Majority of Employees Doubt Businesses are Making Adequate Efforts on Climate Change and Sustainability, According to Deloitte Poll
In a recent survey conducted by Deloitte, it has been revealed that employee concerns over climate change and sustainability are on the rise. The findings, presented in Deloitte's Sustainability Signals Dashboard, highlight an increasing gap between rising climate awareness and expectations among employees and perceptions that employers are falling short on sustainability efforts.
The survey, which polled approximately 20,000 individuals across 20 countries, found that 75% of respondents believe in anthropogenic, or human-caused, climate change. This belief has been increasing among U.S. respondents, with 70% now agreeing, up from only 60% in a 2023 survey.
One of the key findings of the report is that younger respondents are significantly more likely to report that climate considerations are impacting their location decisions. In fact, 64% of 18-34 year-olds report that climate change impacts are causing them to re-think where they want to live, compared with 52% of 35-54 year-olds and 37% of those 55 and older. Climate considerations are impacting relocation decisions, with 50% of respondents reporting that climate change would be a decision criteria in choosing where to live in a future move.
In addition, approximately a quarter of survey respondents have considered switching jobs to work for a more sustainable company. This trend is especially strong among younger adults, with 50% of respondents aged 18-34 reporting that they have considered switching jobs due to a lack of sustainability efforts by their current employer.
The report also found that employees are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact, with many altering their consumption patterns and energy use. Furthermore, around one-third of respondents factor sustainability into financial decisions like investing or banking, though price continues to be the main barrier to adopting sustainable products.
Interestingly, the survey results indicate that respondents' climate perceptions appear to be impacting workplace and consumption behaviors and attitudes. For example, only 38% of respondents agree that their employer is adequately addressing climate change and sustainability, a drop from 45% in 2021. This dissatisfaction is reflected in the growing number of employees who are considering switching jobs to work for more sustainable employers.
Overall, the Dashboard highlights an increasing gap between rising climate awareness and expectations among employees and perceptions that employers are falling short on sustainability efforts. Employee climate attitudes are influencing many personal and professional decisions, signaling strong pressure on companies to enhance their sustainability efforts.
The findings were released as part of Deloitte's "Sustainability Signals Dashboard," based on surveys of approximately 20,000 respondents across 20 countries. The survey results provide valuable insights into employee attitudes towards climate change and sustainability, and the increasing importance of these issues in the workplace and in personal decision-making.
- The growing awareness and concern about climate change among employees are influencing their workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, as well as their personal lifestyle decisions, such as relocation, job changes, and financial investments.
- Science, particularly environmental-science, plays a significant role in this context, as 75% of survey respondents believe in human-caused climate change, and this percentage is continuously increasing.
- Businesses that prioritize sustainability and climate change efforts, including finance and workplace-wellness initiatives, may attract more employees and retain talent, as demonstrated by the survey results showing that around a quarter of respondents have considered switching jobs to work for a more sustainable company.
