GNV News, 17 September 2026

Today, dissatisfaction with the way governments and economies are organized is spreading around the world. This is expressed in a sense that economic inequality is severe, that society is divided in many ways, and that trust in government is being shaken. These sentiments were also made clear in a recent survey of G20 countries, where, regardless of income or social status, there was a consistent and overwhelming view across all surveyed countries that inequality has gone too far and that change is needed. Nevertheless, the report emphasized that states are failing to provide visible change and the benefits that should be returned to their citizens, while government corruption and lack of trust stand out conspicuously. As a result, even though there is public willingness for transformation, the collapse of trust in government is further undermining the possibility of systemic change at the national level.

The authors of this survey report argue that the public discontent revealed in the findings should not be regarded as something temporary, but recognized as a deep structural problem of governance. They contend that political leaders should view this as an opportunity to forge a new social contract. They also warn that governments’ failure to address public concerns about fairness and economic opportunity leads to declining trust in social institutions themselves and could fuel anti-democratic movements.

These trends are reflected in a report released on 14 September 2026 by Earth4All (Earth4All). Earth4All is an initiative that tackles global challenges in pursuit of a sustainable and just future, with a focus on the economy, climate, ecosystems, and more. The report is based on an online survey (※3) conducted between 20 February and 6 March 2026, targeting 13,516 adults (※2) in 17 countries (※1), mainly G20 nations. Together, these countries account for 58% of the world’s GDP, 38% of the global population, and 37% of CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and industry.

Below we look at the specific findings and their proportions. First, in economic terms overall, 70% responded that economic inequality in their country is far too great, 65% said that the economic system is rigged to benefit the wealthy and the powerful, and 69% called for reform of that system. Four in ten people overall expressed concern that over the next 12 months they might not have enough money to cover basic living needs. Concern was highest in Argentina and lowest in Italy.

The report also offers insights regarding social cohesion and division, noting that societies with strong social cohesion are more likely to achieve changes that benefit everyone in the long term and are more resilient to shocks. However, only 41% overall agreed with the statement that people like themselves are treated with respect and dignity. Agreement was highest in India and lowest in Japan. The report also shows that people with lower social status tend to feel more overlooked, which in turn tends to reinforce distrust in society and the perception of economic inequality.

Overall, 67% answered that their country is experiencing division. The report classifies these divisions into four types. Party-political polarization was the highest at 71%, with France registering the highest level of such division and Japan conspicuously low. Division between immigrants and native-born citizens was reported by 62%, highest in South Africa and lowest in Brazil. Division between high-income and low-income groups stood at 63%, and division between those concerned about climate change and those who are skeptical of it was 53%.

From a political perspective, only 31% agreed that their government is capable of making decisions that will benefit the majority of people 20 or 30 years from now. Trust in government was highest in India and lowest in France. Overall, rapidly growing middle-income countries showed relatively high levels of trust, accompanied by improvements in living standards, while trust tended to be lower in countries where democratic institutions are more developed. One reason is that in liberal democracies the media often openly criticize the government, so compared with more authoritarian states, citizens are more exposed to critical views of their governments.

As for the question of whether democracy is the best form of governance, 68% overall still agreed. Yet trust in democracy is clearly declining: 40% overall, especially in middle-income countries, said they support having a strong leader who is not constrained by parliaments and elections. Support for such a leader was highest in Indonesia at 77%, and lowest in Sweden.

On climate change, 54% overall responded that governments should immediately take strong measures to reduce emissions, even if this leads to higher prices. Support was higher in many climate‑vulnerable middle-income countries, with India showing the highest level of support and Japan the lowest.

※1 High-income countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, the United States. Upper-middle-income countries: Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey. Lower-middle-income countries: India. China and Saudi Arabia were excluded from the survey due to the sensitive nature of political questions, and Russia was excluded because of the war in Ukraine.

※2 Approximately 500 people were surveyed in each of Argentina, India, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, and Turkey, and around 1,000 people in each of the other countries.

※3 In Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey, where internet penetration is low, the survey sample disproportionately represents urban residents, people with higher levels of education, and those with access to digital environments.

Learn more about global inequality → “Reporting on Billionaires”

Learn more about climate change measures and media coverage → “The Reality of Exceeding 1.5°C: Global Climate Issues, Responses, and Coverage in Japan”

A low-income area in Cape Town, South Africa (Photo: Isabel Sommerfeld / Flickr [CC BY-ND 2.0])