A vast majority in the Nordic EU countries Finland, Sweden, and Denmark believes that that the EU and national governments should prioritize sustainable development. In a recent study on the perception of sustainable development the Nordic countries were close to the EU average of 80%, with 83% of Danes 79% of Swedes and 74% of Finns, in support of prioritizing sustainable development.
Regarding leadership in sustainable development, most European countries emphasize governments, while Finland uniquely prioritizes the European Union, closely followed by the national government. Denmark perceives the EU as a leading actor with the highest percentage of 54% followed by Greece (53%). In comparison France, the number was 27%.
The recent study shows a positive and consistent view of sustainable development and high expectations for the European Union, national governments, and businesses to act toward a more inclusive, fair, and sustainable society.
The study was conducted across 15 EU countries and the United Kingdom, including three Nordic countries: Finland, Denmark, and Sweden.
Key findings
- Across all 15 EU countries and the UK, 70–95% of citizens believe sustainable development should be a priority for governments and the EU.
- 85% of Europeans see corporate sustainability regulations as essential to building a more sustainable world.
- Governments, the EU, and businesses are viewed as key actors. State actors are expected to lead, but trust in businesses is strong and often higher than in NGOs or international organizations.
- Support is consistent across age groups and regions, though younger people and city residents are slightly more engaged.
- 73% of Europeans see sustainability as a driver of business competitiveness, and 69% see potential in artificial intelligence for advancing sustainable development.
- 75% call for governments and businesses to allocate more resources to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yet only 37% are confident that most SDGs will be achieved by 2030.
The United Nations Regional Information Center for Western Europe partnered with the Rock in Rio music festival to promote the SDGs through art.
Five years left
With only five years remaining to achieve the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, this study signals that both policymakers and businesses must reaffirm their efforts to align with citizens expectations. Governments and businesses are encouraged to make sustainable development a priority and allocate more resources for SDG implementation. Furthermore, there is broad support for regulations to ensure that companies operate in a more socially and environmentally sustainable manner.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 interconnected goals that form part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – a global plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. The Agenda seeks to strengthen universal peace in greater freedom by eradicating poverty and hunger, ensuring access to education, clean water and sanitation, and much more. Read more about the SDGs here.
While governments (57%) and the European Union (45%) are predominantly seen as key actors in sustainable development, trust in businesses is also strong (37%). In most European countries, they are even considered as better positioned for playing a major role than international organizations or NGOs, except for a few countries in Eastern and Southern Europe. This sentiment is also shared across all age groups and areas of living.
Europeans also believe that sustainable development is a driver of competitiveness for enterprises (73%) and 69% see AI as an accelerator for this transition.
Views on the role of civil society vary across Europe. In the Nordics, Sweden believes citizens should play a leading role, whereas Denmark and Finland see companies and NGOs as key actors.
High support for corporate sustainability regulations
Regarding corporate sustainability regulations, support is high across Europe (85% average), including Finland (85%), Sweden (86%), and Denmark (83%). The strongest support was seen in Portugal (94%) and Ireland (91%).
When it comes to making sustainability a factor in purchasing decisions, Nordic countries fall slightly below the EU average (26%), with Denmark at 26%, Sweden at 24%, and Finland at 23%. The highest share was observed in Romania (36%).
Finally, regarding allocating more resources for SDGs, there is strong consensus across Europe. Sweden showed 78% support for governments and 68% for companies, Finland 79% and 83%, and Denmark 75% and 74%.
