Climate Change: 10 Top Trends For Consumers-AI, Smart Water to Enerconomy

Notably, Climate-impact-driven behavioral changes could see major changes in the way we work and when we work or even eat and drink.  (Ericsson)

Almost 99 percent of more than 15,000 global early technology adopters consulted by Ericsson say that they expect to be proactively using internet and connectivity-based solutions by 2030 to personally address the impact of climate change and global warming. (Ericsson)

The statistic is included in the latest annual 10 Hot Consumer Trends research from Ericsson ConsumerLab, this year called Life in a Climate-Impacted Future. It outlines consumers’ concerns, expectations and personal technology actions related to climate issues in 2030. 

Main 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. 

Some 59 percent of respondents believe that innovation and technology will be crucial to address everyday challenges caused by climate change in the 2030s. 

More than 15,000 early adopters of AR, VR and digital assistants in 30 cities globally were asked to evaluate 120 digital service ideas across 15 areas ranging from climate related adaptation efforts in everyday life to ways to handle dire weather events. From the resulting data, Ericsson created 10 trend areas to group consumers’ answers. (Ericsson)

1. Cost Cutters: Digital services will help consumers control food, energy and travel costs in unstable climate situations. More than 60 percent of urban early adopters are concerned about higher costs of living in the future.

2. Unbroken Connections: Reliable and resilient internet connection will become more important if and as extreme weather events increase. Some 80 percent of urban early adopters believe there will be smart signal locators that show optimal coverage areas during natural disasters in the 2030s. (Ericsson)

3. No-Rush Mobility: Strict time schedules may become a thing of the past as climate regulations and energy efficiency change the meaning of flexibility. About 68 percent of respondents would plan activities using schedulers that optimize based on energy cost, not time efficiency. (Ericsson)

4. S(AI)fekeepers: AI is expected to power services that protect consumers during increasingly unpredictable and unstable weather. Almost half of urban early adopters say they will use personalized weather warning systems for their own safety. (Ericsson)

5. New Working Climate: Corporate carbon footprint constraints, rising costs and accelerated digitalization will shape work routines of the future. Seven in ten foresee company AI assistants planning commutes, tasks and resources to minimize work-related carbon footprints.

6. Smart Water: As freshwater may become scarcer in the 2030s, consumers anticipate smarter water services to conserve and reuse water. Almost half of urban early adopters say their household will use smart water catchers on roofs, balconies and windows that intelligently open when it is raining to catch and clean rainwater.

7. The Enerconomy: Digital energy-sharing services may alleviate the burden of rising energy costs in the 2030s. Energy could become a currency as 65 percent of urban early adopters predict consumers will be able to pay for goods and services in kWh using mobile apps in the 2030s.

8. Less is more digital: Digital product replacements may become status markers as physical overconsumption could get both expensive and socially criticized. Dematerialization of consumption habits could accelerate as one-third of urban early adopters believe they will personally use shopping apps that suggest digital alternatives to physical products.

9. Natureverse: Experiencing nature in urban areas without traveling could be standard in the 2030s, in the face of continued climate change and potential travel limitations. Four-in-ten urban early adopters want to personally use a virtual travel service that lets them experience nature reserves and mountain trails in real time as if they were there.

10. Climate Cheaters: Respondents say consumers will find ways to bypass stricter environmental restrictions due to higher prices and energy and water rationing. Over half of urban early adopters predict online hacking apps will enable people to tap into neighbors’ water or electricity supply illicitly.