Index to public interest in climate change increases only slightly / more than half of the respondents would pay more for electricity Berlin, 9 August 2011. The debate at the turn of the power, has little influence on the topic of climate protection. The index to the public interest in climate protection, the non-profit co2online GmbH quarterly published within the scope of their climate barometer shows that. The value determined on the basis of four indicators increased in the second quarter of 2011 only slightly from 66 to 68 points. The consequences of the nuclear phase-out and the energy transition also were the subject of online surveys, carried out by co2online for the climate scoreboard. 43 percent see especially lack of social acceptance as a problem for the expansion of renewable energies. Only 28 percent rate the high cost as an obstacle. With 54 percent, the majority is willing to take, of which 11 percent higher electricity costs up to 20 euro per month, seven percent up to 40 euros.

Also, 40 percent of respondents expected with increasing investments in renewable energy. Only 14 percent see the massive development of fossil, climate-changing energy sources such as oil or coal as a main result of the nuclear phase-out. Rising while hardly changed the climate protection interest demand for eco-electricity demand to eco power rapidly, as the Internet public interest shows. “Frederick, project manager of the climate scoreboard painted however raises the question, whether the numerous new customers for green electricity provider for reasons of climate change or nuclear power customers” changed. “Hartmut Grassl from the Centre for marine and Atmospheric Sciences (ZMAW) in Hamburg sees the evolution, however, rather positive: the German energy revolution has done more for long-term climate protection as generally discussed, because now the renewable energies and the power networks faster be expanded as a citizen and believe the policy.” The climate scoreboard with all other results as well as current graphics are available in the Internet at join/climate barometer for downloading.