Rebuilding trust in government is essential for achieving climate, sustainability, equity, and clean energy aspirations

Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship, whether it is personal, professional, or political. Without trust, there is no cooperation, no collaboration, no innovation, and no progress. Trust is especially important when it comes to tackling complex and urgent challenges such as climate change, sustainability, equity, and clean energy. These challenges require collective action, long-term vision, and bold leadership from our government and other stakeholders.

However, trust in government is at an all-time low in the United States. According to a new Pew Research Center survey, conducted March 27-April 2, 2023, among 5,079 members of the Center’s nationally representative American Trends Panel, a majority of the public says the country can’t solve many major problems. As recently as about a year ago, a majority (57%) said that “as Americans, we can always find a way to solve our problems”; fewer (41%) said the country could not solve many of its important problems. Today, those views have flipped – more say the country cannot solve problems than say it can. The change has come almost equally among members of both parties; a majority of Democrats (58%) and 52% of Republicans view the country as unable to solve key problems.

This lack of trust in government has serious implications for our collective ability to address the climate crisis and achieve our sustainability, climate, equity, and clean energy goals.?Measuring and improving trust in government is not only a moral duty but an essential task if we wish to improve our future well-being and prosperity.?Without rebuilding trust in government, we cannot:

• Mobilize public support and participation for ambitious and transformative policies and initiatives that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy sources, promote circular economy practices, and enhance social justice and inclusion.
• Foster innovation and collaboration across sectors and stakeholders to develop and implement effective and efficient solutions that leverage technology, data, and human capital to address complex and interrelated challenges.
• Ensure accountability and legitimacy for government actions and decisions that affect the environment, society, and economy, and that balance the needs and interests of current and future generations.

Rebuilding trust in government is not an easy task. It requires time, effort, and commitment from both the government and the public. It also requires a shift in mindset and behavior from both sides. As government leaders, we have a responsibility to measure, earn and maintain the trust of our constituents and the public at large. As citizens, we have a responsibility to give our government leaders a chance to prove themselves and support them when they do well. Only together, can we restore trust in government and create a greener, more sustainable, and more equitable future for ourselves and generations to come.

To help government leaders in this endeavor, Deloitte has developed a comprehensive approach for government agencies to measure and improve the trust their constituents have in their leaders. The approach is based on four key trust signals: humanity, transparency, capability, and reliability. Government leaders can assess and enhance these signals through specific actions and activities that align with the agency’s mission and goals. The approach also provides a framework for understanding how different types of government agencies interact with their customers, from retail to regulator, and how this affects their trust-building strategies. For more information, please visit https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/public-sector/building-trust-in-government.html

What do you think? Do you agree that measuring and improving government trust is essential for achieving key sustainability, climate, equity, and clean energy goals? What steps do you think they should take to measure and rebuild trust? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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