Climate remains top concern for Germans despite pandemic – survey

The fight against climate change and environmental degradation continues to be a top concern for Germans even during the pandemic, according to a survey commissioned by the country's Environment Agency (UBA). "65 percent of Germans consider environmental and climate protection a very important issue - despite Corona," UBA said in a press release. Only education, the health system and social justice polled higher (78, 73 and 66 percent, respectively, said these were important). "Climate protection in particular remains just as important for 70 percent during the pandemic, and for 16 percent it has even become more important," UBA said. Respondents in the poll conducted in November and December said they saw the greatest need for action in the energy, agriculture, and transport sector.

Environment minister Svenja Schulze called the poll results "encouraging for the coming years, in which climate protection will become a guiding principle for almost all policy areas with the goal of making Germany climate neutral." She added a majority of the population had understood that the fight against climate change boosted job creation and competitiveness.

More than 80 percent said they wanted Germany to take a pioneering role in international efforts to protect the climate, while almost three quarters said they were "quite" or "very" interested in the topics of climate change and climate protection. Only one percent of respondents said they doubted that climate change existed. Almost two thirds said they were "definitely" or "rather" in favour of a speed limit on the country's autobahns.