The Hope Index 2021
Hope is rising, but so too are climate concerns.
At the beginning of the year we found a surprising level of hope among the public, even as we lived through the toughest lockdown.
Now, as we continue to emerge from the pandemic, it’s no surprise the country is more hopeful again, and that fewer people say they are pessimistic.
This general increase in hopefulness is fuelled by a fall in concern about job security, mental health and ‘the decline of my community’. We also see a significant decline in concern about the possible impacts of Brexit.
Beyond the headlines, it is perhaps the smaller number of areas where concern has increased that are more interesting.
In particular, concern about climate change has increased significantly. And exploring the data we find concern about climate change growing among every socio-economic group. Concern has grown most among older generations, and Conservative voters.
When asked to consider the year ahead, data modelling reveals the beliefs which have the greatest potential to increase hope are those about our mental and physical health, and our economic security.
But specific issues including whether we believe climate change is being addressed, and whether the country is succeeding post Brexit matter too. Both topics where government and business can lead.
As ever, the issues we care about are dictated by the debates around us.
It's no surprise that concern about climate change is surging in the build-up to COP26 and as we continue to experience extreme weather events. What’s notable is apparent faster growth in concern among those people often said to be most sceptical about climate change and least supportive of action to tackle the crisis.
This data reinforces that opinions change and that the task is to understand how best to persuade your audience of the need for change - no debate is intractable.
Hope is up
We’d like you to think about how you feel, as we move towards autumn how hopeful are you about the year ahead?
But there are concerns about climate change, tax increases and crime
How worried are you about the following issues when you think about the coming year?
These higher levels of concern are reinforced by analysis showing crime and climate change are among the few areas where there is greater concern compared to the beginning of the year.
How worried are you about the following issues when you think about the coming year?
Spotlight on climate: concern has grown more among older generations
How worried are you about the following issues when you think about the coming year?
And concern has grown significantly among both Conservative and Labour voters
How worries are you about the following issues when you think about the coming year?
Looking ahead: The most important drivers of trust are linked to whether the public believe their health and economic wellbeing is improving
We’d like you to think about how you feel, as we move towards autumn how hopeful are you about the year ahead?
How worried are you about the following issues when you think about the coming year?
