Greta Thunberg has taken a big slice of the spotlight when it comes to climate change awareness. Her movement of student protests seized news headlines around the world, giving off the appearance that predominantly young people care about climate change. And while an analysis in the US found that younger people are most concerned about the climate crisis, a UK survey found that people older than 55 are most likely to act upon it.
The survey of over 4,000 UK adults was conducted for the UK insurer Aviva by Censuswide. The results show that the 55+ crowd is aware of their impact on the environment and is most willing to take the steps necessary for a sustainable planet. And the 16-24 age group is least likely to take action.
Zelda Bentham, Aviva Group Head of Sustainability, commented:
Green living and climate-conscious behaviors are often seen as the domain of the young, but this research suggests that older people are quietly leading the charge and taking steps to care for the planet. Whether we’re reducing plastic, growing our own food, or reducing how often we travel, we can all take small steps which can add up to a big difference.
It may be that young people are not the most prominent leaders when it comes to green topics. It may also be that everyone is beginning to pay attention now. The 55+ group was ahead, but the other age categories were not far behind.
Here are the eco-friendly behaviors UK adults are willing to do according to age:
Another separate study reported by the wealth research firm Wealth-X found that it’s not just lifestyles, but also charity and donations where older generations prevail. Only 24% of ultra-high net worth individuals (multi-millionaires) under 45 gave to environmental causes versus 38% of individuals over 65.
Overall, these surveys are a hopeful sign that more people of all age groups are becoming aware and noticing their impact on the world around them – whether or not they are doing something about it yet. To know is the first step, the action is bound to follow!
