Too far or not far enough? These are Europe’s most and least popular climate policies

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A comprehensive survey conducted across Germany, France, and Poland by researchers from Oxford University, Humboldt University Berlin, and Hertie School Berlin reveals that fears of a 'green backlash' at the upcoming European elections are largely unfounded
• Despite debates and concerns about environmental policy fatigue, the majority in these countries favor more ambitious climate action

🔭 The context: The survey queried 15,000 people about their views on current climate policies and specific environmental actions
• Findings show that a significant majority supports further measures to combat climate change, with desires for more concrete actions and ambitious policies evident across the surveyed nations

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Contrary to the speculated backlash, most people in the surveyed countries are concerned about climate change's impact on their lives and prefer policies that push for greater emission reductions
• Investments in green infrastructure and support for clean energy technologies are especially popular, highlighting a strong public mandate for ambitious climate action

⏭️ What's next: The results suggest that European election campaigns focusing on scaling down climate ambitions might misinterpret public sentiment
• Instead, there's an opportunity for political parties to compete over effective strategies for greening the economy, with a focus on balancing ambitious climate policies with measures to support those most affected

💬 One quote: "Taking common armchair diagnoses about a green backlash at face value would be a mistake," the report's authors assert, emphasizing the importance of not underestimating the public's desire for more robust climate action.

📈 One stat: Approximately 60% of people in Poland and Germany and 80% in France report being negatively impacted by climate change or expect to be within the next five to ten years.

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