Pay a little more to buy locally or take the train rather than the plane? Fewer and fewer Swiss people say they take the climate into account when choosing their spending. This is what emerges from a survey by the Comparis institute, published Friday. “In December 2024, only 24% of those questioned still said that the climate debate largely influenced their decisions, a clear decline compared to December 2023 (29.4%) and 2022 (30.1%),” notes he said.
Conversely, the share of people who say they are not influenced by global warming is increasing. It’s not just a question of money that weighs in the balance, notes Comparis. “A growing minority declares itself powerless, even skeptical, regarding the climate issue, also putting forward the argument of personal comfort. In short: arguments like ‘I can’t change anything anyway’ make people not question their behavior,” notes Comparis financial expert Michael Kuhn.
Comparis highlights in particular the impact of increases in health insurance premiums on household budgets. In response, the Swiss, in addition to leaving the climate aside a little, are making choices and giving up certain things. According to the survey, it is especially small, spontaneous purchases and spending on the latest electronics or clothing trends that consumers restrict. On the other hand, the desire to travel remains intact. It is also expected, in 2025, that the 2019 record for the number of air passengers transported around the world will be exceeded.
Bonuses before the climate
Past years, with the inflation that Western economies have experienced, have changed the order of priority of citizens’ concerns. While before the pandemic, the Swiss cited global warming as their primary concern, they were talking about the Covid pandemic when it arose. Since then, it is inflation and especially health insurance premiums which occupy the top of the ranking, ahead of the environment and old age provision, according to the latest UBS survey.
