Students from across the UK are calling on business and politicians to do more to tackle climate change - after claiming last week's G7 Summit failed to take action.
From not having children to changing their diets, research from a housing body has uncovered the lengths today’s students will go to in order to protect the planet.
The vast majority feel UK government (84%) and businesses (58%) should be doing more to combat the issue while 57% would be willing to pay more for a product if it was better for the environment.
Research of over 1,000 16 to 25-year-olds conducted by The Student Housing Company (TSHC) revealed the lengths today’s students are willing to go to in order to protect the planet. Almost two thirds (63%) said they would consider having fewer children if it made a difference.
In the study, students cited climate change as the biggest issue the world is facing (76%), followed by problems connected to the wealth divide (52%), diversity and inclusion (44%), and Covid-19 (39%).
A company’s position on sustainability would impact whether students would work for them according to half of those questioned, and 59% stated that a political party’s stance on sustainability would impact how they vote.
Richard Brenner, Operations Director for Europe at Global Student Accommodation (GSA), said: “It’s abundantly clear just how much this generation cares.
"We’re committed to using this research as a stepping stone to improve the environmental practices across our business both in how we develop more sustainable living spaces, and in how we encourage students to minimise their own environmental impact. We all have a duty to do more.”
