Project Details
Green Transition Attitudes: Social Risks and Deservingness in the context of Climate Change
Subject Area
Empirical Social Research
Sociological Theory
Sociological Theory
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 530741532
Transformative decarbonisation action towards a ‘net zero transition’ (NZT) is essential to prevent worst climate changes. However, this and climate change itself may exacerbate social risks, especially for disadvantaged people and regions. Providing sustainable welfare – i.e. balancing human needs and environmental limits – adds to existing pressure on welfare states. In this context, new social conflicts and cleavages could develop in Europe, requiring a revision of current deservingness theory. The 'GreTA’ project addresses this issue and seeks to create knowledge about how social risks related to climate change and NZT are discussed in media and perceived by different social groups and individuals. It also wants to help understand what makes people perceive different beneficiaries of public support addressing these risks as more or less deserving, and how such perceptions are justified. The research will be conducted in three European countries – Belgium, Germany, and Slovenia – which share equity as the fundamental redistributions principle in their welfare systems. It is assumed that this principle also prevails in welfare policies addressing social risks related to climate chance and NZT and leads to similar media framings and public opinions across the three cases. However, we also expect to find divergence due to different structural conditions and context-specific NZT pathways. The ultimate aim is to know what makes certain policies more acceptable, and hence more effective.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
International Connection
Belgium, Slovenia
Partner Organisation
Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS)
Cooperation Partners
Professorin Masa Filipovic Hrast, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Wim van Lancker