Health and quality of life are closely tied to the quality of the environment. This article presents findings from the 2024 Environmental Awareness Study, showing how people in Germany perceive environmental burdens and what connections they draw between environmental protection, climate action, and public health.

Heat waves, air pollutants, allergens, and chemical or plastic residues in food and drinking water are most frequently cited as health-related environmental stressors. The authors link these perceptions to current scientific evidence on the health impacts of climate change and pollution. At the same time, it becomes clear that environmental burdens do not affect everyone equally: older adults, people with low incomes or fewer resources, and urban residents are often more heavily impacted.

The article also underscores that environmental justice has both a social and a global dimension. The results indicate that many people view environmental and climate protection measures as contributions to health and quality of life. Based on this, the authors conclude that there is a need to take a more integrated approach to environmental and health policy and to consistently take social justice into account in policy measures.

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