the study that denies the clichés

Ecology in general and climate in particular are often seen as issues of division between generations. It is to question this perception that the association Parlons climat (specializing in opinion studies on this theme) analyzed the responses of 1,045 French people aged 65 to 80, and collected the words of 35 others during interviews lasting one to one and a half hours*. First observation: seniors are citizens like any other, with very varied political beliefs and standards of living.

Politics takes precedence over age

Three out of ten seniors (29%) place the environment and climate change among their three priority subjects for France; which is slightly more than the national average (27%). “It is not belonging to this or that generation that is decisive in concern for the climate, but the position on the political spectrum,” explains Amélie Deloffre, who coordinated this study. The further to the right we go, the less the environment is mentioned as a priority, compared to other subjects, such as insecurity, purchasing power, immigration.”

The “robot portrait” of the environmentally conscious senior is thus a woman voting center-right, rather financially comfortable and who easily trusts others (according to the social trust indicator).

Champions of energy savings or waste sorting

In reality, what distinguishes those over 65 from other generations is their ecological practices. “While young people adopt certain “green” consumption standards, such as second-hand shopping, carpooling or vegetarianism, seniors value practices inherited from their education,” underlines Amélie Deloffre.

They favor local and seasonal purchases, more often refuse to buy products made in distant countries, and are champions of energy saving or waste sorting. They are concerned with consuming less, repairing and avoiding waste of all kinds. For example, they are very critical of hyperconsumption, particularly the online purchase of ultra-fast fashion.

The sense of the collective

Another generational marker: their appeal to political institutions to find solutions. Thus, 57% of those over 65 support the establishment of collective rules which would reduce behavior harmful to the environment, “even if this limits individual choices”. That is 6 points more than among 18-34 year olds. “Their sense of the collective, which they oppose to the ambient individualism, even in some the sense of sacrifice, struck me a lot in the interviews,” testifies Amélie Deloffre.

Their massive involvement in associations is another manifestation of this vision of the world and “making society”. From resource centers to Secours catholique, via Greenpeace, their commitments are little visible and little valued. Added to their gestures of sobriety, seniors draw a discreet ecology, without flags or slogans, but which contributes to the necessary transformation of our societies.

* Find the study “Seniors & climate commitment” on Parlementsclimat.org