Climate will alter political competition in Europe

Subject

Climate politics in Europe.

Significance

In Europe, climate change has shifted from being a peripheral to a central electoral issue; now mainstream parties are committing themselves to ambitious climate policies. However, overtime division will likely grow between those parties whose support is underpinned by business and conservative interests, and those who appeal strongly to younger voters. Climate change will also be a source of further competition between mainstream and national populist parties.

Impacts

• Governing parties at the local, national and EU-levels will be judged increasingly on their environmental track-records.
• Most major infrastructure and non-renewable energy projects will face opposition from civil society through petitions and protests.
• Support for green parties could decline if traditional parties hiijack climate change policies.