How sustainable consumption is guiding the energy transition – Enel Group

Consumer Behavior as a Driver for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Increased Consumer Focus on Sustainability

A significant trend has been observed in consumer behavior, indicating a heightened awareness and prioritization of sustainability issues. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger demographics. Consumer concerns are increasingly aligned with the core principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on environmental protection, climate action, and responsible production and consumption patterns. This evolving consumer landscape is creating a direct impact on corporate strategies and investment paradigms.

2.0 Alignment with Key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Consumer demand is directly influencing progress on several specific Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Consumers are actively seeking products and services from companies that demonstrate sustainable sourcing, minimal waste, and ethical production methods.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by a company’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and contributing to the fight against climate change.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land): There is growing public pressure on businesses to address issues such as plastic pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, directly impacting these environmental goals.

3.0 Implications for Business and Investment Sectors

The alignment of consumer priorities with the SDGs has resulted in tangible consequences for the corporate and financial sectors.

1. Corporate Strategy Integration: Businesses are compelled to integrate SDG targets into their operational models and long-term strategies to maintain market relevance and meet consumer expectations.
2. Investor Scrutiny: The investment community is increasingly utilizing frameworks that align with the SDGs, such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, to assess risk and identify sustainable growth opportunities. Companies that fail to address SDG-related issues face potential divestment and reputational damage.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article’s central theme revolves around how consumer awareness of sustainability is influencing their behavior. The phrase “consumers… are paying increasing attention to issues that concern the future of the planet” directly points to the consumption side of this goal. The subsequent mention of this trend having an “impact on businesses and investors” relates to the production side, as companies adapt to these new consumer demands.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly mentions “the fight against climate change” as one of the key issues that consumers are increasingly attentive to. This directly aligns with the core objective of SDG 13, which is to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 12.8: “By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.” The article’s statement that “consumers, and especially members of the younger generation, are paying increasing attention to issues that concern the future of the planet” is a direct reflection of progress towards this target. It indicates a growing awareness that is necessary to foster sustainable lifestyles.
2. Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” The article’s focus on increasing consumer attention towards “the fight against climate change” directly relates to this target. This growing awareness is a key component of building human capacity to address the climate crisis.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention any explicit quantitative indicators. However, it implies qualitative measures of progress related to public awareness, which are central to the official indicators for the identified targets:

• Implied Indicator for Target 12.8 and 13.3: The article’s core message about “increasing attention” from consumers acts as an informal observation related to official indicators like 12.8.1 and 13.3.1. These indicators measure the “Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed” in national policies, curricula, and teacher education. The rising consumer awareness described in the article is the intended outcome of the actions measured by these indicators. Therefore, the article implies that progress, which could be formally measured by these indicators, is being made.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: enel.com