Project

The main objective of the project is to assess the attitudes, needs, and expectations of the population of Hessen regarding socially just climate policy (with a focus on housing, energy use, and mobility) on behalf of the Hessian Climate Advisory Board. To this end, a representative public survey and several qualitative focus groups will be conducted in Hesse.

Climate and environmental protection continue to be a top priority in Germany and are widely viewed as an important political task by the public.

However, when it comes to specific policy measures designed to reduce emissions and encourage behavioral changes, there is often disagreement among the public. Pricing or regulatory measures—which are often more effective than incentive measures in terms of emission reductions -  often receive less public support. This is primarily because they interfere more significantly with existing habits and can place a greater burden on lower-income households, which may lead to social tensions.

In this project, therefore, a representative public survey will be conducted to assess the attitudes, needs, and expectations of the population of Hessen regarding a socially just climate policy, with a focus on the areas of housing, energy use, and mobility. In addition, focus groups will be conducted with households particularly affected by these measures, as well as with middle-class groups that are skeptical of climate protection and climate policy measures, to gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives.

Based on the results of both data collection approaches, concrete recommendations for action will be derived to shape a socially balanced and effective climate policy in Hessen.

1 March 2026 – 30 September 2026

Scientific Climate Advisory Board of the Hessian State Government, represented by the Hessian Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment, Viticulture, Forestry, Hunting, and Regional Affairs (HMLU)