'What will bring us through are policies that not only encourage but enforce an inter-reliability between business and the environment, thereby ensuring that the environment will be protected as it will be in-line with companies’ goals.'Charissa Ng, 21, University of Westminster

Choice editing

With time very tight to make the necessary changes to create a sustainable world, our respondents seem ready for more ‘choice editing’, even where the personal benefits are not so compelling. Though they’re not keen on laws to limit the number of children they can have or raise the legal age for drinking alcohol to 21, 66% think it would be good for all of us if 4x4s were banned from city centres.

Carbon rations

Future leaders are reasonably keen on imposed limits on carbon use. A surprising 41% think personal carbon quotas would be good for them personally, and nearly half (49%) think these would benefit society as a whole. These views seem to fit reasonably well with the emphasis respondents place on government action to deliver change.

The UK versus the rest of the world

African, European and Far Eastern students form significant sub-groups in the survey. Overall, these groups are more positive about the world in 2032. They claim to be more ethically minded in their choice of places to study and work, keener to find a job that contributes to society, and more likely to give to charity. UK students are less likely to factor in the environment when considering how many children to have, less likely to see themselves
as environmentalists, and more sceptical that others will respect them for this.

41% of African and 37% of Far Eastern respondents see themselves fulfilling their ambitions not in their home country, but in the UK.