Climate change, food shortage concerns escalate: study

Global consumer concerns about climate change and food shortages are increasing, according to a new report from Mintel.
The research firm’s second annual sustainability barometer found that the percentage of global consumers concerned about climate change rose to 46% from 39% one year ago, while concern about potential food shortages climbed to 23% from 17% reported in the previous study. In the wake of extreme weather events and the conflict in Ukraine, consumer concerns about climate, food and water shortages increased the most among sustainability issues over the last 12 months, Mitel reported.
Climate change remained the highest environmental priority with nearly half of consumers globally (46%) citing air quality and plastic pollution among the top three environmental concerns, according to the study. Nearly three out of five global consumers (58%) agree that extreme weather events such as floods and heatwaves where they live encourage them to do more activities to protect the environment. Meanwhile their sustainability efforts remain focused on such simple and frugal activities as using recycled packaging, planning meals to reduce food waste and reducing their clothing purchases, the study found.
Mintel’s research involved a survey of 1,000 Internet users over the age of 18 across 16 countries in April 2022, the firm noted.