Climate Concerns Are Increasingly Affecting Germans

Abstract

Climate change triggers anxiety in many people. Concerns about the consequences of climate change vary significantly not just by age and generation but also over time. Using German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) data, this Weekly Report examines the extent to which these differences stem from age-related effects, generational socialization, or year-specific events. The results show that climate concerns among the German population have been generally increasing since 2013. This points to the influence of external events such as extreme weather and societal mobilization processes. Cohort effects are more pronounced than age effects, with younger generations systematically exhibiting greater climate concerns. Contrary to widespread assumptions, climate concerns also grow within respective generations as people age. Thus, climate policy communication should not focus just on one specific age group but rather should address all generations. Since extreme weather events often lead to increased public and political attention, these windows of opportunity should be seized. They offer the chance to advance both short-term support measures and long-term climate policy strategies.