FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) – Climate goals are being softened, companies are abandoning diversity programs: In the era of Donald Trump, sustainability and environmental protection have lost significance. This trend is also evident in the behavior of savers. Their interest in sustainable investments has declined for the second consecutive year, according to a representative survey conducted by the comparison portal Verivox.
The survey found that 64 percent are interested in investments that meet minimum ecological, social, and ethical standards – such as funds that avoid stocks from sectors like defense, tobacco, oil and gas, or gambling. In a previous study last year, 69 percent expressed interest in sustainable investments, while in 2022, this figure was as high as 79 percent.
Only one in six (16 percent) has actually invested in such financial products, according to the survey, which included around 1,000 participants in May. A year ago, this share was 21 percent, and three years ago, nearly a quarter (24 percent). Today, topics other than climate protection dominate public debates, says Oliver Maier, Managing Director of Verivox Finanzvergleich GmbH.
Significant Differences Between Parents and Childless Individuals
Openness to sustainable investments is highest among young adults under 30, with 81 percent expressing a general interest in ecological and ethically sound investments, according to the study. In contrast, among those over 70, only half are interested in ESG investments – the label stands for Environment, Social, and Governance.
Disinterest in sustainable investments is also higher among East Germans (44 percent) compared to West Germans (36 percent), and among childless households (40 percent), almost twice as high as among families with children.
In general, more than half (55 percent) of respondents interested in sustainable investments would “definitely” or “probably” accept lower returns if the investments adhered to important sustainability standards. For 34 percent, this would not be an option.
Fair Working Conditions and Animal Welfare Especially Important
There are significant differences in the criteria respondents consider important. The highest priority is given to the avoidance of exploitative working conditions and animal testing (37 percent each). Careful use of the planet’s resources and investments in renewable energy are also frequently mentioned (29 and 27 percent, respectively), as well as the exclusion of sectors such as gambling (22 percent) and defense (20 percent).
