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A Green Old Age? Contrasting Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behavior Among Young and Old Adults

Author

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  • Anwesha Banerjee

  • Andrea Erhart

  • Claire Rimbaud

Abstract

This study examines the pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors of individuals across different age groups. We compare young adults with older adults in an online experiment with German participants. We use an incentivized task - the Work for Environment Protection task (WEPT) - to measure environmental behavior. We find that compared to younger adults, older adults are more concerned and less skeptical about climate change. Older adults also exhibit significantly more pro-environmental behavior, reflected in higher participation in tasks associated with donations to an environmental organization. These results highlight the need to develop strategies to improve support for environmental policies specifically targeted to different age groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Anwesha Banerjee & Andrea Erhart & Claire Rimbaud, 2025. "A Green Old Age? Contrasting Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behavior Among Young and Old Adults," Working Papers 2025-05, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    • Handle: RePEc:inn:wpaper:2025-05
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior

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