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Survey: Economic Stability, Inequality and Climate Action Top Sustainability Concerns for Generation Z in Asia Pacific this Earth Day
22 April 2021
22 April 2021, Asia Pacific – Survey findings released today by Sandpiper Communications on Earth Day 2021 reveal that having decent work and economic growth, reducing inequalities, and climate action are the most concerning Sustainable Development Goals for Generation Z across Asia Pacific.
The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 interlinked goals that offer a blueprint for a more sustainable world by 2030. In the coming decade it is forecast that Gen Zs will be the largest living generation, accounting for approximately 26% of the global population, and hold the most economic power by 2031.
The findings are based on a survey of over 1,200 Gen Zs (aged 18 to 24) across Asia Pacific in Australia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
On average, the issues covered by the SDGs are a source of personal concern for 85% of Gen Zs across the region. Gen Zs in China are the most concerned about sustainable development overall at 90%, followed by Gen Zs in Hong Kong at 87%, with those in Australia and Singapore the least concerned at 81%.
In terms of the pillars of the Sustainable Developments Goals, Gen Zs across all markets are most concerned by environmental issues (86%), followed by social issues (84%), and economic issues (83%).
The issues with the most overall concern are decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10) which worry 90% of Gen Zs in Asia Pacific, followed very closely by climate action (SDG 13) at 89%.
Among issues with the highest levels of significant concern, climate change ranks first, with close to one third (30%) of Gen Zs in the region saying this causes them significant personal concern.
Hunger (SDG 2) and gender equality (SDG 5) rank lowest with 77% and 79% of Asia Pacific Gen Zs respectively citing these issues as a personal concern.
Kelly Johnston, COO, Sandpiper Communications, said: “While economic stability is a concern in the pandemic’s wake, environmental issues still pose more concern than social and economic issues to Gen Zs. Among the top environmental concerns, climate change has become a hot button issue for Gen Zs across the Asia Pacific region. With Gen Z set to become the dominant generation in terms of population and economic power in the next decade, we can expect a focus on environmental issues and climate action to grow as part of the global sustainability agenda.”
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Methodology
The findings are based on a survey conducted by Sandpiper Communications to better understand the attitudes of Generation Z towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia Pacific. A total of 1,226 respondents between the ages 18-24 were interviewed online across four markets in Asia Pacific in October 2020, including Australia (302), China (309), Hong Kong (306), and Singapore (309) as part of a study.
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