A new report by GHD, a global professional services company
operating in the water, transportation, environmental and energy
markets, reveals a marked contrast between younger and older
Canadians in levels of optimism about the future when it comes to
challenges such as climate change, housing affordability, and
transportation. The results show a clear concern that increasing
demand from a declining number of resources will result in the
prospect that future generations will be worse off.
GHD’s CROSSROADS report is based on a survey conducted across 10
countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, the Philippines,
Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and
the United States. A total of 13,000 adults, sampled to be
representative of age, gender and region, participated in the
survey in May 2024. The survey explored views on various aspects of
infrastructure and intergenerational equity, aiming to uncover
shared hopes and potential future solutions.
When asked to look 30 years in the future, Gen X and Baby
Boomers in Canada skew toward a less optimistic view of the future,
particularly Gen X, while Gen Z skews more positive in this
sentiment.
CROSSROADS found that Canadians lead among their global peers in
recycling (80 per cent) and repairing products instead of buying
new (56 per cent) as some of their actions to reduce the impact of
climate change. Canadians also ranked high globally in reducing
their water usage (51 per cent), purchasing second-hand products
instead of buying new (44 per cent) and walking or cycling to
replace driving (38 per cent).
“Achieving intergenerational equity is about partnering,
collaborating, and ensuring diverse voices and social perspectives
form the basis for ideation and decision making,” said Tina Marano,
GHD Future Communities Lead in Canada. “CROSSROADS’ findings
highlight the differing needs and expectations of the various
generations, and generally that citizens want to engage and put in
the work to create positive change for the future.”
Despite ranking high among global respondents, there is a
significant divide among Canadian generations on environmentally
friendly behaviours such as recycling, composting and repairing
products. The study found that younger Canadians are less likely to
recycle, compost, or repair products. In contrast, almost nine out
of ten (87 per cent) of Baby Boomers recycle and compost versus 58
per cent of Gen Z. Also, three out of five (61 per cent) of Baby
Boomers repair products instead of buying new versus 39 per cent of
Gen Z respondents.
GHD’s research also reveals Canadians of all ages perceive
affordable housing as the country’s number one priority (53 per
cent of respondents), followed by building a sustainable economy
(41 per cent) and transforming existing land or buildings into new
community facilities or housing (37 per cent). Conversely, only 42
per cent of Canadians think the country is heading in the right
direction when planning for communities’ future needs, even if it
means spending more money now.
At a global level, the report’s findings highlight the
importance of affordable housing, climate action, and mobility for
all generations. The call for increased access to public transport
and safer, more sustainable mobility options resonates across all
countries surveyed, reflecting a global consensus on the need for
infrastructure supporting both environmental and social
prosperity.
Marano continued, “CROSSROADS compels us to act: to embrace the
challenge to look at infrastructure delivery through a truly
intergenerational lens, confident in the knowledge that, with an
enhanced focus on value in design and the adoption of human-centric
technologies, we can create the positive legacy and lasting benefit
our communities are counting on.”
About GHD’s CROSSROADS research
Sample size: 1,000 respondents per country for
most countries, with a larger sample size of (4,000 respondents) in
the US. The data from the US was weighted to represent one-tenth of
the total survey, ensuring a balanced and proportional reflection
of the overall population.
Demographics: Adults aged 18 and above,
encompassing a wide age range, covering Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X
and Baby Boomers. The sample also included diverse ethnicities and
Indigenous voices to ensure representativeness.
About GHDGHD is a leading professional services
company operating in the global markets of water, energy and
resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation.
Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities
sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory,
digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction
solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928
and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 11,000+
professionals are connected across 160 offices located on five
continents. www.ghd.com.
GHD in the Americas GHD has long-standing
client relationships, a significant project and economic footprint
in the Americas and represents 40 percent of GHD’s global workforce
with nearly 4,000 professionals in over 130 offices in the US,
Canada, and Chile. In 2023, our Canadian business was named one of
Canada’s Top 100 employers. GHD ranks #9 in international design
firms operating in the US and #6 in Canada according to Engineering
News-Record’s 2023 annual survey of key market segments. GHD’s
operations in Canada, the US and the UK were named as a 2024 Best
Places To Work for disability inclusion by Disability:IN. These
rankings reflect the size and significance of our growing Americas
businesses. To find a local office, click here.
Media contacts:
Sarah Howell, GHDsarah.howell@ghd.com+1-224-234-6389
Angela Pinzon, Pilot
PMRangela.pinzon@pilotpmr.com647-295-0517