According to recent findings from Nielsen Online, consumers are not only more aware of sustainability issues, they are increasingly pushing the market towards greener advocacy.

Photo Credit: [Flickr, Richard Masoner]

Bloggers, and others in consumer generated media, are also taking on the mission of fueling awareness and action within the green landscape.

See “The Top 10 Sustainability Topics for 2007” listed below, to gauge where the demand and interest currently lie: (a plus signals increase in demand, minus sign signals decrease in demand/interest)

1. Global Warming/ Climate Change -
2. Renewable Energy/Alternative Fuels +
3. Resource Conservation +
4. Recycle/ Reuse +
5. Carbon Emissions -
6. Pollution +
7. Organics -
8. Toxins +
9. Packaging/ Plastic +
10. Transportation (hybrids/carpooling,etc) +

As you can see by the chart above, action-oriented issues are on the rise. What does this all mean? It signals a change in how we view our place in the overall scheme of solution.

We are moving away from theory, ideas, and info to ACTION. We are requiring more of ourselves and our communities to pitch in and make changes, however small. We are demanding that companies change their socially-unresponsible practices, and adapt to the new market.

The market WE, slowly but surely are creating.

How has your mindset changed within the last year or so, in reference to green issues? Which of the above issues are you mostly following?