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Global Affairs: Key insights, data and solutions

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

19 April 2025

Society

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.)