IPB Policy Briefs

What are policy briefs anyway?

A policy brief is a short, concise publication that summarises complex research findings or current problems for political decision-makers, administrative staff and the press. It serves to provide evidence-based recommendations for action to enable quick, informed decisions.

Creating social support for effective climate protection with five guiding principles

In a joint policy paper by the German Council for Sustainable Development and the Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour, hosted by Klimafakten, researchers have outlined five guiding principles to help steer climate policy out of the downward spiral of reciprocal negative expectations between politicians and the electorate.

They are convinced that those who follow these principles when designing climate protection measures will create a climate policy in which policy design and communication mutually reinforce each other - and which can count on broad social support.

Betsch, C., Tiede, K., & Janssen, J. (2026). Five principles for designing and communicating sustainable policy. Klimafakten.de. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.21599 

Download policy paper as PDFThis is the English translation of the German original.

What Municipalities Can Learn from Residents, Farmers and City Councillors about Preparing for Heavy Rainfall and Flooding

In summer 2026, the City of Kahla worked with the University of Erfurt to complement its climate adaptation strategy with social and behavioural science research. The aim was to incorporate the perspectives of those expected to support potential climate change adaptation measures.

Student research groups from the University of Erfurt’s Master’s program in Health Communication conducted interviews with residents, city councillors and farmers, primarily in Kahla and along the River Saale. They supplemented these interviews with four online experiments conducted across Germany, involving almost 900 participants in total.

Two groups investigated the acceptance of potential stream restoration measures among farmers and members of the Kahla City Council, while two others examined public risk perception and information-seeking behaviour. This policy brief summarises their findings and conclusions.

Suggested citation: Betsch, C., Best, S., Pelull, S. & 2025 Cohort of the Master’s Program in Health Communication. (2026). What Municipalities Can Learn from Residents, Farmers and City Councillors about Preparing for Heavy Rainfall and Flooding. University of Erfurt.

Download policy paper as PDFGerman only

Summary of the PACE survey and analysis from October 2026

PACE (Planetary Health Action Survey) takes a psychological look at climate change, focusing in particular on people’s willingness to take action on climate protection and adopt climate-friendly behaviour. This policy brief summarises the PACE survey and its analysis from October 2026.

All results can be found at www.pace-studie.de

Suggested citation: Hempel, L. M., Maur, K., Wierscher, C., Schüßler, O., Tiede, K. E., Geiger, M. & Betsch, C. (2026). Summary of the PACE survey and analysis from October 2026. University of Erfurt. projekte.uni-erfurt.de/pace/summary/32/

Download the policy paper as a PDFGerman only