More climate protection yes, but he is not allowed to cost money. Are the Germans hypocritical? No, you are human, our columnist thinks.
A majority of Germans want more climate protection, but he is not allowed to cost them. The result is a survey by the German Economy Institute (IW). In view of this result, I already hear allegations of hypocrisy. I admit: If people complain that no wind turbines should be set up for them, I sometimes catch myself with an eye roll. But the reflex falls short: the question of personal costs cannot be simply dismissed.
The interest in climate protection was actually higher. The topic hardly played a role in the past election campaigns. Other concerns have pushed the climate crisis into the background. Inflation, economy, migration, internal and external security. The climate crisis has not become irrelevant – only less tangible.
It is not surprising that people in a world of multiple crises have to watch where they stay – financially and existential. It is human.
According to the IW, only 29.9 percent of those surveyed are in favor of transferring ecological costs to the price of products and services. Even 68.9 percent even among followers of the Greens agreed.
At the same time, many see responsibility for others. According to the IW survey, the majority of the Germans see mainly companies (65 percent), the government (57 percent) and other citizens (56 percent) of the responsibility to do more for climate protection. However, only 37 percent of those surveyed believe that they themselves do not do enough to cope with the climate crisis. The IW therefore overwrites a press release entitled “Climate Protection: between index finger mentality and unreasonable aversion”.
The pace study under the direction of the University of Erfurt regularly examines how the readiness for climate protection and the attitude towards political measures can be formed and changed. The willingness to act to do something about the climate crisis therefore depends on many different factors. People are more willing to take and support measures against the climate crisis if they fear health risks for themselves and their relatives through climate change. However, it is even more important whether you have the feeling that you can do something yourself – and whether your environment is along.
The location is extremely serious, but not hopeless. According to this motto, the freelance journalist explains Sara Schurmann The big connections and small details of the climate crisis so that everyone can understand them.
For example in your book “Plain text climate!” -and now in her column at T-Online. For her work she became the “Medium Magazin” in 2022 Science journalist of the year chosen.
Successful experiences motivate to act
In view of the abundance of crises, it is a rational need to want to assess the effect of one’s own actions. We can still be so concerned about the climate crisis – if climate -protecting action seems too heavy and expensive, we will not start with it. However, if you find it feasible and have success, you will also get more involved in the future. Even if he actually starts racing more bike for a completely different reason, for example to save the money for the tickets.
If you want to increase people’s willingness to act, others do not necessarily have to convince others of the urgency of the climate crisis – an approach that many activists and climate communicators have long pursued. It is more important to create and show options for action.
In recent years, however, it has become increasingly the realization that the climate crisis is a structural problem. The fact that it cannot be broken by the individual behavior of consumers, but that it requires great political and economic changes. And that rich people contribute more to the crisis than poorer. In my view, too, you can interpret the results.
According to the pace study, it is also important for your own willingness to act, but the trust in institutions and the knowledge of the effectiveness of climate protection measures are also important. Both are badly ordered. In October 2024, less than a third of the respondents stated that the government, the EU or public service media “rather” or “a lot”. Less than half of the respondents consider a ban on oil and gas heaters to be effective.
Instead of regulating climate protection primarily at costs, a variety of measures are required. Instead of promising, climate protection work without impositions, the future government has to communicate clearly, to what extent measures help – and how they can be implemented for citizens. Instead of loading responsibility for the heat transition, for example, municipal offers such as heating networks are needed. And if the costs rise – and you will – it – then it takes an effective social balance.
