For years, the younger generation was portrayed as the group most committed to fighting climate change. The latest findings of the EKObarometr survey, however, paint a more complex picture. Although concern for the environment remains evident in Poles’ declarations, in practice it is increasingly giving way to pragmatism, price, and convenience. This is particularly apparent among members of Generation Z, who, contrary to popular stereotypes, are not always prepared to bear the additional cost of environmentally friendly choices, Mariusz Andrzej Urbanke writes in Gazeta Polska Codziennie.
Clear generational differences in attitudes towards environmental protection emerge from the eighth edition of the EKObarometr survey. As many as eight in ten baby boomers, people over the age of 60, believe that products should be manufactured in accordance with environmental protection principles.
Among members of Generation Z, defined in the survey as people born in 1995 or later, fewer than six in ten share this view. The difference is even greater when it comes to expectations of businesses. For 75 per cent of older respondents, it is important that manufacturers actively engage in environmental initiatives. Among the youngest consumers, the figure is again below 60 per cent.
A similar pattern can be seen in attitudes towards reducing plastic use. Almost half of those over 60 support a complete ban on plastic packaging. Among Generation Z respondents, fewer than 30 per cent would accept such a measure.
This does not mean, however, that young Poles reject environmental ideas entirely. Rather, they prioritise them differently. At a time of high living costs, expensive housing, and rising everyday expenses, price often proves more important than environmental considerations. A cheaper product, a special offer, or free delivery can outweigh a more expensive option marketed as “green.”
LPG outperforms electric mobility
The same tendency is apparent in the automotive market. Despite years of promoting electric vehicles and EU plans to phase out combustion engines, Poles are still far more likely to choose proven solutions that are cheaper to operate. The EKObarometr survey shows that autogas remains a viable alternative to conventional fuels for many drivers, and an even stronger alternative to electric vehicles.
When asked whether their next car was more likely to run on LPG than on electricity, 29.3 per cent of respondents chose autogas. By comparison, 16.4 per cent selected an electric vehicle. The result is similar to last year’s findings and demonstrates that electric mobility continues to face serious barriers in Poland.
For many drivers, the problem is not only the purchase price of an electric vehicle, but also the availability of charging infrastructure, charging times, and concerns about battery durability.
LPG, meanwhile, has long benefited from one fundamental advantage: low operating costs. Poland has an extensive network of filling stations offering autogas, while installing an LPG system in many popular car models can significantly reduce fuel expenditure. Nearly 44 per cent of all LPG users in Poland use autogas-powered vehicles.
According to industry data, cars fitted with LPG systems account for approximately 13 per cent of all registered vehicles in Poland.
“Generation Y is the most strongly represented group among autogas users, and price remains its most important purchasing criterion. It is widely regarded as the greatest advantage of Autogas, as many as 59.1 per cent of users of such vehicles were primarily motivated by cost,”
said Joanna Nowakowska, an expert at WPP Media.
Price matters more than environmental concerns
An analysis of the findings shows that economic considerations are the principal reason for LPG’s popularity, regardless of drivers’ age. Among members of Generation X, people born approximately between 1965 and 1980, as many as 71.1 per cent of autogas users cite price as the most important factor. A further 28.7 per cent regard the short payback period on the cost of installing an LPG system as a significant advantage.
Price is somewhat less important among younger drivers, but it remains the dominant consideration, cited by between 60 and 62 per cent of users.
The oldest drivers take a different approach. For baby boomers, the greatest advantage of LPG is primarily the widespread availability of the fuel. This factor was cited by 36.9 per cent of respondents.
For many Poles, therefore, autogas is not so much an ideological choice as a practical means of reducing costs, particularly at a time when the prices of cars, spare parts, and automotive services have risen markedly in recent years.
Gas remains important for home heating
Positive attitudes towards LPG are not confined to transport. The EKObarometr survey shows that liquefied petroleum gas also retains a significant position in the heating sector. More than 14 per cent of LPG users in Poland now heat their homes with gas supplied from domestic storage tanks. Data from Poland’s Office of Technical Inspection indicate that the number of such tanks is growing by nearly 10 per cent annually.
Poles also continue to recognise the environmental advantages of gas boilers over the oldest heating systems. Some 51.9 per cent of respondents believe that replacing old, high-emission boilers with gas-fired systems helps improve air quality. This result remains close to last year’s figure.
The argument is particularly relevant in the context of efforts to combat smog. Gas boilers eliminate particulate emissions, which are among the principal sources of air pollution produced by heating homes with solid fuels.
Poles want subsidies restored
The decision to withdraw support for gas boilers from the Clean Air programme in 2025 was met with considerable public dissatisfaction. The latest survey findings show that this sentiment has not weakened. Public subsidies for gas boilers are supported by 52.3 per cent of respondents, an increase of 0.8 percentage points compared with the previous year.
For users of LPG heating systems, convenience remains the most important advantage. Unlike traditional coal- or wood-burning furnaces, gas boilers do not require fuel to be stored, regularly replenished, or manually handled.
The EKObarometr findings, therefore, reveal a certain paradox at the heart of the green transition. Poles support environmental protection, but their everyday decisions continue to be determined largely by economic calculations. As long as environmentally friendly technologies remain more expensive and less convenient, cheaper solutions such as LPG will retain their popularity, even amid intensive efforts to promote electric mobility and the green transition.