New Cross-European Survey Module Unveiled to Capture Social Aspects of the Green Transition

The SoGreen project has launched a new survey module designed to measure the social dimensions of the green transition. Developed through a collaboration between four leading European social science research infrastructures, Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), Generations and Gender Programme (GGP) , European Social Survey (ESS), and Growing Up in Digital Europe (GUIDE), the SoGreen Module aims to provide robust, comparative data on how individuals experience and respond to the climate crisis and related policies.

With growing recognition that the green transition must be not only environmentally sustainable but also socially just, the module addresses key issues such as energy and transport poverty, job security, health impacts, and access to infrastructure. It also explores attitudes toward climate change, trust in institutions, perceived risks, and willingness to adopt pro-environmental behaviours.

The module comprises 30 concise items grounded in previous survey efforts and refined through expert feedback and cognitive testing. It will be fielded across 17 European countries using established platforms such as ESS-CRONOS, SHARE SCQ, GGS-IBWS, and GUIDE CIPS. The integration of survey data with geospatial and environmental indicators will provide an unprecedented opportunity to assess how socio-economic factors and local conditions shape the experience of the green transition.

Pilot testing and expert consultation are currently underway. Full deployment will begin in late 2025, providing policymakers, researchers, and practitioners with the evidence base needed to support equitable and effective climate action.

The SoGreen Module marks a significant advancement in social science tools available for the analysis of climate policy impacts, supporting the European Green Deal’s goal of a fair transition for all.

You can find the module and more information about it here.

Please cite the module as follows: Savaş, E. B., Deimantas, V. J., Bottoni, G., Ma, L., Thumann, B., Fabel, T., Sloan, S., & Ramaj, K. (2025). Social Aspects of the Green Transition (SoGreen) Module Development. SHARE-ERIC. https://doi.org/10.6103/JGFP-J480