Climate change in a cost of living crisis: Can consumers afford sustainability?
New Zealanders are concerned about climate change, but with the cost of living looming so large in consumers' minds its a struggle to do anything about it.
We live in a context of climate crisis.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in April said it’s ‘now or never’ if global warming is to be held within 1.5°C in order to avoid environmental disaster.
But it’s not the only major issue facing New Zealand consumers, with the cost-of-living and housing crises firmly front of mind. Earlier this year the price of food had its biggest annual increase in more than 10 years. Inflation is at a 30-year high, with mortgage rates and rental costs rising. Petrol has hit more than $3 a litre in recent months.
With such immediate concerns, seemingly far-off issues such as climate change tend to go on the backburner.
Most people are aware of the scale of climate change and are concerned about its impacts, but our research shows it is hard for consumers to think about the future when they’re struggling to cope in the present.
NZ consumers are climate conscious
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