03/24/2026

Participants Wanted: Consumer Behavior of People with Above-Average Incomes

As an independent research institute, we at ifeu – Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, in collaboration with KlimAktiv and on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), are conducting a scientific study on the consumption behavior of high-income individuals. Specifically, we are seeking participants with a regular income that is significantly higher than the typical gross annual income in Germany of approximately €52,000. This group in particular is often underrepresented in public statistics, which is why their perspectives are especially relevant to our research. To reach suitable individuals for our survey, we would like to ask for your support—of course, participants will remain anonymous.

In this study, we examine how the consumption patterns of individuals with above-average incomes affect their personal CO₂ emissions. The aim is to determine whether—and, if so, in which areas—their consumption patterns deviate from average per-capita emissions. The survey is based on the consumption categories of the UBA CO₂ Calculator—such as housing, mobility, and food—and delves deeper into selected areas to gain insights. Participation is completely anonymous. No data that could be used to identify individual persons will be processed. The results will be scientifically evaluated and incorporated into the further development of the CO₂ Calculator.

Click here for the survey

We would appreciate it if you could support us by participating yourself or by forwarding the survey to people who might be willing to take part. We ask that you complete the survey by April 13, 2026.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact co2-rechner-umfrage@ifeu.de

Background information on the project (Project Director: Angelika Paar)