Larry Fink, CEO and Chairman of BlackRock, the world’s largest investment management firm, has sent out an annual letter to CEOs of the companies that BlackRock invests in on behalf of its clients since 2012. The letters are seen as a bellwether of the expectations that the finance industry – and wider society – has on business and its role in society. Over the last decade we have seen a dramatic evolution in both the topics and the tone of … “Accelerating the Tectonic Shift to Net Zero: Analysis of Larry Fink’s Annual Letter to CEOs”
Urgency of Societal Challenges % of Experts, “Urgent” (4+5), 2011–2020 The perceived urgency of acting on climate change has been steadily increasing over the last decade among those surveyed in GlobeScan and SustainAbility’s survey of sustainability professionals, with 94 percent of respondents now saying that the challenge is “very urgent.” Climate, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and poverty have been consistently seen as the greatest social and environmental challenges facing the global community, but 2020 has also seen a dramatic rise … “Insight of the Week: Urgency of Societal Challenges”
It is a common assumption that younger generations — Gen Z and millennials — are more greatly concerned with global challenges. Born in the digital age, these generations are seen to be more health-conscious, socially aware and environmentally responsible. This narrative is consistently reiterated by the media who frequently highlight the willingness of these younger generations to stand up for what they care about. In our Radically Better Future: The Next Gen Reckoning Report with BBMG, 73 percent of young … “Why Younger Generations are More Willing to Change in the Name of Sustainability”
Charismatic animals For many years, the species that are well known and loved among the public have received the lion’s share of conservation funding. The panda became the symbol of wildlife conservation half a century ago, and for many years, elephants have been a focus for conservation followed by rhinos, tigers, and other “charismatic animals” that capture the public’s attention. Only the pangolin is an anomaly on the list, as few people have ever seen this elusive nocturnal animal. But … “How a Hapless Bat Rather than a Famous Panda May Save Wildlife”
Seriousness of Climate Change “Very Serious” and “Somewhat Serious,” Average of 16 Countries* vs USA, 2015–2020 As the United States once again joins the Paris Agreement under President Biden’s new leadership, GlobeScan’s research shows that over the past five years, Americans’ worries about the climate have become increasingly aligned with the rest of the world. More than eight in ten Americans now say that climate change is a very or somewhat serious issue, with those under 30 years of age … “Insight of the Week: Seriousness of Climate Change”
Performance of Technology vs Social Media Sectors in Fulfilling Responsibilities to Society Net Performance,* Average 27 Countries, 2020 Technology and computer companies are viewed by the general public as performing better on fulfilling their responsibilities to society than social media companies, with people in 25 out of 27 countries rating technology companies higher (people in Kenya and Vietnam rate social media companies slightly higher). Perceptions of the two sectors differ the most in the UK, where people hold particularly negative … “Insight of the Week: Performance of Technology vs Social Media Sectors in Fulfilling Responsibilities to Society”
Seriousness of Social and Political Division in my Country “Very Serious,” by Country, 2020 There is great variability in public opinion across countries when it comes to concern about “social and political division in my country.” The perceived seriousness of societal polarization is especially acute in Nigeria, Brazil, Hong Kong, South Africa, the United States and Turkey. It is striking how little concern for domestic social and political division is expressed in China and Japan, as well as in Canada, … “Insight of the Week: Seriousness of Social and Political Division in my Country”
Consumer Purchasing Behaviors: EU* vs USA “Extremely” and “Very Interested,” 2020 European and American consumers differ in their interest in sustainable shopping behavior. Europeans are more interested than Americans in some key sustainable consumption behaviors, including being keener on prioritizing durability, recycled materials, responsible brands, and third-party certification. Differences are largest in terms of third-party certifications, with fewer than half of US consumers expressing interest compared to nearly six in ten European consumers. Notes: * Includes: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, … “Insight of the Week: Consumer Purchasing Behaviors: EU vs USA”
Key Messages Three-quarters of European consumers (76%) agree that we need to consume less to preserve the environment for future generations and most say that they would like to spend more time with family and friends (78%) or to spend more time in nature (74%) – activities that do not necessarily involve material consumption For our consumption patterns to stay within planetary boundaries, each European would have to reduce by 80% the amount of natural resources they currently use for … “Report: Our Material Consumption is Soaring, but Earth Cannot Afford Black Friday”
The 2020 Healthy & Sustainable Living study was designed and launched with a range of partners including CVS Health, IKEA, PepsiCo, Visa, and WWF International to help organizations better understand the mindsets of global consumers and what enables them or prevents them from living in a healthier and more sustainable way. The 27-market study was conducted in June 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 27,000 people took part in the global study that asked them about attitudes, … “Webinars | Healthy & Sustainable Living in a Global Pandemic”