77% of Germans See Climate Change as Very Serious Problem

Germany, the largest economy in Europe and the third-largest globally, has a population of around 83 million. Despite its economic prowess, there’s a notable divide between the wealthier west and the less affluent east, which also influences attitudes towards climate issues. A 2023 Eurobarometer poll revealed that 77% of Germans consider climate change a very serious problem. The country’s political landscape is diverse, with a multi-party system and a history of coalition governments. The CDU and SPD, the two dominant parties, have both supported renewable energy and climate action. However, the rise of the far-right AfD, which won a state election in 2024, has introduced climate skepticism into the political discourse. This has led to an anti-environmental backlash, with policies like replacing gas boilers with heat pumps becoming contentious. Germany’s influence extends to the EU, where it has traditionally supported ambitious climate policies, though there’s growing pressure from the political right to roll back some key measures.

Source: www.carbonbrief.org