In a joint publication by the Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography, the Thünen Institute, and the University of Utrecht, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable mobility behavior in the Hannover region are examined.
Transportation is a main contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. For a sustainable transformation consumers play a crucial role. Previous studies have shown that there is a large discrepancy between attitudes towards sustainability and actual behavior, the so-called "attitude-behaviour gap". We examine the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on this misalignment using survey data from Hanover region.
Our results show that socio-economic factors and transport infrastructure are key contributors to misalignments between attitudes and behavior. During the pandemic, this discrepancy has widened further, especially for women and those with children. This reinforces inequalities between different socio-economic groups.
This highlights the need for tailored policies to address the distinct mobility needs of these groups to allow them to act according to their attitudes and counteract increasing inequalities. Moreover, our findings underscore the importance of transitioning from individual motorized transport to public and more active modes of transport, especially in the German context.
