Global Affairs: Key insights, data and solutions
Here’s Ipsos' best and freshest data and actionable intelligence on global issues for business leaders, policymakers and insights professionals

This is an Ipsos Top Topics page. Visit the Ipsos Top Topics hub for more data, insights and analysis on issues ranging from AI and entertainment to the economy and consumer spending.
From climate change to economic and geopolitical instability, the 21st century has been defined by complex, interlocking trends at a planetary scale. Here's Ipsos' latest data on these global issues.
Key takeaways:
- People are increasingly skeptical of the impact of individual actions
- Although 64% of people recognize that failing to act on climate change would let down future generations, there has been a notable decline in individuals believing their actions are crucial since 2021. Still, 74% express concern about climate impacts in their country, particularly in high-risk areas, according to Ipsos' 2025 People and Climate Change report.
- Despite all the noise, consumers care about the climate. That matters for businesses
- The words to describe them may change from year to year, and the values themselves may change from person to person, but they are one of the key motivators that drive people as they make choices from the grocery store to the housing market. 71% of people say “I tend to buy brands that reflect my personal values,” a number that’s risen by double digits in the last 10 years across all trended markets for the 2024 Ipsos Global Trends survey.
- Globally, we’re in agreement about climate change
- A recent Ipsos poll of more than 23,000 people found that 70% feel a major natural disaster taking place in their country is a somewhat (or very) real threat. Worldwide, 80% of people feel that we are headed for environmental disaster unless we change our habits quickly. For the majority, the necessity and urgency of climate action is in clear focus.
- Many Americans are uncertain how to fit environmental priorities into their lives
- Most Americans say they’re prepared to make personal changes in order to fight climate change, but whether they follow through, or agree on the correct course of action, is another story. Brands will need to consider how to help their customers close the “say-do gap.”
Consumers are dubious about brands' environmental claims
According to Ipsos' 2025 People and Climate Change report, only one in five (22%) across 32 countries trusts environmental claims made by companies about their products and services. (Read more.)
America's reputation drops around the world
The proportion saying America will have an overall positive influence on world affairs has fallen in 26 out of 29 countries over the last six months. Today, almost two in three (46% on average across the 29 countries) say the US will have a positive influence, down from 59% who said the same in Sept/Oct 2024, prior to the presidential election. (Read more.)
Consumers around the world say prices are the largest barrier to making more sustainable choices
Around the world, the perception of high prices continue to deter consumers from sustainable spending. (Read more.)
Very few Americans name the climate as the most important problem facing the U.S. today
In a recent Ipsos survey, just 3% of Americans (and 0% of Republicans) named the environment and climate change as the #1 issue the U.S. is facing. (Read more.)
The greatest shifts in consumer confidence around the world
Compared to 12 months ago, twelve countries (out of 29 economies surveyed) show a significant drop in consumer sentiment. In contrast, just six countries show a significant increase from January 2024, most of all in Argentina (+8.8 points). (Read more.)
The real generational gap on climate change
In the public imagination, Gen Z is often seen as a uniquely eco-conscious cohort — yet younger Americans’ attitudes on the causes of climate change generally fall in line with those of the general population, according to the Ipsos Consumer Tracker. The real generational gap? Younger Americans are much more pessimistic on the prospects of reducing the effects of climate change, particularly as individuals. (Read more.)
Inflation remains a top global concern
Inflation remains the leading concern arcross 29 global countries, with 32% of respondents expressing worry—a figure unchanged since December but four percentage points lower than the same point last year. Notably, inflation is now only one point ahead of crime and violence as a primary concern. (Read more.)
Global attitudes on the climate are converging
The macro environment for climate is changing rapidly as worldwide investment in renewables continues to rise and the impacts of global warming become more evident. Our data reflects this: globally, views on the importance of climate action are converging, and have increased in intensity over the past ten years. The key question now is how far — and how fast — people are willing to change their daily lives to reach shared goals. (Read more.)
Trust in professions
Only 15% of people say they trust social media influencers, the same proportion who trust politicians. Although influencers have a better net trustworthy score to politicians (-41% to -43%). Trust in influencers differs across generations with younger people more likely to trust social media personalities. Twenty per cent of Gen Z trust influencers compared to only 9% of baby boomers. (Read more.)
Americans' attitudes on EVs going into 2025
Only 39% of Americans think electric vehicles are better for the environment than their gas-powered counterparts (D +29). This is likely due to a series of mostly debunked stories, likely aimed at dissuading liberals from buying EVs. This will be a super interesting one to watch, especially as a deeply political majority (58% D +37) thinks the government should continue setting policy that reduces carbon emissions from fuel. (Read more.)
