Two themes formed the backdrop to the World Economic Forum’s 2014 gathering in Davos, Switzerland that ended this week: the return of the global economy to a semblance of stability and the continuing shift of power from West to East. This mixture of economic flux and stability feeds through into our research, with peoples’ views in the institutions that affect their lives, the environment and how they think of certain countries all affected. One of the messages to emerge from … “Davos 2014: Can Rising Public Trust Help Leaders Reshape a Changing World?”
Our 2014 predictions blog identifies seven key trends that we think will have particular impact across the sustainability, reputation, brand nexus. We share our forecasts for key consumer and stakeholder trends, examine the challenges that these represent to business, and anticipate how organizations are likely to respond. 1. Social inequality a rising concern. Evidence from GlobeScan’s stakeholder and consumer surveys supports the notion that social and economic inequality will be key issues of global concern this year. We will continue … “Our 2014 Predictions for the Nexus of Reputation, Brand and Sustainability”
In a recent blog post, we used Greendex Survey data to show that those who do not experience the negative effects of climate change are also less likely to choose a sustainable lifestyle. In this post we aim to further explore the factors that may be delaying people’s likelihood of making more sustainable purchases. In the final months of 2013, the Psychonomics Society hosted reputable philosophers and scientists to discuss the cognitive factors that underlie perceptions of human impact on climate … “How Perceived Disagreement on Climate Change is Impeding Sustainable Consumption”
This article was originally published on GreenBiz.com, as part of our Proof Points blog series. 5 December 2013 – To those of us seemingly surrounded by climate burnout and indifference, it is perhaps comforting that important places in the world are experiencing their first big wave of green consumerism. This is the picture that emerges from GlobeScan’s latest 20-country consumer poll that tracks climate concerns and low-carbon behavior. Results show low-carbon consumer behavior is surging in emerging economies such as China, India, Indonesia and Mexico. Asked … “Green Consumers Alive and Well, but Living in Emerging Economies”
Against the backdrop of one the world’s most severe typhoons and landmark levels of atmospheric CO2, the 19th Conference of the Parties has kicked off this week in Warsaw, Poland. COP19, intended to lay down the groundwork ahead of a new global climate change agreement in Paris in 2015, needs significant progress by politicians, business leaders, opinion formers and scientists if they are to reach consensus. The general population is unlikely to hear much about the conference via mainstream media … “Attention COP19: Global Public Supports Major Action To Tackle Climate Change”
BSR/GlobeScan Survey Flags Integration of Sustainability within Companies as Core Challenge San Francisco—October 30, 2013—Results from one of the world’s largest annual surveys of corporate sustainability executives underscore the importance of collaboration among business and external stakeholders to address climate change, among other key issues, in order to improve sustainability performance. This year, more than 700 business leaders from BSR’s global member network responded to the fifth annual BSR/GlobeScan State of Sustainable Business Survey 2013—the largest survey response to date. … “Survey of Corporate Sustainability Executives: Progress on Climate Change Requires Collaboration”
27 August 2012 – A new national study in India finds six distinct groups within the Indian public that respond to the issue of climate change in very different ways, according to a new report, “Global Warming’s Six Indias” by researchers at Yale University. “One of the first rules of effective communication is ‘know your audience,’” said Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, lead author of the report. “This study should help climate change communicators and educators in India raise public awareness and understanding … “From ‘Informed’ to ‘Disengaged’: The Six Ways Indians View Global Warming”
Download the Press Release (PDF) 18 April 2013 – As Earth Day approaches (Monday 22 April), a GlobeScan poll of American public opinion has found that Superstorm Sandy last October appears to have increased the perceived seriousness of climate change, much as Hurricane Katrina affected public opinion seven years ago. GlobeScan surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 Americans by telephone last month (March 2013) and found the percentage of Americans rating climate as “very serious” increased from 39 percent (in 2011) … “Weather Drives American Public’s Climate Concern”
This article by GlobeScan Chairman, Doug Miller originally appeared on GreenBiz.com, as part of our Proof Points blog series. 12 April 2013 – One challenge U.S. companies face in dealing with global issues is the significant difference that sometimes exists between public opinion in America and in the rest of the world. Nowhere has the difference in perspective and opinion been more evident than in concern over climate change. For much of the decade between 1995 to 2005, Americans were significantly less concerned … “How Companies and Weather May Sway Public Opinion on Climate”
Download the Press Release (PDF) 25 February 2013 – Environmental concerns among citizens around the world have been falling since 2009 and have now reached twenty-year lows, according to a multi-country GlobeScan poll. The findings are drawn from the GlobeScan Radar annual tracking poll of citizens across 22 countries. A total of 22,812 people were interviewed face-to-face or by telephone during the second half of 2012. Twelve of these countries have been regularly polled on environmental issues since 1992. Asked how … “Environmental Concerns “At Record Lows”: Global Poll”