Welfare, environment, and civil safety: Lottomatica Foundation presents its third Eco-Social Barometer
On June 16, 2026, at the Lottomatica Foundation headquarters in Rome, the third Eco-Social Barometer was presented; it was produced by Lottomatica Foundation in collaboration with Percorsi di Secondo Welfare.
The report, edited by Maurizio Ferrera, Professor of Political Science at the University of Milan, is based on data from a survey conducted by YouGov. The report is part of a research initiative launched by the Lottomatica Foundation in 2023 to explore citizens’ perceptions of sustainability and security.
This year’s edition, titled “The Threefold Challenge: Social, Environmental, and Civil Security. How to Create a Virtuous Cycle ”, addresses a question at the heart of the European public debate: How can we balance social welfare, ecological transition, and civil security without support for one of these areas coming at the expense of the others?
What the data reveals
The Barometer reveals a significant decline in Italian citizens’ perception of climate risk: the percentage of people concerned about climate change has fallen from 82% in 2022 to 70% in 2025. A similar trend is evident regardingattention to geopolitical conflicts. Ferrera describes this phenomenon using the terms “climate fatigue” and “war fatigue,” noting that material priorities—purchasing power, inflation, healthcare, and employment—are returning to the forefront of citizens’ concerns.
The Central Role of Social Protection
The data collected show widespread resistance to any proposal to cut social spending in favor of other priorities. 49.7% of Italians would oppose cuts to social welfare in the name of environmental sustainability, while 62.8% prioritize social welfare over military spending. These figures confirm the central role of social protection in citizens’ priorities.
The report also proposes an integrated approach to these issues through four policy agendas —eco-social, climate and human security, civil resilience, and competitiveness and growth—which aim to bring together the various dimensions of security.
The presentation of the Third Eco-Social Barometer provided an opportunity for in-depth discussion and exchange on the issues of sustainability, welfare, and security, which are currently at the center of the contemporary European debate. During the meeting, it became clear that major economic, social, and geopolitical transformations must be accompanied by medium- to long-term policies and public communication capable of strengthening the relationship of trust between institutions and citizens.
The role of Lottomatica Foundation
With the Third Eco-Social Barometer, the Lottomatica Foundation reaffirms its commitment to generating knowledge on issues relevant to the community. The project, carried out in collaboration with Percorsi di Secondo Welfare, stems from listening to society and engaging with the research community. Through research activities and opportunities for dialogue, the Lottomatica Foundation aims to contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of an informed public debate on the major issues affecting society.