According to an overwhelming majority of respondents in the latest global survey conducted by Expo 2020 Dubai, the world requires greater unity and international collaboration to tackle global challenges and the sharing of technologies and skills, if humanity is to address its most serious concerns.
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director–General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “As we learn to live with a changed world and rebuild from COVID-19, some things remain constant, such as our desire to reach out to one another, between communities and across borders, to enable progress through the exchange of knowledge, ideas and perspectives. We are eager to see a new era of global cooperation, one that equips us to deal with real-world challenges in the pursuit of sustainable prosperity for all.”
The sentiment in a world irreversibly affected by COVID-19 was studied in a 2021 survey of more than 22,000 people from 24 nations. It was conducted in collaboration with YouGov and followed similar research conducted in 2019, prior to the pandemic.
The number of respondents who are optimistic about their future with regards to the Expo subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability increased to 65%, up from 60% in 2019.
Specifically, 86% of respondents said international cooperation was critical to solving challenges like the global health pandemic, and more than half said sharing expertise, innovation, and collaboration between individuals and communities were critical to overcoming humanity’s obstacles and assisting in the construction of a more prosperous future.
Her Excellency added: “We developed this study to better understand humanity can shape a brighter future for all. The results align closely with our own Expo programming, which commits to real-life impact across essential topics such as gender equality and women’s empowerment, inspiring and enabling our youth, and harnessing tech, innovation, and creativity in the pursuit of a cleaner, safer, healthier tomorrow.”
When asked to rank their future goals, respondents ranked enhancing possibilities for youth first, followed by meaningful participation of all people in environmental laws and policies (environmental justice), and finally, international collaboration.
However, responses varied by region: respondents in Africa, South America, and the Middle East selected expanding chances for youth as the most essential priority moving forward, whereas equal opportunity for women and girls is a priority in Australasia and North America. Surprisingly, among European respondents, international collaboration was recognized as the most important future objective.
Despite the fact that only 32% of people are positive about humanity’s ability to address climate change, three out of five people (61%) are optimistic about the world’s long-term sustainability.
When comparing countries, optimism for a worldwide sustainable future was higher in Indonesia (82%), India (72%), the United Arab Emirates (72%), and Nigeria (69%) against Canada (42%), Germany (36%), France (35%), the United Kingdom (30%), and Sweden (30%), according to the findings of the 2019 survey.
Those polled cited taking steps toward a more sustainable future by incorporating more eco-friendly activities and supporting local businesses as crucial factors. People in Poland (54%) China (49%) and France (48%) were the most likely to reduce their use of single-use plastics, ahead of other measures such as using renewable energy to power their houses or adopting more environmentally conscious travel habits.
The poll covers a variety of topics, including health and wellbeing, sustainable transportation, efficient food supply chains, and the development of both urban and rural communities, all of which will be highlighted in Expo 2020’s programming.
Expo 2020’s Programme for People and Planet will bring together participating countries, organisations, partners, and visitors to debate future-proofing solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.
Expo 2020, one of the first global mega-events since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, and will invite visitors from all over the world to participate in the creation of a new world through a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress, and culture.
