people around the world saying we need to consume less for the sake of future generations. This pattern of increased consumer consciousness is seen across all regions surveyed. With increasing unease about our current levels of consumption, people everywhere will be looking for more sustainable consumption patterns. Data source: GlobeScan Healthy & Sustainable Living Study 2021 (survey of 30,000 people in the general public in July 2021)

GlobeScan surveyed people in five English-speaking countries about their awareness of “net zero” products or companies. Only one-quarter of respondents globally claim at least “some” awareness about this concept. More people in the USA and the UK have heard of net zero than in other countries. Awareness is also higher among Millennials and those with higher incomes. Overall, this suggests a need to educate consumers on net zero as a tactic against climate change. Data source: GlobeScan Radar Report 2021 … “Insight of the Week: People Largely Unaware of Net Zero”

A majority of the global public – six in ten – favor a carbon tax on energy sources that contribute most to climate change such as coal, oil, and gas, an increase of 10 points from 2015. Support for taxation that reduces carbon emissions is the highest recorded in nearly 15 years. One in three oppose a carbon tax, especially those with lower levels of income. This suggests there may be enough public support for government policies that put a price … “Insight of the Week: Public Support for a Carbon Tax Is Growing Globally”

During COP26 in Glasgow this month, sustainability experts most want to see an agreement for integrating nature-based solutions into the Paris strategy, followed by countries’ five-year emission reduction pledges and carbon market mechanisms.  Experts’ preferred outcomes favor action in the near future over a long-term approach, highlighting the urgency of action needed to stem and reverse the climate crisis. Data source: GlobeScan/SustainAbility Survey of over 500 experts representing business, government, NGOs, and academia across 71 countries​

While the public and private sector are both crucially important for climate progress, sustainability experts say that we need more public understanding and engagement to ensure effective implementation of the Paris Agreement climate goals. When asked to spontaneously name barriers to effective implementation, one in five sustainability experts mention this lack of public engagement. This suggests the need to focus more on large-scale public education efforts on climate change and engagement to increase public pressure to respond to humanity’s “Code … “Insight of the Week: Experts Say More Public Engagement Is Needed to Effectively Implement Paris Agreement Climate Goals”

People around the world agree that large companies have a responsibility to encourage governments to do more on climate change, especially in non-OECD countries. This sentiment is stronger than ever in 2021 and has increased dramatically among people in key emitting countries – China, India, and USA – as well as in France and Germany. People today are more aware of climate change impacts happening around them, and with that comes greater expectation for action from their governments and the … “Insight of the Week: People Want Large Companies to Encourage Governments to Address Climate Change”

When asked about issues in the food system, most consumers express concern about all issues tested. People are particularly worried about chemicals in agriculture and waste from single-use plastic packaging. Issues that relate to food production and transport are comparatively lower sources of concern. This shows that a significant majority of consumers around the world are thinking about these global food system issues. As awareness grows, so will the expectation that players in the food system take action to address … “Insight of the Week: High Consumer Concern about Issues in the Food System”

Around the world, nearly half of consumers say that national governments have the greatest influence to build a more healthy and sustainable food system. More than one-third of consumers believe that food & beverage companies are best placed to achieve positive change, but just one in five feel that “people like me” can play a role in building a more healthy and sustainable food system. This suggests that consumers are feeling unempowered and are looking to governments and companies to help them … “Insight of the Week: Consumers Rate Governments and Food & Beverage Companies as Key to a Sustainable Food System”

People in all 31 countries and territories surveyed express high levels of concern about the changing climate, with overwhelming majorities everywhere seeing climate change as at least “somewhat serious.” Latin Americans and people in Southern Europe tend to be the most concerned about climate change. Perceived seriousness is lowest in Australia, Russia, and the USA, yet even in these countries, eight in ten people view climate change as a serious issue. These findings demonstrate a backdrop of public support for … “Insight of the Week: Concern about Climate Change Is High across the World”

People in Nigeria, Colombia, Turkey, Portugal, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia express the most concern about human rights abuses. Perceived seriousness is lowest in Asian countries, including China and South Korea. Women and younger people tend to be more strongly concerned about human rights abuses, with Gen Z respondents being the most worried. This suggests that the issue will become increasingly relevant over time, with younger people expecting more attention paid to human rights along with accountability from governments and … “Insight of the Week: Concern About Human Rights Varies Across the World”

Sustainability experts’ concern about biodiversity loss has increased substantially over the past decade, with more experts than ever now saying that this is an urgent issue.​ This sentiment is shared across all stakeholder audiences and geographies, especially among experts in the NGO sector and in North America. Biodiversity loss is the second-highest concern for sustainability experts after climate change and suggests a growing expectation for more action on the nature agenda by governments, companies and NGOs. Data source: GlobeScan / … “Insight of the Week: Sustainability Experts Have Become Increasingly Concerned About Biodiversity Loss Over Past Decade”