Nearly half of high-income workers would consider switching jobs to work for a more sustainable company, according to research from Deloitte.
Out of 24,000 respondents in 24 countries, Deloitte found 46% of higher-income respondents have considered switching jobs to work for a more sustainable company, more than twice the rate reported by middle-income respondents (20%) and over three times that of the lower-income group (13%).
Notably, 63% of the higher-income group agree that their employer is doing enough to address climate change, compared to only 23% of lower-income respondents who agree.
Similar proportions of respondents in higher-, middle- and lower-income groups reported that they believe climate change is an emergency (72%, 68%, and 65% respectively). Some 59% of higher-income respondents said that they always or often choose sustainable products, compared to only 42% of lower-income and 44% of middle-income respondents.
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Cost seemed to be a factor, with 53% of lower-income consumers citing cost as the main barrier to sustainable product purchases compared to only 32% of higher-income respondents.
Around 25% of higher-income respondents said they power their homes with renewable energy, around twice the percentage of lower- and middle-income respondents.
Deloitte sustainability and climate practice leader Jennifer Steinmann said global leaders need to understand “how and why people are taking climate action personally, at work, and in their communities, and why some are not able to take action to the extent they would like”.
“Ultimately, the aggregated impact of individual decisions to live a more sustainable life does influence the efforts of companies and governments and can accelerate the broader, systemic action required to meet the ambition of the global emissions reduction goals set forth in the Paris Agreement,” Steinmann added.
