From Me to We in a Post-Pandemic World

Ipsos has conducted a range of surveys to help organisations keep up with the changing climate of public expectations.

A desire for change

Ipsos studies indicate that recovering from the pandemic offers a key opportunity for transformative change: 72% across the G20 countries agree that it presents a unique moment to build societies to be more resilient to future shocks and a vast majority of people globally (86%) say that they would prefer to see the world change significantly – and become more sustainable and equitable – rather than revert to the status quo.

A particularly important report, produced in collaboration with the Global Commons Alliance and based on Ipsos surveys around the world, sets out in granular detail the public's views across G20 countries on what needs to be done to tackle environmental issues and transform the ways we live to protect the planet. It shows this desire for change is specifically directed towards tackling climate change and improving the environmental health of the planet.

We found 73% of people across the G20 saying that they believe that the Earth is close to “tipping points” because of human action and 74% agreeing that their country’s economy should prioritise the health and wellbeing of people and nature rather than focusing solely on profit. The public are also clear about who they want to see take leadership in making these changes.

Rather than revert to the status quo, 86% would prefer to see the world change significantly after the pandemic, becoming more sustainable and equitable.

Are businesses and governments responsible?

Our annual Earth Day study finds that people place the weight of responsibility for tackling climate change on governments, with 69% of people on average globally saying the government should take action first and foremost.

Expectations for private companies to lead on sustainability are similarly high. They may not be seen as the key entity who must act (32% globally say companies should act first), but according to our 2021 Global Trends survey, a majority worldwide say that business is acting too slowly to avoid massive harm from global warming.

But optimism about business and government action is not high. A recent Ipsos report conducted in partnership with EDF found that globally, only half of people (50%) think their government is taking action to fight climate change and less than a third (31%) agree that their government has a clear plan in place for how all actors (government, businesses and individuals) are going to work together to tackle climate change. There is also a lack of trust in many countries that businesses will care for the environment.

Only three in 10 worldwide (31%) agree that their government has a clear plan in place for how society is going to work together to tackle climate change.

Leadership lessons from Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic and the world’s response to tackle it has been inspiring in the sense that it has demonstrated the ability of societies globally to dramatically transform their behaviour in response to a crisis.

Ipsos spoke to global climate experts to discover whether any of the lessons from the coronavirus pandemic are transferable to tackling climate change and identified five key takeaways which can help governments and businesses better align with the public’s values:

1. Listening to expert advice is vital – Expert advice has led us through the Covid-19 pandemic. But although doctors and scientists are the two most trusted professions in the world, 42% globally say that scientists ‘don’t really know what they’re talking about when it comes to the environment’.
2. Preventative measures are as important as a mitigated response – As case numbers rose globally and healthcare systems struggled to meet the increase in patients, the value in preventative measures such as lockdowns and mask-wearing was made evident. As we see the climate crisis unfolding, preventative measures will be key in remaining in control.
3. Society must come together to protect the most vulnerable – Although at the beginning of the pandemic, the UN announced that Covid-19 does not discriminate, it has disproportionally affected poor and vulnerable populations. As we see climate change beginning to affect clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter, it is similarly the poor and vulnerable who are most put at risk.
4. Cross-sector collaboration is paramount to success – The past 18 months has seen government, industry and the public come together and collaborate to survive the Covid-19 crisis. This collaboration is central to climate change recovery and meeting the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
5. The public needs clear, tangible communications and direction – People's compliance with preventative measures against the spread of Covid-19 has depended heavily on government offering clear action points such as self-isolation and mask-wearing. In order to help the public do their bit to tackle climate change, governments will similarly need to offer clear and tangible communication.

With Covid-19, it’s your neighbour, it’s somebody in your family, it’s a real threat. Climate change is still seen as something a long way away and nothing to do with ‘me’.

Now what? Climate Change and Coronavirus

Read more about the actions people themselves intend to take to tackle the climate crisis.

Next article: The Sustainability Imperative