Experts are losing confidence in key sustainability players
But there's a shift toward valuing evidence-based leadership. Read More
- Experts are increasingly critical of how key actors are contributing to sustainable development, with sharp drops in ratings for social movements and NGOs.
- National governments receive the lowest score, with only 5 percent of experts rating their contributions as excellent. The private sector also saw its lowest rating since 2012.
- In contrast, academic and research organizations are viewed more favorably, highlighting a shift toward evidence-based leadership.
It’s a tough time to be a sustainability expert in government or part of a social movement.
A survey by Trellis data partner GlobeScan, together with the ERM Institute and Volans, shows experts are increasingly critical of how key actors are performing in advancing sustainable development. Ratings have dropped most sharply for:
- Social movements (down 21 percentage points)
- NGOs (down 16 points)
- Multi-sector partnerships (down 15 points)
National governments receive the lowest score overall, with only 5 percent of experts rating their contributions as excellent. The private sector also saw its lowest performance rating since tracking began in 2012, with just 14 percent of experts viewing its efforts positively. In contrast, academic and research institutions are gaining recognition, with half of experts rating their contributions positively.
What this means
These findings reflect a broader crisis of confidence in the institutions traditionally seen as drivers of sustainable development. As experts grow more critical of governments, NGOs, social movements and corporate actors, a clear message emerges: current approaches aren’t delivering the scale or speed of change needed to meet today’s environmental and social challenges.
The rise in credibility for academic and research institutions suggests a shift in expectations toward actors that are seen as less politicized, more evidence-driven and better equipped to develop innovative, systems-level solutions.
Based on a survey of 844 sustainability practitioners across 72 countries globally conducted April-May 2025.
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