Germany: As temperatures rise, so does climate skepticism

Deutsche Welle · 🇩🇪 public Germany · Aug 02, 2026 · 1091 words · By Julia Vergin

Psychological drivers of climate skepticism Political Polarization in Germany Global disparity in climate change perception

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What to know about Psychological drivers of climate skepticism

Germany: As temperatures rise, so does climate skepticism August 2, 2026 Climate skeptics are no longer a small but noisy minority.

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Germany: As temperatures rise, so does climate skepticism August 2, 2026 Climate skeptics are no longer a small but noisy minority.

Why it matters

They are now "a mass phenomenon," according to researchers at Flensburg University.

Common ground

In a study published in the scientific journal Global Environmental Change, authors Katharina Gies and Emanuel Deutschmann reported that between 2022 and 2023 there was a big jump in skeptical attitudes to climate change among the majority of the 3,074 people…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Psychological drivers of climate skepticism story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Jagadish Thaker, senior lecturer at the University of Queensland, Australia, and an expert in climate change communication?
How does this story connect Psychological drivers of climate skepticism with Political Polarization in Germany over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-as-temperatures-rise-so-does-climate-skepticism/a-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Name Calling / Labeling 60% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 70% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4

schedule Pending 3

verified Verified By Reference 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified 1

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Claim 1: “Jagadish Thaker, senior lecturer at the University of Queensland, Australia, and an expert in climate change communication.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 2: “politically right-leaning people express more skepticism about climate change.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided consists only of dictionary definitions for the word 'politically' and does not contain any data or studies regarding the relationship between political orientation and climate skepticism.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The country's younger population are more politically aware than in the past. This is a fragile region, politically weak but strategically important. It is a poor and politically unstable society. Pol…
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/Politica…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Define politically. politically synonyms, politically pronunciation, politically translation, English dictionary definition of politically. adj. 1. Of, relating to, or dealing with the structure or af…
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/politically

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of POLITICALLY is in a polite manner : politicly. How to use politically in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politically

verified

Claim 3: “The researchers wrote that the respondents' individual economic situations could not be considered the primary explanation for the increase in skepticism.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided consists of general Wikipedia entries about the city and universities of Flensburg, but does not mention any specific study conclusions regarding economic situations and climate skepticism.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Flensburg (German: [ˈflɛnsbʊɐ̯k] ; Danish and Low Saxon: Flensborg; South Jutlandic: Flensborre; North Frisian: Flansborj, Flensborag) is a town in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. After Kiel a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flensburg

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Flensburg University of Applied Sciences (German Hochschule Flensburg) is a vocational university of higher education and applied research located in the city of Flensburg in the Federal State of Schl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flensburg_University_of_Applie…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The University of Flensburg (Europa-Universität Flensburg; EUF) is a university in the city of Flensburg, Germany. It was founded in 1994 and is the northernmost university in Germany. Although it has…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Flensburg

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 4: “Research shows that some scientific disciplines are perceived as more biased than others. Consequently, economists have a better chance of their message reaching a wide audience than sociologists.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 5: “Climate skepticism and conspiracy theories are mostly a Western phenomenon. Researchers observe them the most in the US, Europe, and Australia.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim.

info

Claim 6: “Altenmüller's research indicates that people in Germany do not have fundamental doubts about scientific evidence.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While Marlene Altenmüller's role and general research area (trust in science) are verified, the specific finding that Germans 'do not have fundamental doubts about scientific evidence' is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, though her profile is confirmed.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Marlene Altenmüller is a postdoctoral researcher with the Social Psychology group at The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Altenmüller’s research focuses on trust in and within science.
https://closertotruth.com/contributor/marlene-altenmuller/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Marlene Sophie Altenmüller. Dr. Junior Professor at Leibniz Institute for Psychology.Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on t…
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marlene-Altenmueller

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — When acquiring scientific explanations, cultural input is much less central, rendering individuals more confident with their scientific than religious beliefs (Harris and Corriveau 2021).
https://rameliaz.github.io/ivs-2025/presentation.html

help

Claim 7: “Stephan Lewandowsky, a professor of cognitive science at the universities of Bristol and Potsdam.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim.

verified

Claim 8: “Other factors, they said, were much more decisive: A right-leaning political orientation, distrust of state institutions, and dissatisfaction with democracy.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided includes general papers on political alienation in Denmark and general info on Flensburg, but does not confirm the specific findings of the Flensburg University study mentioned in the claim.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 9: “this summer's heatwaves, which are reported to have killed as many as 10,000 people already.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 10: “Marlene Altenmüller, a junior professor at the Leibniz Institute for Psychology in Trier, conducts research into science reception.”

VERIFIED

Web search results explicitly identify Marlene Altenmüller as a Junior Professor at the Leibniz Institute for Psychology, focusing on science reception and trust in science.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In 1920s Berlin, she performed on the stage and in silent films. Her performance as Lola Lola in Josef von Sternberg 's The Blue Angel (1930) brought her international acclaim and a contract with Para…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlene_Dietrich

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Marlene has been a well-used name throughout the Western world. In the United States, it was among the top 100 names for newborn girls between 1931 and 1942, was among the top 200 names between 1943 a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlene_(given_name)

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Marlène Mourreau dite Marlène, née le 19 avril 1969 à Neuilly-sur-Seine, est une animatrice de radio et de télévision, comédienne, chanteuse, danseuse et meneuse de revue française et espagnole. Elle …
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlène_Mourreau

info

Claim 11: “In a study published in the scientific journal Global Environmental Change, authors Katharina Gies and Emanuel Deutschmann reported that between 2022 and 2023 there was a big jump in skeptical attitudes to climate change among the majority of the 3,074 people surveyed.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of generic links to study-help websites (Study.com, Studley AI) and contains no mention of Katharina Gies, Emanuel Deutschmann, or the journal Global Environmental Change.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Take online courses on Study.com that are fun and engaging. Pass exams to earn real college credit. Research schools and degrees to further your education.
https://study.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Master any subject with Studley AI. Trusted by more than 3 million top students. Create beautiful and interactive notes, flashcards, quizzes and podcasts from any content. Study smarter, not harder.
https://www.studley.ai/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Need a Study.com Account? Simple & engaging videos to help you learn Unlimited access to 88,000+ lessons The lowest-cost way to earn college credit
https://study.com/academy/login.html

info

Claim 12: “Climate skeptics are now 'a mass phenomenon,' according to researchers at Flensburg University.”

SINGLE SOURCE

One web search result explicitly states that researchers at Flensburg University describe climate skepticism as 'a mass phenomenon'. However, no other independent sources were found to corroborate this specific phrasing or finding.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Flensburg Government (German: Flensburger Regierung), also known as the Flensburg Cabinet (Flensburger Kabinett), the Dönitz Government (Regierung Dönitz), or the Schwerin von Krosigk Cabinet (Kab…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flensburg_Government

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+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 13: “Some 59% said they had more doubts about climate change in 2023 than they had had in the previous year.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided consists of Wikipedia pages for the number 59 and lists of German films; there is no evidence relating to the 59% statistic in the context of climate skepticism.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of some of the most notable films produced in Cinema of Germany in the 2000s. For an alphabetical list of articles on German films see Category:2000s German films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_films_of_the_20…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of the most notable films produced in Cinema of Germany in the 1980s. For an alphabetical list of articles on West German films see Category:West German films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_films_of_the_19…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of the most notable films produced in Cinema of Germany in the 1990s. For an alphabetical list of articles on German films see Category:1990s German films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_films_of_the_19…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.