Is Gen Z a pro-SDG generation? A critical review and reflection
(2024) p.246-258- Abstract
Generation Z (Gen Z) will soon become the biggest living generation and the most dominant in terms of population and economic power, making them one of the tourism industry’s fastest-growing segments and a crucial market to target. There is growing evidence that Gen Z is concerned about the environmental and social effects of their consumption and is guided by strong ethical and environmental ideals in their consumption practices. Against this backdrop, this chapter sought to respond to a key question: Is Gen Z, a driving force toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?. By critically reviewing the extant literature, this chapter identified the distinctive attributes and the generational influences of this cohort which... (More)
Generation Z (Gen Z) will soon become the biggest living generation and the most dominant in terms of population and economic power, making them one of the tourism industry’s fastest-growing segments and a crucial market to target. There is growing evidence that Gen Z is concerned about the environmental and social effects of their consumption and is guided by strong ethical and environmental ideals in their consumption practices. Against this backdrop, this chapter sought to respond to a key question: Is Gen Z, a driving force toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?. By critically reviewing the extant literature, this chapter identified the distinctive attributes and the generational influences of this cohort which potentially assist SDG adopters in successfully engaging this cohort as key actors to promote the 2030 agenda. However, while Gen Z values and attitudes are undoubtedly significant for consumption behaviour it does not automatically translate that such behaviours are empirically sustainable. Furthermore, while research on Gen Z and sustainability is often portrayed in a good perspective with regard to the SDGs, there is a dearth of empirical research on Gen Z’s particular support for the different SDGs. Thus, a closer investigation is needed of what constitutes pro-sustainability behaviour in a generational context and to what extent Gen Z actively promotes the SDGs.
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- author
- Seyfi, Siamak and Michael Hall, C. LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Generation Z, Pro-SDGs, Responsible tourism, SDGs, Sustainability, Tourism consumption
- host publication
- The Elgar Companion to Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals
- pages
- 13 pages
- publisher
- Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85204698963
- ISBN
- 9781802203202
- 9781802203219
- DOI
- 10.4337/9781802203219.00025
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 9e627e65-2e9f-4138-83be-24869844a819
- date added to LUP
- 2025-01-16 11:48:23
- date last changed
- 2025-07-18 02:59:41
@inbook{9e627e65-2e9f-4138-83be-24869844a819,
abstract = {{<p>Generation Z (Gen Z) will soon become the biggest living generation and the most dominant in terms of population and economic power, making them one of the tourism industry’s fastest-growing segments and a crucial market to target. There is growing evidence that Gen Z is concerned about the environmental and social effects of their consumption and is guided by strong ethical and environmental ideals in their consumption practices. Against this backdrop, this chapter sought to respond to a key question: Is Gen Z, a driving force toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?. By critically reviewing the extant literature, this chapter identified the distinctive attributes and the generational influences of this cohort which potentially assist SDG adopters in successfully engaging this cohort as key actors to promote the 2030 agenda. However, while Gen Z values and attitudes are undoubtedly significant for consumption behaviour it does not automatically translate that such behaviours are empirically sustainable. Furthermore, while research on Gen Z and sustainability is often portrayed in a good perspective with regard to the SDGs, there is a dearth of empirical research on Gen Z’s particular support for the different SDGs. Thus, a closer investigation is needed of what constitutes pro-sustainability behaviour in a generational context and to what extent Gen Z actively promotes the SDGs.</p>}},
author = {{Seyfi, Siamak and Michael Hall, C.}},
booktitle = {{The Elgar Companion to Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals}},
isbn = {{9781802203202}},
keywords = {{Generation Z; Pro-SDGs; Responsible tourism; SDGs; Sustainability; Tourism consumption}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{246--258}},
publisher = {{Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.}},
title = {{Is Gen Z a pro-SDG generation? A critical review and reflection}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781802203219.00025}},
doi = {{10.4337/9781802203219.00025}},
year = {{2024}},
}