Corporate Australia held to account
As an issue that keeps us awake at night, the environment ranks immediately after our finances and our families, and ahead of our own health and fitness. The last twelve months, however, have seen concern for the environment abate significantly. From 2007 to 2008, the number extremely or very concerned declined from 49% to 38%. Australia’s signing of the Kyoto Protocol and the easing of drought conditions may have contributed to this easing of concern. However, 53% of Australians still see the environment as second only to the economy as one of the biggest issues facing our nation in the next five years.
People want to see companies doing the right thing. Eighty seven percent say companies should tell people what they are doing about the environment, 68% are interested to know about a company’s environmental policy and 68% say they are more likely to trust a company that looks after the environment. This compares to just 30% who say they are more likely to trust a company that supports charities.