• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

2

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032

3

Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there

1

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

2

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032

3

Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
EnvironmentGen Z

Gen Z and millennials are trying to save the planet (and ease their climate anxiety) by quitting jobs that aren’t eco-friendly

Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 17, 2024, 6:35 AM ET
Worker quitting her job
Instead of sitting with their climate change anxiety, Gen Z and millennials are trying to save the planet by quitting jobs that aren’t eco-friendly. skynesher—Getty Images

The era of “global boiling” is here, sending shivers down young worker’s spines. But instead of sitting with their anxiety, Gen Z and millennials are trying to save the planet by quitting jobs that aren’t eco-friendly. 

Recommended Video

In fact, new research from Deloitte shows that around 45% of the two youngest generations of workers have already left a job, or plan to, over climate concerns.

The consultancy giant surveyed more than 22,800 Gen Z and millennials in 44 countries across most continents and found that climate change is anxiety-inducing for the majority of respondents: 62% of Gen Zs and 59% of millennials reported feeling anxious about the state of the planet in the past month alone. 

However, instead of waiting for government leaders to step in and act, they are taking matters into their own hands by refusing to work for employers who don’t prioritize the planet’s health.

More than 70% of those surveyed said that they consider prospective employers’ environmental policies when job hunting—and for a quarter of Gen Z and millennials this has impacted whether or not they accept the job. 

Meanwhile, a third of respondents said they’d investigate an organization’s sustainability measures thoroughly before accepting future jobs.

What eco-conscious employees want to see from businesses

Some of the environment initiatives that respondents said they’d like to see more of from employers include offering more sustainable products or services to customers and committing to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Gen Z and millennial workers also said that a subsidy in exchange for making sustainable choices (for example, cycle-to-work schemes) wouldn’t go amiss and that they seek out green office locations. 

Perhaps surprisingly, the most popular thing an employer can do to attract environmentally conscious young employees is teach them how to be even better stewards of the earth: Nearly a third of respondents said they want sustainability training.

“Protecting the environment is the societal challenge where respondents feel businesses have the greatest opportunity and necessary influence to drive change,” the report notes. “Gen Z and millennials are pushing businesses to do so through their career decisions and their consumer behavior.”

Of course, not everyone is willing to quit environmentally unfriendly jobs, but even those who aren’t eyeing up the exit are embracing their inner Greta Thunberg and demanding their current employer changes for the better.

Around half of Gen Zs (54%) and millennials (48%) admitted that, with their colleagues, they are putting pressure on management to jump on the eco-bandwagon—a steady increase from 2022 when 48% of Gen Zs and 43% of millennials said the same. 

Other youngsters have given up on work because of the climate

While climate change fears have clearly inspired many young people to make the future of work more environmentally friendly, it’s also having the complete opposite effect on others: Some Gen Zers simply don’t see the point in working when they think the future of the planet is in tatters anyway. 

“It’s hard to stress too much over work as we can see the world crumbling in front of us,” Ayem Kpenkaan a Gen Z software engineer-turned-content creator previously told Fortune.

“Emails or even TikTok numbers seem pretty small compared to all the climate news we receive on a daily basis.”

Being old enough to understand what’s happening to the world, but too young to take up senior positions in the workplace and make a difference is adding to the youth of today’s apathy for work.

“It feels weird to be going into my job every day knowing that the looming future—or lack of a future—is just completely out of my control,” another Gen Zer concluded.

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter delivers clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
Orianna Rosa Royle
By Orianna Rosa RoyleAssociate Editor, Success
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Orianna Rosa Royle is the Success associate editor at Fortune, overseeing careers, leadership, and company culture coverage. She was previously the senior reporter at Management Today, Britain's longest-running publication for CEOs. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Environment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Environment

A ‘MAGA Warrior’ Texas ag chief is publicly blasting the USDA over a flesh-eating pest threatening America’s beef supply
North AmericaUSDA
A ‘MAGA Warrior’ Texas ag chief is publicly blasting the USDA over a flesh-eating pest threatening America’s beef supply
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 10, 2026
10 hours ago
Tesla cofounder: ‘We should be really worried’ about the U.S. grid as China speeds ahead in the power race
EnergyBrainstorm Tech
Tesla cofounder: ‘We should be really worried’ about the U.S. grid as China speeds ahead in the power race
By Jordan BlumJune 9, 2026
23 hours ago
Matt Damon and Gary White.
EnvironmentWaters
Corporate America has been draining the world’s water. Matt Damon’s new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
By Catherina GioinoJune 9, 2026
1 day ago
Donald Trump shakes the hand of a farmer wearing a red shirt
EnvironmentTariffs
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
By Sasha RogelbergJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
Illinois joins Ohio in ordering pause on data center tax credits
PoliticsData centers
Illinois joins Ohio in ordering pause on data center tax credits
By Yash Roy and BloombergJune 6, 2026
4 days ago
denton
CommentaryIran
ICC Secretary General: The Hormuz clock that matters isn’t diplomatic — it’s agricultural
By John W.H. Denton AOJune 6, 2026
5 days ago

Most Popular

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
Economy
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
By Nick LichtenbergJune 9, 2026
1 day ago
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
Success
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
By Preston ForeJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 9, 2026
1 day ago
Wall Street dumped nearly $1 trillion in tech stocks by midday—then clawed it back and bought peanut butter and paint
Investing
Wall Street dumped nearly $1 trillion in tech stocks by midday—then clawed it back and bought peanut butter and paint
By Eva RoytburgJune 9, 2026
22 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, June 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 9, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.