The impact of the Corona crisis on the environmental behaviors of different socioeconomic groups

The Corona pandemic led to changes in consumptions patterns, which are both positive and negative. Past research suggests that crises present opportunities for adopting sustainable consumption practices. Alternatively, they tend to increase frugality which can marginalize environmental considerations. This study extends research conducted in 2018 evaluating the environmental impacts of consumption patterns among Israel’s different socioeconomic deciles. The present research returned to the same respondents, during the first lockdown, assessing how consumptions patterns among different socioeconomic deciles, and support for different environmental policy options were influenced by the Corona crisis. The findings show that the poorest deciles increased their environmentally destructive behavior, while wealthier deciles showed modest improvements. All deciles displayed greater frugality in purchasing. Support was greater for policy interventions framed as environmental than for taxes on daily consumer products. The findings confirm the need for environmental programs which make sustainable consumption more readily accessible to poorer socioeconomic groups.