Today, the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) presented the results of a representative survey on environmental awareness in Germany in 2020. The results show that 65 percent of German consumers consider environmental and climate protection to be particularly important issues even during the Corona pandemic.
For this study, the Institute for Applied Social Science (infas) and the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) were commissioned in November and December 2020 to interview a total of 2,115 German citizens above the age of 14 years regarding their environmental awareness.
These are more details:
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For 65 percent of Germans, environmental and climate protection is a very important topic and for another 16 percent it has become even more important during the Corona pandemic.
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The majority of respondents advocated a rapid while also socially responsible transformation towards a sustainable economy (90 percent), a pioneering role of Germany in international climate protection (80 percent) and a greater role for environmental and climate protection in agricultural and transport policy (60 and 50 percent, respectively).
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Regarding the subject of agriculture and nutrition, 90 percent of respondents saw an urgent need for political action to reduce packaging as well as food waste.
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Almost two thirds of respondents wanted more environmental protection in food supply and production by means of a better range of vegetarian and vegan products and meals in canteens and restaurants.
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Moreover, when it comes to mobility, the majority of consumers would prefer a more cost-effective and expanded range of bus and rail services in public transport (90 percent) and also more bike paths and lanes as well as a speed limit on highways (each 65 percent each).
Svenja Schulze, Federal Environment Minister, said: "Corona has been determining our everyday life for more than a year now. Nevertheless, environmental and climate protection is and will continue to be a top issue for people in Germany. They want changes and specifically demand them. The study's results on concrete measures, such as the speed limits, are particularly interesting. Compared to the last survey there has been a noticeable increase towards a broad and clear majority in favor of a speed limit of 130 km/h on highways."
Dirk Messner, UBA President, commented: "People in Germany are very aware that ambitious environmental and climate protection ultimately preserves their own livelihoods. This decade is decisive for whether we will succeed in setting the right course for a sustainable future. We should not allow this unique opportunity that is now available to pass by – especially since a socio-ecological change not only creates a better quality of life, but also stimulates the economy."
Source: BMU & UBA
More information and UBA press release