Sustainability at a Crossroads was jointly developed and fielded by GlobeScan, ERM, and Volans. This survey of 844 sustainability experts across 72 countries reveals a pivotal inflection point in the evolution of the global sustainability agenda. While the field has matured and expanded over decades, a striking consensus has emerged: the current approach is no longer fit for purpose.

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More than nine in ten experts agree that a shift is needed with over half calling for a radical overhaul. But rather than viewing this as a crisis, this moment should be embraced as a glass-half-full opportunity. It marks a necessary course correction - one that opens the door to bold, future-fit strategies capable of meeting the challenges of our time.

Key report insights include:

  • Stalled progress and rising backlash: Experts express frustration with the slow pace of change and note the growth of organized resistance to the sustainability agenda, particularly in North America. However, this backlash is not universal - Asia-Pacific stakeholders report far less resistance.
  • Eroding confidence in global frameworks: Belief in the effectiveness of the SDGs, Paris Agreement, and other multilateral frameworks is low, with many experts questioning the ability of these frameworks to deliver the necessary impact.
  • Underperformance by key actors: National governments and institutional investors receive the lowest performance ratings, with only 5 percent of experts rating government efforts as excellent. The private sector also fares poorly, and its performance scores have declined to the lowest point since tracking began in 2012.
  • Declining faith in civil society: Since 2012, positive ratings have dropped precipitously for social movements (-21%), NGOs (-16%), multi-sector partnerships (-15%), and the UN (-12%). In contrast, research and academic institutions have gained credibility over the past few years.
  • Diverging regional perspectives: Experts in Europe and Africa/Middle East are the most critical of progress, while those in Latin America/Caribbean and Asia-Pacific are more optimistic and more likely to see current political and economic shocks as opportunities rather than threats.