Waning Attitudes Towards Climate Protection in Germany
Climate protection thrust into secondary focus due to escalating crises.
Climate protection's importance among the German populace is on the decline, according to a study conducted by the German Environment Agency (UBA). The survey indicates that optimism about the fight against climate change is also on the wane.
In a recent survey, 54% of respondents stated that they consider environmental and climate protection to be "very important." Although this proportion still holds, it has been continuously decreasing over the past few years. In 2022, it was 57%, and in 2020, it reached 65%.
Various crises have compromised the public's perception of environmental and climate challenges, as the UBA explains, citing data from a representative survey conducted every two years. People tend to prioritize issues in the health, education, economic, and security sectors over environmental concerns [1][2]. Some respondents also expressed skepticism about the ability to mitigate climate change's impacts [2].
The survey reveals that only a small third are convinced that Germany can deal effectively with the consequences of climate change, marking the lowest value in this time series since 2002 [2]. Moreover, there is a decreasing support for the goal of limiting global warming to well below two degrees Celsius. Now, only 57% consider this goal "very important," which is five percentage points lower than in 2022 [2]. In contrast, specific environmental challenges like plastic waste reduction, species preservation, safe nuclear waste disposal, and urban forest and moor protection are gaining traction [2].
Struggling Under the Heat
UBA President, Dirk Messner, warns that ongoing climate change, with implications for human health, the environment, and the economy, can only be prevented if quick and consistent climate protection measures are implemented. Failure to do so would saddle future generations with "enormous costs and risks" [4].
The survey shows that many people are already feeling the consequences of climate change. Two-thirds of respondents reported being affected by heatwaves, while 25% said there was insufficient heat protection in their immediate surroundings [4]. A clear need for better protection against extreme heat is apparent among 85% of respondents [4].
Data on environmental attitudes and behaviors in Germany have been systematically collected every two years since 1996, with the most recent survey conducted in autumn 2024, involving 2,552 citizens aged 18 and over. The study design and analysis were provided by the Institute for Ecological Economy Research, and the fieldwork was entrusted to the Verian Institute [5].
Sources:[1] ntv.de[2] lar/AFP[3] Enrichment data (cited as [1], [2])[4] Enrichment data (cited as [4])[5] Enrichment data (cited as [5])
- Surveys
- Climate Protection
- Environmental Protection
- Climate Change
- Despite the decreasing support for global warming limitation goals, there is an increasing interest in specific environmental challenges such as plastic waste reduction, species preservation, and urban forest and moor protection, as indicated in the community policy survey conducted by the Institute for Ecological Economy Research.
- In light of the ongoing climate change threats to human health, the environment, and the economy, the employment policy should prioritize the implementation of quick and consistent climate protection measures, as suggested by Dirk Messner, UBA President, to prevent saddling future generations with "enormous costs and risks."
