That’s the key finding from new research by BIO member Genomatica, which found the vast majority of Americans care about sustainability and want the public and private sectors to continue to focus on it, crisis or not.
A majority of Americans (85%) are thinking about sustainability the same amount or more than they did before the crisis—and 86% say sustainability will be equally or more important when the pandemic subsides.
And more than half (56%) want the government and business to prioritize sustainability, even as they continue to battle the health and economic challenges—and this is approximately the same regardless of party affiliation.
It seems like the crisis has driven home the importance of sustainability: “Nearly half (46%) of those who say they live in areas hit hard by COVID-19 claim they’ve been thinking more about sustainability,” and one-third feel guilty about being less sustainable during these times.
A lot of people (42%) say being sustainable is easier than they thought—and more people are realizing we can commute less, fly less, and buy more renewable and sustainable products even after the pandemic.
And for the rest of the time, biotech can provide a lot of solutions—from renewable biofuel, which has a smaller carbon footprint, to bio-based plastics, personal care products, and household cleaners like the ones Genomatica develops using synthetic biology.
What they’re saying: “The collective consciousness on sustainability is rising, and certainly faster than most would have expected during these unprecedented times,” said Christophe Schilling, CEO of Genomatica. “While this shift has been underway for decades, and particularly strong in Europe, many of us in the U.S. have been inspired by the rapid improvement in air quality and traffic that shine a bright light on how our behaviors and decisions impact our environment and quality of life.”
More Agriculture and Environment News:
The New York Times: Can humans give coronavirus to bats, and other wildlife?
“It may seem like the last pandemic worry right now, far down the line after concerns about getting sick and staying employed. But as the spread of the novel coronavirus has made clear, the more careful we are about viruses passing among species, the better off we are.”