ConPolicy on the start of the new legislative period
Consumer policy with ambition – now it’s time for implementation
The new government formed by CDU, CSU and SPD has announced ambitious plans for a consumer-friendly policy – a development we explicitly welcome. Key initiatives are planned in the areas of energy, mobility, pension schemes, housing, socially just climate action, the promotion of sustainable consumption, and both economic and digital consumer protection. We particularly welcome the planned nationwide rollout of “practical checks” as a new tool for designing everyday-relevant, people-centered policies.
What matters now is the consistent implementation of the coalition agreement’s objectives throughout the legislative term. This will require a strong and capable consumer protection department. With the transfer of responsibility from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection to the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, we hope this transition will not result in a loss of personnel capacity and that the integration will proceed swiftly.
We wish the new Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, Dr. Stefanie Hubig, every success and all the best for the tasks and challenges ahead.
New findings published on young people who are not involved in environmental and climate protection
Who is not involved?
What prevents young people from getting involved in environmental and climate protection? Who are these people and how can they be reached?
The first work package of the project “Strengthening youth engagement for sustainability through dialog and transformative learning”, which ConPolicy is carrying out together with several project partners on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency, dealt with precisely these questions.
The analysis focused on young people who have not yet been actively involved in sustainability. Our combined target group and stakeholder field analysis shows: Personal contact via trusted individuals such as friends, family or club members is particularly effective. In addition, social media should be used, as the target group often obtains information using this channel. Finally, making contact via organizations such as sports and cultural clubs is promising. Low-threshold entry topics such as consumption, technology or social justice offer points of contact.
The results of this target group analysis are based on existing studies and were supplemented by interviews with representatives of youth work. They form a sound basis for the development of new participation formats in the further course of the project.
You can download the report here. You can find more information about the project here.
Factsheet published on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA)
Practical Experiences with Material, Immaterial, and Gamified Incentives
How can people be encouraged to adopt more sustainable mobility habits? While technical innovations and new infrastructure are important foundations, they often need to be complemented by impulses that prompt reflection and inspire action.
The factsheet “Incentives for Sustainable Mobility Behavior” presents 12 international case studies showcasing the successful use of different types of incentives – including material incentives such as bonuses or discounts, immaterial incentives like tailored mobility advice or improved infrastructure, and gamified incentives such as challenges.
The comparative analysis shows: Incentives are most effective when tailored to the local context, politically supported, and combined with accessible, reliable mobility options. At the same time, the implementation of such measures often requires significant human and financial resources – but these investments can pay off by strengthening sustainable mobility alternatives.
The publication was developed by ConPolicy – Institute for Consumer Policy in collaboration with the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu) on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA). It is aimed at professionals in administration, policy, and practice who are working to design or improve incentive-based measures to promote sustainable mobility.
The factsheet is available here (in German). More information about the project is available here.
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