In recent years, the EU has positioned itself as a global leader in climate policy, with ambitious plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. However, the surge of populist far-right movements in recent elections across the EU member states poses significant challenges to the bloc’s green ambitions. This political shift threatens to dilute and delay essential climate policies, creating a precarious future for the EU’s environmental goals.

The rise of populist movements, characterised by their anti-green platforms, is fundamentally reshaping the political landscape in Europe. Voters, particularly from rural areas, are increasingly blaming the rise in living costs on the expensive energy transition, calling for a shift from stringent emission reduction targets to greater competitiveness and security. This sentiment has forced even centrist parties to reconsider and sometimes retract their support for green policies.

For example, in Germany, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), led by Finance Minister Christian Lindner, withdrew support for the phase-out of coal-fired power by 2030, citing the need for affordable energy. Similarly, in Italy, the right-wing government under Georgia Meloni has backtracked on several energy transition commitments. Even traditionally green-leading countries like Finland have seen their newly-elected government reduce taxes intended to cut carbon emissions.