Engaging the workforce: insights from Ipsos’ People and Climate Change Report

Ipsos has launched the People and Climate Change Report, exploring attitudes to the Climate Crisis and the transition to Net Zero. But what does this mean for employers and employees?

Current sentiments towards climate change

Concerns about the effects of climate change are rising in Great Britain, but the perception of responsibility is shifting. 

64% of adults believe individuals should act on climate change to protect future generations, but this has fallen since 2021. A similar proportion feel businesses in Great Britain will be failing their employees and customers if they don’t act to combat climate change, but again this has fallen since 2021.

Implications for organisations

This shift away from individual responsibility may well impact colleagues’ willingness to engage with their organisations’ sustainability initiatives. In a similar sense, waning belief in corporate accountability could lessen its previously positive impact on engagement.  

Organisations are therefore facing a unique challenge: to motivate and engage their workforce on sustainability while individual empowerment falls. 

Paper straws and reuseable cups no longer make the cut as our focus on climate issues intensifies alongside growing awareness. Sustainability efforts are often viewed as expensive, ineffective and overshadowed by economic priorities, but research indicates the pressing nature of climate change remains. 

Strategic responses for employers

Enhanced education and communication – use the report’s data on UN sustainability goals to highlight lack of climate awareness and engage colleagues in the climate conversation by sharing bite-size facts that emphasise the need for action.

Economic effects – address concerns around sustainable developments in moving to renewable resources by highlighting long-term cost savings and environmental benefits.  

Employee engagement and impact – highlight how individual actions contribute to broader goals and follow up on sustainability initiatives with tangible evidence to restore confidence in the organisation’s role in addressing climate challenges.  

Leadership and authenticity – only 22% of Great Britain’s adults trust environmental claims made by companies.  This lack of trust underscores the importance of authentic, transparent communication about an organisation’s sustainability practice. 

By incorporating these strategies, businesses can better align themselves with global climate objectives, boost employee morale, strengthen their corporate reputation, and potentially attract more climate-conscious consumers.

Read the full report