Umfrageergebnisse zur gesellschaftlichen Akzeptanz der Energiewende

Energy and climate policy in Germany in recent years has been characterized by a sequence of successes and failures as well as controversy over the right measures and instruments. These conflicts are reflected in a great uncertainty in society regarding the future direction and the right level of ambition of energy and climate policy. 

Against this background, the Wuppertal Institute developed a nationwide survey on behalf of Westenergie AG in December 2024. The survey examined public attitudes towards the energy transition and satisfaction with its progress. Additionally, the study assessed public trust in various actors regarding their capability to successfully accelerate the energy transition.

From the respondents' perspective, energy policy lacks a clear strategy; its instruments and measures appear opaque and insufficiently participatory. Of particular concern: a significant majority of respondents state to perceive the economic burden of the energy system transformation as being distributed unfairly. Moreover, respondents express low trust in policymakers’ ability to implement the energy transition in a fair, participatory and consensus-driven manner. Both political and economic actors are even perceived as obstructing progress.

The results reflect the ambivalence and uncertainty among the population, highlighting the urgent need for participatory strategy development, transparent communication, and public knowledge dissemination. In order to enhance public acceptance for policy measures, it seems urgently necessary that policymaker establish consistent transformation pathways, engage relevant stakeholders, and improve the communication of necessary measures and their expected impacts.

 

Johannes Venjakob, Aileen Reichmann, Silvia Voigt:

Umfrageergebnisse zur gesellschaftlichen Akzeptanz der Energiewende
Im Auftrag der Westenergie AG Befragungszeitraum 12.–17.12.2024

Wuppertal, 2025

(Wuppertal Paper no. 205)