- 49% of Germans believe climate policies are a source of economic growth
- 66% think climate policies will reduce their purchasing power
- 54% believe policies to tackle climate change will create more jobs than they eliminate
- 52% think climate policies will improve their quality of life
- 23% fear they could lose their job because it will become incompatible with the need to mitigate climate change — this figure increases to 52% among people aged 20-29
- 26% of Germans expect to have to move to another region or country in the future because of climate change — this figure is 50% among 20-29 year-olds
These are some of the results from the latest release of the 2021-2022 Climate Survey conducted in September 2021 and published today by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB is the lending arm of the European Union and the world’s largest multilateral lender for climate action projects.
Better quality of life despite less purchasing power
Are policies to tackle climate change good news for the economy? Germans are sceptical as to whether the green transition will be a source of economic growth. Only 49% believe it will be the case, compared to 56% of EU citizens as a whole.
Meanwhile, a slight majority (52%) believes that their quality of life will improve, with greater convenience in their everyday lives and a positive impact on their food and their health. Policies that address the climate emergency are also seen as good news for the job market: 54% of Germans say these will have a net positive impact on employment levels within the country, creating more jobs than they eliminate.
However, two-thirds (66%) anticipate that their purchasing power will decrease with the green transition.
Migration to other regions and changing jobs
According to Germans, the challenges related to climate change are here to stay. While one-quarter (26%) believe that the climate emergency will be under control by 2050, 70% feel that it will still be a serious issue by mid-century.
German respondents say they see climate change threatening their place of residence. When asked about the longer-term impact of the climate crisis, one-quarter of the German population (26%) expects to have to move to another region or country. This concern is much stronger among people in their twenties, with 50% of them saying they are worried about the possibility of needing to move due to climate issues. Many Germans, especially young people, are also concerned about the sustainability of their jobs: more than half of respondents aged 20-29 (52%) fear they could lose their job because it will become incompatible with the fight against climate change (29 points above the national average of 23%).
Long-term lifestyle changes
Germans are conscious of the behavioural shifts that are needed to tackle climate change. According to them, individual lifestyle changes that reduce carbon emissions will gain significant traction in the next 20 years. One-third of respondents (34%) believe that most people will no longer own a car in 20 years and 53% say they think that most people will be working from home to contribute to the fight against climate change. Lastly, one-third (35%) think most people will have adopted a plant-based diet and 39% predict that an energy quota will be allocated to each individual.
A global comparison: Differences between EU, British, American and Chinese respondents
Overall, Europeans are divided on whether the green transition will be a source of economic growth. More than half of respondents (56%) believe it will be the case, in line with the perception of Americans and British people (57%), while Chinese people are more optimistic (67%). However, the majority of Europeans (61%) are confident that their quality of life will improve, with a positive impact on the quality of their food and their health. Europeans are less pessimistic compared to Chinese people (77%), Americans (65%) and British people (63%).
EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle said: “Germans see clear opportunities in the green transition for their quality of life as well as for the labour market, although many do not expect it to bring more growth to the economy. They are also concerned about the long-term impact of climate change for them individually and for Germany as a whole. As the EU climate bank, it is our responsibility to listen to these concerns and work with policymakers and industry partners to address them. In doing so, we can help power the transition to a greener and prosperous future that leaves no one behind.”
Download the Excel spreadsheet with the raw data for all 30 countries surveyed here. Please click here to access an EIB webpage presenting key findings of the EIB Climate Survey IV.
About the EIB Climate Survey
The European Investment Bank has launched the fourth edition of the EIB Climate Survey, a thorough assessment of how people feel about climate change. Conducted in partnership with market research firm BVA, the fourth edition of the EIB Climate Survey aims to inform the broader debate on attitudes and expectations in terms of climate action. More than 30 000 respondents participated in the survey between 26 August and 22 September 2021, with a representative panel for each of the 30 countries polled.
About the European Investment Bank
The EIB Group has recently adopted its Climate Bank Roadmap to deliver on its ambitious agenda to support €1 trillion of climate action and environmental sustainability investments in the decade to 2030 and to deliver more than 50% of EIB finance for climate action and environmental sustainability by 2025. As part of the roadmap, all new EIB Group operations have been aligned with the goals and principles of the Paris Agreement since the start of 2021.
About BVA
BVA is an opinion research and consulting firm recognised as one of the most innovative market research firms in its sector. Specialised in behavioural marketing, BVA combines data science and social science to make data inspiring and bring it to life. BVA is also a member of the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research (WIN), a global network of some of the world’s leading market research and survey players, with over 40 members.