As part of their joint research project “Culture and Sustainability”, Katharina Hartinger (University of Mainz) and Lennard Zyska (Leibniz University Hannover) conducted a survey in Switzerland in May 2025 (first round) and August 2025 (second round). The aim of the study is to better understand how cultural imprinting, regional identities, and institutional contexts shape environmental awareness, sustainable behavior, and support for climate policies.
The survey examines regional differences between urban and rural areas, language regions, and socio-economic groups. To enhance response quality and reflect real-life decision-making, an incentive system was implemented: in each survey round, participants made a donation decision. For one randomly selected individual per 100 participants, this decision was actually carried out—with a potential donation of up to CHF 50.
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The donation triggered in the first round (May 2025) went to the ProSpecieRara Foundation, dedicated to the “preservation and promotion of genetic diversity in fauna and flora” (donation receipt).
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The donation triggered in the second round (August 2025) went to the Swiss Friends of Nature, who “work for sustainable development and the preservation of our natural habitats, with shared experiences in nature at the center of their mission” (donation receipt).
