Capgemini and Parnters Publish Climate Change Study
Meet the Authors
Key Takeaways
⇨ Consumer skepticism, lack of reliable information, and fear of social impacts are major barriers to climate action
⇨ Businesses play a crucial role in transitioning to a sustainable economy and restoring credibility in the climate action debate
⇨ Brands need to be proactive in combating misinformation and influence to create a more sustainable future
Dassault Systèmes, Capgemini, and Bloom have released the first “Social Intelligence for Climate Action” study, examining the reasons behind the lack of action in addressing climate change despite the growing signs of disruption. The study, conducted between February and October 2022, identifies consumer skepticism caused by greenwashing as the primary barrier. During this period, people also experienced eco-anxiety and frustration due to the absence of trustworthy information to guide climate action.
To understand these obstacles and find ways to limit global warming’s impact, Bloom analyzed the global conversation on climate using an artificial intelligence platform. Over the course of 8 months, more than 330 million people expressed their opinions, highlighting the urgent need for action in the face of worsening climate disruption, such as heatwaves, droughts, fires, floods, and hurricanes.
The study reveals the following barriers to climate action:
- Companies and institutions’ “disconnected optimism” regarding their environmental progress creates mistrust and discourages action.
- Lack of reliable information on solutions leads to confusion, mistrust, and feelings of powerlessness.
- Fear of negative social impacts of climate measures, particularly concerns about social justice and the potential burden on vulnerable populations.
- Delegation of authority to businesses instead of individual and government actions.
- Climate change despair, causing people to feel helpless and discouraged from taking action.
Philippine de T’Serclaes, Chief Sustainability Officer at Dassault Systèmes, emphasizes the importance of scientific measurement and collaboration among stakeholders to tackle climate change effectively. Cyril Garcia, Head of Global Sustainability Services at Capgemini, highlights the role of businesses in adjusting their models and fostering transparency to regain credibility in the climate action debate. Bruno Breton, CEO of Bloom, emphasizes the need for brands to build a more proactive narrative to combat misinformation and influence.
The study’s methodology involved analyzing content posted on social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Between February and October 2022, more than 330 million users, 14 million posts and comments, and 480 million engagements were analyzed.
