The study on environmental awareness in 2024 shows that protecting the environment and climate continues to be a high priority for the majority of people in Germany. However, the importance of this issue has decreased since 2022. Many feel that the situation in the health and education sectors and economic development, for example, are more urgent.

With regard to the consequences of climate change, optimism among the population is increasingly dwindling: only just under a third of respondents are convinced that Germany can cope with the consequences of climate change. The majority of respondents therefore believe it is essential to adapt to climate change – particularly for health reasons: Two thirds feel that periods of heat are detrimental to their health. Over 80 percent see a clear need to improve protection against heat.

The study has been conducted every two years since 1996 to investigate how environmental awareness and environmental behavior are developing in Germany. For the current study, around 2,500 people were interviewed as part of a representative survey in autumn 2024. The study provides a social science-based foundation for environmental policy and environmental communication, and is aimed at the general public with an interest in the subject.

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