Turning Concern into Action - Results from a Nordic-German Survey on Climate Attitudes

While awareness of climate change impacts is growing across Europe and concern is increasing, transforming this concern into tangible support for climate policies remains a significant challenge. This is especially true when such measures are associated with personal financial burdens and behavioral changes. How can climate policy measures be designed so that they are supported by the general public?

Based on an international survey project commissioned by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in 2024 and including 19 European and North American countries the Danish think tank CEVEA (which ceased its activities in 2024) in cooperation with Arena Idé and the FES Nordic office conducted a  Nordic-German research project on climate concern and progressive climate policies.

The project resulted in an empirical study and summary report that explores the nuanced relationships between climate concern, personal responsibility, policy preferences, and social justice perceptions among different demographic groups in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. The findings of the report “Climate Policies: Attitudes and behaviors” illustrate the diverse socio-economic and geographic factors influencing attitudes toward the social-ecological transition, offering insights for policymakers aiming to enhance public support for climate action.

For a shorter overview of the findings please download the summary report of the study.

Download the main publication