1 in 5 Britons consider environmental issues when looking for a job

According to a new study by the global online learning platform FutureLearn.comthere is an increase in conscientious careers, with 78% of Britons indicating that sustainability is personally important to them, with millennials leading the way (82%).

UK citizens are calling on businesses to do more to improve their sustainability efforts, with more than 2 in 10 (21%) admitting they quit their jobs due to a lack of action on development issues sustainable.

Methods of learning about sustainability have evolved, with the following three options now being the most popular:

1. 41% of news
2. 31% on social networks
3. 13% of online courses

“The findings of the Future of Learning report on sustainability shed crucial light on how people are taking the future of our planet into their own hands, in their education and in their careers,” Ian McIlwainvice president of partnerships at FutureLearn, said.

Increased awareness of career choices

The research also reveals that almost a fifth (18%) of Britons have actively sought a profession that prioritizes caring for the environment and boosting their sustainable endeavors as ‘mindful’ careers become more important .

Employers in the UK are now waking up to these changing attitudes. The top three initiatives they are putting in place to make workplaces more sustainable are working from home policy (42%), reducing the company’s carbon footprint (41%) and educating employees about sustainable development (35%).

When discussing how individuals educate themselves about sustainability, the importance of traditional education cannot be overstated. The data revealed that the environment is one of the top five topics that almost a quarter (24%) of UK citizens believe is missing from the national agenda, which is not surprising given that 24% believe that a greater emphasis on the environment in education will have the greatest impact on solving the ecological disaster over the next decade.

“It’s also incredibly encouraging to see that employers are also listening to their employees who want them to take on more responsibility,” McIlwain said.

FutureLearn has partnered with global citizenthe largest global movement to make a difference in the fight against extreme poverty, and the University of Exeter to educate the nation on the climate crisis and sustainability.

“The climate change crisis is high on the public agenda and remains an issue that affects everyone,” said Talia Fried, director of climate and sustainability at Global Citizen.

“If we act through civic engagement calling on leaders to step up their efforts to protect the planet, we can dramatically change the path we are currently on for global warming. At the local and federal levels, we need to push the policymakers and businesses to stop climate change beyond 1.5°C warming, properly allocate climate finance to help developing countries, and save nature so nature can save us.

“Individuals play a critical role in holding our world leaders accountable and controlling priority issues. Global Citizen is thrilled to support FutureLearn in leading the charge to educate and advocate for increased climate action to achieve these goals.”