All posts in "Research"
Results from Down2Earth survey: Continuing backlash on climate change awareness in Germany
In 2023, the long-term survey series “Down2Earth” detected a significant backlash on climate protection. Recently published data shows that this trend has progressed and intensified.
German Media: Climate Change Coverage Rebounds in Q2 2026
In the second quarter of 2026, media attention to climate change in Germany recovered to an average of 1.1%, marking a 0.2% increase from the
What causes political backlash against climate action?
While public and media discourse currently shows crumbling support for ambitious climate measures in many places, the gap between set climate targets and actual policy
Verdrängt aber nicht verschwunden: Die Klimakrise im Schatten der Migrationsdebatte
In den vergangenen Jahren wurde in deutschen Medien mehr über Migration als über den Klimawandel berichtet. Diese Verschiebung der Aufmerksamkeit geht mit veränderten Problemwahrnehmungen in
Linking climate and extreme weather
The impacts of climate change are becoming more tangible, and extreme weather events are increasingly common. But do people who experience more storms, heatwaves, and
Does Fact-Checking Really Work?
Fact-checking is often praised as an effective tool against misinformation and deep-seated misconceptions. Journalists and independent organizations verify statements to make public discourse more objective.
German media: Climate change coverage drops to 0.9% in Q1 2026
Media attention to the topic of climate change declined to an average of 0.9% in the first quarter of 2026 across German media outlets. Attention
What is the Impact of Consensus Messages in Germany?
“97% of all climate scientists agree that human-made climate change is happening”— climate communication researchers regard this so-called consensus message as one of the most
Disruptive Klimaproteste und die Polarisierung der Klimadebatte: Drei Erkenntnisse aus unseren Studien
Wo steht Deutschland auf dem Weg zur Klimaneutralität – und warum gerät Klimaschutz gesellschaftlich zunehmend unter Druck? In unseren Studien über die Letzte Generation und Fridays
When communication meets reactance
When people feel their freedom is being threatened, they often react with rejection—a phenomenon known in psychology as “reactance.” This poses a significant challenge for
Generational conflict or shared responsibility? Finding common ground across generations
When it comes to climate change, the interests of the young and the old seemingly stand diametrically opposed to one another. But does this oft-cited
Study of the month: How (radical) protest affects publics
Climate protests have repeatedly sparked broad public debates in recent years. At times, activists have even been compared to terrorist organizations—and public discourse has drifted