27 Sep 2024

New research supported by Investcorp in partnership with Said Business School, University of Oxford and researchers from the University of Hamburg has yielded initial insights into consumer attitudes towards climate change. The study aims to inform businesses, policymakers, academia and investors about the drivers of and barriers to sustainable consumption trends.

The first phase of the Investcorp-Oxford research project highlights how global consumer attitudes influence environmentally sustainable behaviors. The study aims to bridge the disconnect between consumers’ stated sustainable behaviors and their actual actions, known as the “attitude-behavior gap.”

Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman of Investcorp, highlighted the collaborative nature of the research. “Tackling climate challenges requires the combined efforts of leaders in academia, science and business,” he stated. “We are honored to support this crucial research and to collaborate with Oxford to produce actionable insights for the benefit of the global community.”

Amir Amel-Zadeh, Associate Professor of Accounting at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and Director of the Oxford Rethinking Performance Initiative, led the research and will present the findings from the comprehensive consumer survey conducted across over 20 countries at the Oxford Rethinking Performance Initiative (ORP) Conference, being held at Balliol College, Oxford on Friday.

“The survey results offer valuable global insights that can help shape effective policies and guide the private sector in developing products, services and marketing strategies to reduce consumption-related emissions,” said Amir Amel-Zadeh.

Household consumption accounts for approximately 60% of global GDP, with consumers in industrialized countries responsible for 70% of the environmental impacts in the housing, transportation and food sectors.

Habib Abdur-Rahman, Global Head of Sustainability at Investcorp, stressed the relevance of this research project for sustainable investment strategies. “Even minor shifts in consumer choices can significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the ‘say-do’ gap is a crucial part of this puzzle,” he remarked.

The conference will also highlight initial findings from various ORP research projects on corporate purpose, sustainability reporting and sustainable investing.

The Investcorp-Oxford research project was initially outlined in a whitepaper released at COP28 titled “Green Hearts to Green Carts: Bridging the Say-Do Gap for Climate Conscious Consumption”.