People's views on their climate-conscious lifestyle, 2023
2023 (Scale (1 - 10))
Total
6.8
18-24 yrs
6.2
25-34 yrs
6.5
35-44 yrs
6.7
45-54 yrs
6.8
55-64 yrs
6.9
65-74 yrs
7.1
75 yrs and over
7.0
People's views on their climate-conscious lifestyle, 2023
2023 (Scale (1 - 10))
Total
6.8
18-24 yrs
6.2
25-34 yrs
6.5
35-44 yrs
6.7
45-54 yrs
6.8
55-64 yrs
6.9
65-74 yrs
7.1
75 yrs and over
7.0
Sixty percent of younger people think they should adopt a more climate-conscious lifestyle, while in older age groups more than half take that view.
Younger people fly more often than older people
Younger people tend to display less environmentally friendly behaviour, travelling by air more often for instance. In 2023, 61 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds said they had travelled by air in the previous twelve months. People aged 25 to 34 also flew relatively frequently. Approximately 45 percent of 35 to 54-year-olds said they had travelled by air in the previous twelve months. Frequency of air travel decreased with age, and fell by 14 percent among those aged 75 and over. They often flew for holidays or a city trip. Approximately 20 percent of people in younger age groups had been on holiday outside Europe in the previous twelve months. This share was 4 percent among those aged 75 and older.
Holiday travel by air, 2023
Leeftijd
In the past 12 months (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Longer ago (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Never (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Totaal
41.3
50.7
8
18-24 yrs
61.3
28.2
10.5
25-34 yrs
57.5
37.2
5.3
35-44 yrs
43.6
48.3
8.1
45-54 yrs
44.6
49.4
5.9
55-64 yrs
37.9
54.2
7.9
55-74 yrs
25.3
65.3
9.4
75 yrs and over
13.8
75
11.2
Holiday travel by air, 2023
Leeftijd
In the past 12 months (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Longer ago (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Never (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Totaal
41.3
50.7
8
18-24 yrs
61.3
28.2
10.5
25-34 yrs
57.5
37.2
5.3
35-44 yrs
43.6
48.3
8.1
45-54 yrs
44.6
49.4
5.9
55-64 yrs
37.9
54.2
7.9
55-74 yrs
25.3
65.3
9.4
75 yrs and over
13.8
75
11.2
1 in 5 younger people who travel by air experience flight shame
Twenty-two percent of 18 to 24-year-olds who sometimes travel by air said they feel guilty about this due to the effect on the climate. Approximately half of this group said they did not feel guilty about it. The level of flight shame among younger people is similar to the level reported by people aged 25 to 64, but those aged 65 and over who occasionally travel by air are more likely to feel guilty about flying.
Flight shame due to harmful effects on the climate, 2023
(Completely) agree (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Do not agree, do not disagree (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
(Completely) disagree (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Total
26.9
30.2
42.9
18-24 yrs
22.4
28.9
48.7
25-34 yrs
25.8
24.8
49.3
35-44 yrs
26.9
25.7
47.4
45-54 yrs
23.7
30.4
45.9
55-64 yrs
27.9
32.7
39.4
65-74 yrs
31.7
36.9
31.4
75 yrs and over
31.4
34.5
34.1
Flight shame due to harmful effects on the climate, 2023
(Completely) agree (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Do not agree, do not disagree (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
(Completely) disagree (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Total
26.9
30.2
42.9
18-24 yrs
22.4
28.9
48.7
25-34 yrs
25.8
24.8
49.3
35-44 yrs
26.9
25.7
47.4
45-54 yrs
23.7
30.4
45.9
55-64 yrs
27.9
32.7
39.4
65-74 yrs
31.7
36.9
31.4
75 yrs and over
31.4
34.5
34.1
Older people find it easier to reduce or avoid travel by air
More than 30 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds who occasionally go on holiday by air are definitely willing to reduce their air travel for the sake of the climate. This number is similar among those aged 25 to 64, while about half of people aged 65 and over are willing to reduce their holiday travel by air. Fewer people are willing to give up holiday travel by air entirely; 6 percent of those aged 18 to 24 said they were definitely willing to do this, compared with 24 percent of those aged 75 and over.
Reduce or avoid holiday travel by air due to climate change, 2023
Definitely willing to reduce holiday travel by air (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Definitely willing to avoid holiday travel by air (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Total
36.2
10.9
18-24 yrs
31.3
6.5
25-34 yrs
30.4
6.6
35-44 yrs
32.7
8.3
45-54 yrs
31.6
9.1
55-64 yrs
37.8
11.1
65-74 yrs
47.3
17.8
75 yrs and over
51.2
23.9
Reduce or avoid holiday travel by air due to climate change, 2023
Definitely willing to reduce holiday travel by air (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
Definitely willing to avoid holiday travel by air (% people aged 18 and over who occasionally go on holiday by air)
