Investments based on ESG considerations – environmental, social, and governance – have increased over the past two decades in G7 markets, where nearly four in ten retail investors now say they have bought or sold shares based on ESG, up 13 points from 2003. Interest in ESG is particularly strong in the US, where more than half of retail investors (51%) say they pay attention to ESG when making investment decisions. There are growing opportunities to engage the hundreds of … “Insight of the Week: ESG Increasingly Influential for Retail Investors”
Respondents around the world were asked if they self-identify as part of a minority group, including minority ethnic/racial group, religious minority, LGBTQI+, and “another minority group.” Minorities are both more motivated toward a sustainable lifestyle and are more likely to have made major sustainable lifestyle changes than non-minorities. Minority populations are also feeling the impacts of a range of issues, including climate change, more than non-minorities. This suggests that minority populations are feeling the impacts of environmental challenges and are also … “Insight of the Week: Minorities Are Highly Motivated toward Sustainable Living”
People who self-identify as part of a minority group (including minority ethnic/racial group, religious minority, LGBTQI+, and “another minority group”) are more likely to say they are “greatly affected” by climate change and air pollution than non-minority respondents. This highlights the social disparities in how climate change affects communities and makes a powerful case for climate justice. Source: GlobeScan Radar Report 2021 (survey of 30,000 people in the general public in July 2021)
Nearly three-quarters of people say governments should require large companies to work to make a better society, up sharply over the past decade. Public support for regulation is expected to remain strong, as people around the world report ongoing low trust in business and growing concerns about key environmental and social issues. Businesses should expect more rigorous governmental regulations on a range of ESG issues. Data source: GlobeScan Radar Report 2021 (survey of 30,000 people in the general public in … “Insight of the Week: Dramatic Increase in Public Support for Laws Requiring Large Companies to Work for a Better Society”
People under 30 are less likely than older people to claim environmentally friendly behaviors like bringing their own shopping bag, recycling waste, and avoiding single-use plastics. Conversely, younger consumers are more likely than those over 30 to volunteer in their local communities and shop second-hand. There is an opportunity for brands to connect and engage with a younger generation who are excited about sustainable living but need support to change their everyday behavior. Data source: GlobeScan Healthy & Sustainable Living Study 2021 … “Insight of the Week: Actions toward More Sustainable Behavior Vary by Age”
People around the world express a strong desire to live a more sustainable lifestyle, but a much smaller proportion say they have actually made these changes. This gap between aspiration and action is largest in emerging markets, particularly in Africa / Middle East and Latin America, where most people say they would like to do “a great deal” to live more sustainably. People are interested in living more sustainably but need help doing so. This is an opportunity for governments and companies to help shape … “Insight of the Week: There Is a Large Aspiration-Action Gap in Sustainable Living across All Regions of the World”
People believe that governments, companies, and international bodies bear the most responsibility for addressing climate change. At the same time, people consider themselves less responsible for addressing climate change. This signals a new demand from the global public, that national and global institutions need to work toward taking bold action on climate change. Data source: GlobeScan Radar Report 2021 (survey of 30,000 people in the general public in July 2021)
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)