Living in a climate-affected future –

Nearly 99 percent of the more than 15,000 global early adopters of technology surveyed by Ericsson say they expect to proactively use internet and connectivity-based solutions by 2030 to personally address the impact of climate change and global warming. The statistic is included in Ericsson ConsumerLab’s latest annual 10 Hot Consumer Trends study, this year called Life in a Climate-Impacted Future.

The January 2023 publication marks the twelfth edition of the report, which this year outlines consumer concerns, expectations and personal technology actions related to climate issues in 2030.

About 83 percent of respondents believe the world will have reached or surpassed 1.5°C of global warming (above pre-industrial levels), which international agreements set as the limit beyond which more extreme weather events and adverse impacts likely for the climate.

About 55 percent of early adopters in metropolitan areas believe that climate change will negatively impact their lives and expect to turn to connectivity solutions as countermeasures.

Key concerns include: the cost of living, access to energy and material resources, and the need for safe and reliable connectivity in turbulent times and chaotic weather. About 59 percent of respondents believe that innovation and technology will be key to tackling the day-to-day challenges posed by climate change in the 2030s.

More than 15,000 early adopters of AR, VR and digital assistants in 30 cities worldwide were asked to evaluate 120 digital service ideas in 15 areas, ranging from climate-related adaptation efforts in everyday life to ways of coping with extreme weather events.

Based on the resulting data, experts from Ericsson ConsumerLab created ten trend areas to group consumer responses.

Magnus Frodigh, Head of Ericsson Research, says: Consumers clearly say that a reliable and resilient internet connection will be of paramount importance to their daily lives and their personal efforts to tackle climate change as they experience extreme weather changes and negative impacts on the environment. expect climate. occur more often. Consumers not only expect the necessary connectivity to be available on a global scale, but also quickly.’

The vast majority of early adopters not only believe that climate change is happening, but that its results will have a greater impact on their lives in the 2030s than they do today. While personal economics and lifestyle interests will be the main drivers of service adoption for the respondents in the 2030s, potentially new large-scale collective behaviors could lead to major changes in everyday life as we know it today – in areas such as how we work, when we work and work-life balance.

For example, the shift away from ‘clock time’, such as the ‘traditional’ nine-to-five workdays and routines, could be a major driver of the No-Rush Mobility trend. A society organized around peaks and troughs in energy consumption rather than clock time could become commonplace.

Respondents also expect the role of AI to expand into consumer behavior – as outlined in the Less Is More Digital trend – for example helping customers reduce their impact on material consumption by using digital alternatives to physical products.

Report co-author Sara Thorson, Head of Concept Development, Ericsson ConsumerLab, elaborates on another of the identified trends, Smart Water: “Water use could also change dramatically if rationing becomes much more widespread than it is today. Sixty-four percent of early adopters will provide digitally regulated monthly water allowances for all citizens by 2030.”

Dr. Michael Björn, Head of Research Agenda, Ericsson Consumer and IndustryLab, and driver of the 10 Hot Consumer Trends report since its inception in 2011, says consumers also foresee the risk of misuse of climate-related solutions.

“The Climate Cheaters trend highlights an unfortunate, but very real consideration for compliance with climate-focused actions. There may be cheats that try to circumvent compliance obligations related to climate impact regulations, for example by paying a bill or recording data. In light of climate change, about 72 percent of respondents foresee using digital technology to circumvent environmental restrictions for short-term personal gain. This is a great reminder of the continued importance of focusing on service reliability.”

THE TRENDS

1 Cost cutters

Digital services will help consumers control food, energy and travel costs in unstable climate situations. More than 60 percent of early adopters in the city are concerned about a higher cost of living in the future.

2 continuous connections

Reliable and resilient internet connection will become more important as extreme weather conditions increase. About 80 percent of urban early adopters believe there will be smart signal seekers that show optimal coverage areas during natural disasters in the 2030s.

3 Mobility without haste

Strict time schedules may become a thing of the past as climate regulation and energy efficiency change the meaning of flexibility. About 68 percent of respondents would plan activities using planners that optimize based on energy costs, not time efficiency.

4 S(AI)fekeepers

AI is expected to power services that protect consumers during increasingly unpredictable and unstable weather. Nearly half of the city’s early adopters say they will use personalized weather warning systems for their own safety.

5 New working climate

Restrictions on corporate carbon footprints, rising costs and accelerated digitization will shape the work routines of the future. Seven in 10 foresee company AI assistants planning commutes, tasks and resources to minimize work-related carbon footprint.

6 Smart water

As fresh water may become scarcer in the 2030s, consumers are anticipating smarter water services to conserve and reuse water. Nearly half of the city’s early adopters say their households will use smart water traps on roofs, balconies and windows that intelligently open when it rains to collect and clear rainwater.

7 The Energy

Digital energy sharing services could alleviate the burden of rising energy costs in the 2030s. Energy could become a currency, as 65 percent of early adopters in the city predict consumers will be able to pay for goods and services in kWh using mobile apps by the 2030s.

8 Less is more digital

Digital product replacements can become status markers as physical overconsumption can become costly as well as socially critiqued. The dematerialization of consumption habits could accelerate as a third of the city’s early adopters believe they will use in-person shopping apps that present digital alternatives to physical products.

9 Natural fresh

Experiencing nature in urban areas without traveling could be the norm in the 2030s given ongoing climate change and potential travel restrictions. Four in 10 urban early adopters want to personally use a virtual travel service that allows them to experience nature reserves and mountain trails in real time as if they were there themselves.

10 climate cheaters

Respondents say consumers will find ways to get around stricter environmental restrictions due to higher prices and energy and water rationing. More than half of early adopters in cities predict that online hacking apps will allow them to illegally use neighbors’ water or electricity supplies.

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