One out of four Americans of retirement age (65+) say they don’t care about climate change because they do not perceive that it will have any significant effect during their lifetime.
That is one of the findings of a new consumer poll, commissioned by L’Oréal USA.
Despite the abundance of scientific evidence that has been reported by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) among many other experts, 39% of Americans still don’t believe there is concrete proof that climate change is occurring. The percentage of American’s who are skeptical about climate change increases to 45% in the 55+ age demographic.
However, 79% of 18-34-year-olds believe that new technologies and alternative sources of renewable energy are necessary to reduce global warming, and that we have the scientific know-how to solve this problem. Three quarters of this population believe that we can reverse greenhouse gas effects, but in addition to technological solutions, it will require significant behavioral changes among citizens around the world.
According to the survey, Americans believe that the three most important environmental issues, in order of importance, are:
- Access to clean water and sanitation (64%)
- Waste management (52%)
- Ocean polluting and overfishing (49%)
The survey also found that fewer than 25% of survey respondents said they purchase green products validated by third party eco-labels and certifications, and 43% say they would only purchase products that are environmentally friendly or socially responsible if offered at the same price as their usual brands. If given a choice between two equally performing products, 38% of Americans say that they would choose the more eco-friendly option.
The survey also noted regular practices that Americans take to conserve energy at home:
- 96% turn off lights in rooms that are not occupied
- 73% have switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs
- 71% power down computers when they are not in use
- 67% adjust their thermostats in the winter/summer
The most common action that Americans are willing to take to reduce their individual carbon footprint is to recycle and reuse products (93%). However, only 46% of individuals who responded to the survey are avid recyclers and 24% of respondents indicated that they only recycle products in their kitchen.
Earlier this month, the L’Oréal-owned Garnier brand announced a US partnership with TerraCycle to provide consumers with a recycling solution for product packaging that cannot be disposed of in municipal waste streams.
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