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Frage Thema Item Text Antwort Format Konstrukt Eingesetzte Kogn Techniken Ergebnis
a.I am concerned that my own standard of living will decline because of climate policy.[Mir macht Sorgen, dass mein eigener Lebensstandard wegen der Klimapolitik sinken wird.] Nein For item a, respondents who disagreed with the statement justified their answers by saying that their own way of life had already been adapted or that they would accept cuts in their standard of living because it was more important to stop climate change:
  • "Because climate change is an urgent issue that absolutely must be addressed. Even if the current standard of living goes down, I think it's necessary." (TP262, response: rather disagree)
  • "Why should I be concerned? My standard of living is already relatively climate friendly." (TP303, response: strongly disagree)
Test persons who agreed with the statement justified their answers with concerns about rising energy and food prices or restrictions on vacationing:

  • "The cost of food and energy will rise." (TP279, response: rather agree)
  • "I like to travel a lot and want to continue to do so (without interference and a guilty con-science)." (TP382, response: strongly agree)
  • "Raising prices and keeping wages the same doesn't make it any easier financially for fami-lies." (TP498, response: strongly agree)
b. I am concerned that jobs are being destroyed as a result of climate policy without sufficient new ones being created. [Mir macht Sorgen, dass infolge der Klimapolitik Arbeitsplätze vernichtet werden, ohne dass ausreichend neue geschaffen werden.] Nein For item b, those test persons who disagreed with the statement argued that new jobs could be creat-ed through the development of new technologies:
  • "It is precisely through climate policy that new jobs are created after all (e.g.wind power plants, solar parks, etc.)." (TP233, response: rather disagree).
  • "In order to achieve the goals in combating climate change, new technologies must be developed, which in turn promote the emergence of new industries." (TP296, response: strongly disagree).
In contrast, test subjects who agreed with the statement justified it with concerns about job losses in areas such as the auto industry or air travel, which could not be compensated for by newly created jobs:
  • "If no new other jobs are created by cutting current jobs in mining, nuclear power, the auto industry, and air travel, for example, these people will be left without jobs." (TP280, response: strongly agree)
  • "As a result of climate policy, some companies will have to close. The question is whether new businesses and jobs will be created." (TP455, response: strongly agree)
c. I am concerned that conflicts in society will increase because of climate policy. [Mir macht Sorgen, dass Konflikte in der Gesellschaft wegen der Klimapolitik zunehmen werden.] Nein For item c, disagreement with the statement was based on the fact that the interest in combating climate change was more important and that thus the majority would agree:
  • "I guess everyone has an interest in climate policy making progress." (TP256, response: rather disagree)
  • "I think most people would get involved." (TP264, response: rather disagree)
Test subjects who agreed with the statement justified it with concerns about rising social inequality and resistance to possible restrictions:
  • "The high level of inflation combined with the climate policy of the politicians leads to social inequalities." (TP289, response: strongly agree)
  • "Consequently, there will have to be restrictions on lifestyles. Many citizens will resist this." (TP267, response: strongly agree)
a. I am concerned that immigration to Europe will increase because of climate change. [Mir macht Sorgen, dass die Zuwanderung nach Europa wegen des Klimawandels zunehmen wird.] Nein For item a, those respondents who disagreed with the statement argued that immigration is good in itself and that it occurs primarily for other reasons (e.g., wars):
  • "Immigration happens even without climate change." (TP235, response: rather disagree)
  • "I think that migration from other countries has nothing to do with climate change, but rather with war and famine." (TP290, response: strongly disagree)
  • "It will enrich our country." (TP391, response: strongly disagree).
Test persons who agreed with the statement justified their answers, among other things, with the concern that increased immigration could lead to overpopulation and make living together more difficult:
  • "We cannot be the welfare for the whole world." (TP255, response: strongly agree)
  • "More people means less housing or more needs to be built." (TP263, response: strongly agree)
b. I am concerned that natural disasters will increase because of climate change. [Mir macht Sorgen, dass Naturkatastrophen wegen des Klimawandels zunehmen werden.] Nein

Those respondents who disagreed with the statement mainly justified their answers by saying that natural disasters rarely or never occur where they live, or that climate change is not man-made:

  • "I live in an area where natural disasters rarely if ever occur." (TP239, response: rather disagree)
  • "Because it is in nature that such things occur. In the past and in the future." (TP292, response: rather disagree)

Respondents who agreed with the statement justified their answers, among other things, by saying that they were already experiencing the increase and that a reversal of climate change was no longer possible:

  • "We already experience it that natural disasters increase and cause great damage." (TP234, response: strongly agree)
  • "You can already see the effects of climate change on nature and weather, flora and fauna. And since we're almost past the point of making amends to nature, that's going to have a further intervening, negative impact on the world." (TP273, response: strongly agree)
c. I am concerned that the biodiversity of animals and plants will decrease because of climate change. [Mir macht Sorgen, dass die Artenvielfalt von Tieren und Pflanzen wegen des Klimawandels abnehmen wird.] Nein

For item c, disagreement with the statement was based on the fact that species extinction has always existed and that this is not related to climate change:

  • "There will always be some species dying and new ones emerging, so from that point of view it has nothing to do with climate change!" (TP277, response: rather disagree)
  • "The world is so old, we humans will not shake anything negatively or positively. Every episode has its justification and nature is extremely resilient." (TP343, response: strongly disagree)

Respondents who agreed with the statement justified this by saying that animals could not adapt to climate change as quickly and that the extinction of species would also have an impact on humans (e.g., nutrition):

  • "Because the loss of animals and plant diversity also affects our lives, our nutrition." (TP302, response: strongly agree)
  • "Many species will no longer have a habitat under extreme climate change." (TP354, re-sponse: strongly agree)
a. Climate change is not as dangerous as many politicians claim. [Der Klimawandel ist gar nicht so gefährlich wie viele Politiker behaupten.] Nein -
b. Climate change is a topic I often talk about with relatives, friends or acquaintances. [Der Klimawandel ist ein Thema, über das ich häufig mit Verwandten, Freunden oder Bekannten rede.] Nein -
c. I try to contribute to climate protection with my own actions [Ich versuche, mit meinem eigenen Handeln einen Beitrag zum Klimaschutz zu leisten] Nein The test persons understood "own actions" in item c to be exclusively individual actions and not collective actions such as demonstrations. Above all, actions in the following four areas were named:

1. Consumption/food: For example, growing own vegetables and fruits, buying climate-neutral products.
  • "Grow your own fruits and vegetables in the garden." (TP231)
  • "Our household [has] been living vegan for over 10 years. We also avoid plastic whenever pos-sible. We buy a lot at the weekly market to avoid unnecessary packaging."(TP303)
2. Mobility: For example, use environmentally friendly means of transport.
  • "We want to buy an electric car." (TP279)
  • "I don't have a car anymore, I use public transport and walk a lot." (TP450)
3. Housing: For example, reduce own energy consumption.
  • "In my own house, new windows have been installed some of them triple glazed." (TP262)
  • "Less energy consumption. Being frugal." (TP460)
4. Waste separation/avoidance: For example, repair products instead of replacing them.
  • "Separate waste, save resources." (TP335)
  • "Recycle a lot. Don't buy new goods, household appliances until the old ones are broke. Do without unnecessary things." (TP369)
d. I am afraid when I think about the consequences of climate change. [Ich habe Angst, wenn ich an die Folgen des Klimawandels denke.] Nein -