Boomers not concerned about environmental impact of travel, says new research
Boomers not concerned about environmental impact of travel, says new research
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Younger generations are much more likely to experience ‘eco-anxiety’ when it comes to travel. Less than a third of older Britons are worried about the impact of their travel on the environment and local communities compared with almost half of Gen Zers, a new study from YouGov has revealed. Only 31 per cent of baby boomers – those aged between 60 and 77 – said they were concerned about the adverse effects of their travel, a figure that falls to just 26 per cent among those aged 78 and older.
Younger generations are increasingly likely to experience “eco-anxiety” when it comes to travel, with 47 per cent of adult Gen Zers – those aged 18-27 – and 42 per cent of millennials – those aged 28-41 – admitting the environmental impact of their travel worries them. Read more: Extreme weather is already forcing almost a third of travellers to change holiday plans. Almost half (48 per cent) of Gen Z travellers said such accreditation was important, compared with less than a third (32 per cent) of Gen X and baby boomer travellers.
Connecting with local communities was also a priority for younger travellers, with 58 per cent saying they would opt for a hotel that offered volunteering opportunities or supported local businesses. And fair working practices were also a concern for those polled, with almost half of respondents (47 per cent) stating that they would not book a hotel if they knew it mistreated staff or failed to pay them a fair wage.
The study follows the news that nearly four in five children under 12 are worried about climate change. A YouGov study commissioned by Greenpeace found that 78 per cent of children polled are concerned about the issue. The campaigning group has now released a set of guides written by psychotherapist and leading eco-anxiety research Dr Caroline Hickman to support parents and teachers in their discussions with children about the issue.
