This study empirically examines contradictory socio-ideological and individual antecedents of climate-protective behaviour and its impact on the personal carbon footprint. Established as a form of political-economic system justification, internalized neoliberal ideological beliefs were hypothesized to relate negatively, environmental consciousness positively to behavior aimed at reducing one's detrimental ecological impact. Hypotheses were tested by analyzing data obtained through an online survey among N=344 students and employed persons in Austria and Germany using multiple regression, bootstrapping, and structural equation modeling. Validated self-report scales measured system justification, neoliberal ideological beliefs, and climate-protective behavior (housing, energy,mobility, consumption, nutrition, activism). Environmental consciousness included scales on ecological attitudes, knowledge, and connection with nature. Carbon footprint was estimated based on self-reports with a simplified model by the German Environment Agency. Controls were age, gender, education, income, and social status. Results confirmed a chain of serial mediation effects, linking system justification, neoliberal ideological beliefs, climate-protective behavior, and carbon footprint. Aspects of environmental consciousness showed partly differential effects. Additionally, income level predicted personal carbon emissions. Limitations arise from non-representative sampling and self-report measures. Market-based consumer societies evidently subject individuals to contradictory messages concerning climate protection. System-justifying neoliberal ideologies and disposable income for consumption are undermining transformational intentions of environmental consciousness. Emphasizing the role of societal ideologies, the perspective of system justification theory offers an alternative framework to overcome the predominant individualistic focus on sustainability in psychology.