In addition to climate change, the greatest concerns of young people in Germany include an uncertain economic future and a dwindling prospect of old-age security.

That was the result of the study “Youth in Germany” presented in Berlin on Monday.

56 percent of respondents are worried about climate change, with 48 percent almost half fear a collapse of the pension system.

According to the authors of the study, youth researcher Simon Schnetzer and education researcher Klaus Hurrelmann, the latter topic has become more important than the previous survey in the summer.

The young respondents are hoping for a solution from politics.

Johanna Christner

Editor in the section “Germany and the World”.

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According to the researchers, the survey is based on a representative online survey of 1,014 German-speaking people between the ages of 14 and 29 and was carried out from October 14 to 22 by the Cologne market research institute Respondi.

Youth researcher Simon Schnetzer said the study paints the picture of a young generation that is fundamentally politically alert and active.

"However, the pandemic hit you in an extremely sensitive phase of life," said Schnetzer.

The youth are only gradually recovering from the effects.

According to this, 40 percent of the young people reported impairments in their psychological well-being.

Loss of control in everyday life (37 percent), a deterioration in personal relationships (29 percent) and educational and professional careers (20 percent) were named.

Around a quarter no longer want to fly

In addition, the study found that young people in Germany are not as “green” as might be expected given movements such as “Fridays for Future”. Around 60 percent of those surveyed use cars regularly, and more than 80 percent cannot imagine a life without a car and without consuming animal products. Only 18 percent of young people would be willing to do without their own car permanently. When it comes to air travel, around a quarter (27 percent) no longer want to fly. It becomes clearer when it comes to avoiding disposable plastic products, which 65 percent of young people agree with. 40 percent of the participants can also imagine buying used instead of new goods; 36 percent are in favor of buying fair products or organically produced food.

With 44 percent, almost half of the young people tried out alternative forms of nutrition, 26 percent are willing to eat meat-free in the long term. However, only 16 percent are enthusiastic about the vegan diet without any animal products. "The vast majority are not yet ready to give up the habits they have become cherished in the areas of consumption, mobility and nutrition and are waiting for decision-making support from politicians", says co-author of the study, Klaus Hurrelmann.

A majority of the 14 to 29 year old respondents are fully vaccinated (69 percent).

Only 19 percent would be afraid of an infection, but the young people would long for freedom to organize their lives and therefore get vaccinated.

Almost a fifth of those questioned describe themselves as refusing to be vaccinated.

The value for this has remained at the same level as in the study previously carried out by the authors in the summer.