A new survey by market research institute Ipsos reveals that climate change is a major concern for Germans. Despite recent public debates focusing on migration and the economy, 89% of Germans express worry about the state of nature.
Climate change and environmental destruction
The survey shows that two-thirds of Germans believe the Earth is approaching a tipping point due to human activities. This belief is particularly strong among those aged 55 to 65 years (73%). Furthermore, 56% of respondents think that the costs of environmental destruction far outweigh investments in green transformation.
Interestingly, only 54% of Germans believe that climate and environmental protection would bring many benefits to the country. This perception is significantly lower compared to other countries, such as Kenya, where 90% see advantages in environmental protection. The average agreement among G20 countries is 66%, with only Denmark (49%) and Japan (43%) showing lower approval rates than Germany.
Support for punishing ecocide
The survey also explored attitudes towards ecocide, a concept discussed in international, European, and national criminal law as a serious crime involving massive damage or destruction of ecosystems through human actions. Globally, 72% of respondents support punishing high-ranking government officials or business representatives involved in ecocide. In Germany, 68% agree with this stance, with support rising to 78% among older respondents (55 to 65 years).
Owen Gaffney, co-leader of Earth4All, which commissioned the survey, expressed surprise at the high level of awareness among Germans about the Earth approaching dangerous tipping points. He sees the strong support for punishing ecocide as a mandate for political action.
Government action and gender differences
Germans are divided on whether their government is doing enough to protect the climate and environment, with 32% believing it is, while 37% disagree. The survey also reveals a gender gap in attitudes towards climate action: 70% of women, compared to 62% of men, believe that action must be taken within the next decade to reduce CO2 emissions.
Earth4All, the organization behind this survey, is a joint initiative of the Club of Rome, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the Norwegian Business School, and the Stockholm Resilience Center.
The article concludes by inviting readers to share their opinions on the state of nature by emailing Lesermeinung@stroeer.de with the subject line “Nature.”
