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North Germans in climate change: Alarming survey results revealed!
In an NDR survey, northern Germans show concerned attitudes towards climate adaptation and its impact on life.
North Germans in climate change: Alarming survey results revealed!
Climate change is no longer an abstract topic, but is perceived by people in northern Germany as a direct threat. Like a recent survey by NDR shows, 86% of the 21,713 respondents perceive climate change as very serious or somewhat serious. It is primarily worry (68%) and helplessness (42%) that concern citizens. Only 13% attach little importance to the effects of climate change. When you look at the direct consequences, the urgency becomes even clearer: 83% of those surveyed are already feeling changes in their environment, particularly due to more frequent heat waves (57%) and heavy rain (50%).
A look beyond borders shows that the global temperature increase exceeded 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in 2024 and this trend is alarming not only for countries like the Philippines and Turkey, but also for us in Europe, where temperatures are rising twice as fast. According to an analysis by Ipsos 74% of the population is concerned about the effects of climate change. Nevertheless, the decline in individual action is accompanied by a certain resignation: 64% recognize it as problematic, but often do not act because they believe that their personal contribution cannot make a decisive difference.
The call for concrete measures
The survey also showed that 71% of citizens believe that policies pay too little attention to climate adaptation. A clear system change would be necessary here in order to get the situation under control. The respondents and experts suggest, among other things, a taxation of climate-damaging online deliveries and the expansion of wind energy. Tax relief for regional organic food is also at the top of the wish list.
According to official records, the year 2024 was the warmest in Germany since measurements began, with damage from heat waves, droughts and floods in Europe last summer alone amounting to 43 billion euros. This number could rise to around 125 billion euros by 2029, warns Deutschlandfunk.
Adaptations to the new realities
Climate adaptation is being actively implemented not only in Germany, but also in international cities such as Copenhagen and Paris. The federal Climate Adaptation Act, which has been in force since July 2024, calls on individual federal states to develop their own strategies for dealing with the effects of climate change. Only the municipalities are confronted with a record deficit of almost 25 billion euros and urgently need to invest in measures.
Many cities are already planning measures such as drinking fountains, heat protection plans and innovative water management approaches to combat increasing heat. Projects like the sponge city principle aim to better store and use rainwater. At the same time, the focus in agriculture is on heat protection for animals and the search for heat- and drought-resistant plant varieties.
The concrete implementation of these measures could have numerous positive effects, but finances must also be secured. A total of around 55 billion euros will be needed by 2030, and at least 820 million euros are planned for 2026 in the Natural Climate Protection Action Plan. The initiatives are promising, but the path to effective climate adaptation remains rocky.