How attitudes on climate change are shifting
The data reflects a growing feeling of powerlessness in the fight to tackle the climate crisis, especially among younger people. The number who think their government has a clear plan to tackle climate change has declined since 2022. Those who think their government would be failing its citizens if it didn’t act against climate change is down across most countries in the last two years. (Read more.)
Perspectives around the world on plastic pollution
Strong majorities across 32 countries agree with a range of bans on plastics and byproducts, while there’s slightly lower support for putting more onus on governments and manufacturers. (Read more.)
Though we see a shared responsibility for climate action, concern about future generations is slipping
A new global Ipsos survey of 21,231 adults reveals that, on average across 29 countries, just under a third (31%) of people agree that their government has a clear plan in place for how government, businesses and people are going to work together to tackle climate change. (Read more.)
Further reading:
- Rest or Retreat: ESG Council Report 2025 — February 5, 2025
- We know climate change is a thing, but some of us think it’s a good thing? — January 31, 2025
- January 2025: Consumer confidence up globally to begin 2025 – January 21, 2025
- Where Americans stand on climate change heading into 2025 – January 10, 2025
- 37 questions for 2025 and beyond – December 13, 2024
- Growing your brand through societal impact – November 15, 2025
- How policy and incentives could pave the way to broader e-bike usage — November 14, 2024
- How focusing on consumers could create an EV future people want — November 14, 2024
- How to beat the say-do gap with sustainable products and unlock growth — November 12, 2024
- Insights to Activate: ESG — July 2024
- American voters are unhappy with the federal government's energy policy — February 27, 2024
- Sustainability unwrapped: Lessons & leaders in sustainable packaging — February 6, 2024
- From "Everything Everywhere All at Once" to "Not Much, Anywhere, Anytime Soon"? — December 6, 2023
- HISF-Ipsos Threat Index finds natural disasters seen as fastest-growing threat — November 18, 2023
- Majority of Americans say they are unlikely to purchase electric vehicles — October 11, 2023
- How companies make ESG a competitive advantage — August 7, 2023
- From purpose to profit: Understanding the economics of ESG — July 26, 2023
- The up (and down) side of ESG scrutiny — July 24, 2023
- ESG across borders: The cultural context — July 21, 2023
- ESG Council Report 2023 — July 19, 2023
- Climate concerns — June 30, 2023
- Aviation industry aligned on sustainability, but faces headwinds in its efforts to decarbonize — June 20, 2023
- Why electric vehicle interest is stagnating at the worst possible time — May 31, 2023
- Everyday sustainability: What actions Americans are taking — May 30, 2023
- What the Future: Farming — May 10, 2023
- Three key learnings on luxury and sustainability — April 28, 2023
- Electrification: Is excitement draining? — April 25, 2023
- Are Americans actually supporting sustainability? — April 19, 2023
- How brands can show a sustainability commitment in 2023 — April 10, 2023
- What the Future: Purpose — April 3, 2023
- Mapping the journey to sustainable pack: What consumers want — March 3, 2023
- Ipsos Global Trends: Global Trends in Climate Antagonism — February 22, 2023
- Sustainability Advertising: How empathy and credibility can help you get it right — February 22, 2023
- People, Planet, Prosperity: the Ipsos ESG Podcast
- Climate change: a growing skepticism — December 9, 2022
- Environmental Sustainability: Who Cares? — November 15, 2022
- 68% globally are willing to accept new policies encouraging sustainable technology adoptions — November 4, 2022
- Sustainability Now: How Americans Expect Brands to Step Up (On-demand webinar) – Nov. 4, 2022
- Majority across 34 countries describe effects of climate change in their community as severe — September 15, 2022
- Sustainability and Advertising: Friends or foes? — September 14, 2022
- Environment: The state of emergency is accelerating — June 8, 2022
- What the Future: Earth — April 22, 2022
- Earth Day 2022: Public opinion on climate change — April 22, 2022
- Taking Real Steps to Address Climate Change — January 21, 2022
- What the Future: Waste — November 16, 2021
- Keys: Environmental Emergency? — October 21, 2021
- Public concern about climate change and pollution doubles to a near-record level — August 27, 2021
- Addressing the Sustainability Say-Do Gap — July 15, 2021
- Earth Day 2021: Public opinion on climate change — April 22, 2021
- A Sustainable Future? — November 9, 2020
- Earth Day 2020: How does the world view climate change and Covid-19? — April 22, 2020
- Solving the environment is everyone’s problem — February 7, 2020