Conversations about sustainability are no longer enough. As it becomes all but certain that global heating will increase beyond the 1.5°C of the Paris Agreement, the effects of climate change are already a reality for many communities worldwide. People are not only sensing the urgency of the matter but are realising that existing strategies – on a personal and collective level – are not sufficient.

While companies and businesses were quick to make environmental pledges and commitments, demonstrated by the rising ESG movement in recent years, the momentum has slowed or reversed in the face of economic downturn and potential culture war boycotts. Both people and companies are increasingly confused about the language of sustainability, and vague and misleading vocabulary has led to cases of greenwashing. While climate change is acknowledged as a pressing matter, people no longer understand how they can make a difference – feeling mistrust, scepticism, and fatigue from the oversaturation of messaging from big companies. At the same time, others are angry at the lack of progress, taking more drastic measures to spur governments, businesses, and billionaires into taking action and accountability for their disproportionate environmental impact.

Facing polycrisis in a world that's more interconnected and globalised than ever, people recognise the need for new leaders and ways to mobilise. They're calling for more intersectional approaches to sustainability, looking at long-term social, environmental, economic, and ethical impacts across the supply chain.

At the same time, the cost of living crisis is having a significant impact on people's sustainable behaviours. People often prioritise price over ethics (even if the growth of the eco-luxury sector shows no signs of stopping) but are also increasingly adopting circularity to save on costs – buying more secondhand, seeking out durability, repairing more, and sharing more.

Sustainable Solutions

Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience. 

Personal Worlds

Michael Kodranksy is a global and national leader in transport, assuring that global best practices inform a sustainable, climate-resilient future and a higher quality of life everywhere. Over the course of his tenure at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, he has worked with multiple levels of government in dozens of cities and countries, partnering with local and international NGOs, research centers, foundations, and development banks to accelerate the implementation of sustainable transport. He also holds a Master’s degree in urban planning from New York University and a Bachelor’s in English and social inequality from Cornell University.

United States

China

Getting Around

YouGov

Reuters

Cox Automotive

Interview with Michael Kodransky conducted by Canvas8

The Verge

Forbes

Automotive News

Bloomberg

S&P Global Mobility's survey

Kelley Blue Book

AP-NORC poll

The Atlantic

Financial Times

TechCrunch

CNBC

Forbes Adviser OnePoll Survey

Business Insider

Gallup

AutoPacific

2024 Cars.com American-Made Index

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