Political Ideologies in the European Climate Scene: Relevant or Outdated?

In recent times, the European Union (EU) has moved from setting climate targets to enshrining them into binding legislation, reshaping both environmental policies and its economic and social frameworks. In 2014, EU leaders agreed to cut emissions by 40% by 2030. Following the Paris Agreement and mounting evidence of a deepening climate crisis, that target was raised in 2020 to a binding 55% net emissions reduction by 2030. Central to this commitment is the European Green Deal: a comprehensive roadmap for transitioning to a sustainable, inclusive, and competitive economy. The European Climate Law locks in the EU’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, making it a legal obligation for member states. Complementing this is the “Fit for 55” legislative package, which translates the 2030 emissions target into concrete measures across sectors such as energy, transport, buildings, and land use.

From Ambition to Action—The EU’s Climate Transformation

One of the EU’s most innovative tools in this effort is the Emissions Trading System (ETS), a market-based mechanism that caps emissions from over 10,000 installations in the power and industrial sectors. By incentivising reductions where they are most cost-effective, the ETS illustrates how economic instruments can drive environmental outcomes. But carbon pricing is just one piece of the puzzle. The EU has also committed to sourcing at least 32% of its energy from renewables and improving energy efficiency by 32.5% by 2030. Relatedly, the EU’s climate ambition clearly carries a decarbonization rhetoric. The transition to a net-zero economy is framed not as a burden, but as a catalyst for economic growth, technological innovation, and job creation. For example, The Green Deal aims to ensure that this transformation is socially inclusive, just, and regionally balanced, as traditional industries evolve and new markets emerge.

Political Ideologies and Climate Change Efforts

Source: the guardian

Particularly in the past decade, Europe has experienced notable political and ideological shifts, shaped by global crises, economic challenges, migration, and rising populism. Summarized below are some examples and their climate stances. As exemplified by Germany’s CDU/SCU, France’s Renaissance, and Spain’s PSOE, mainstream liberal democracies (centre-right and centre-left) remain dominant across Western Europe. These parties typically advocate for market economies, EU integration, civil rights, and a rules-based international order. For example, Germany under various coalitions, or Spain under a leftist government pursuing major renewable goals and coal phase‑out.

One trend to mention is the significant rise of right-wing populism; key players include Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) in France, Alternative for Germany (AfD), Viktor Orban’s Fidesz in Hungary, and Matteo Salvini’s Lega. These parties champion anti-immigration policies, national sovereignty over EU centralization, and skepticism of globalization. As an example, Lega allegedly supports energy transition but has opposed or abstained on certain international treaties, and the RN has opposed many EU climate policies but is also promoting domestic renewables for jobs. Alternative for Germany (AfD) rejects many climate laws, opposes the German Renewable Energy Act, and restricts wind energy expansion.

Meanwhile, green parties have seen growing support, particularly among younger voters in Western and Northern Europe. Germany’s Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), France’s EELV, and Nordic Green parties place climate action at the centre of their platforms, alongside commitments to social justice and sustainable economies. In Sweden, for instance, the Greens have pushed for higher taxes on environmentally harmful activities and greater investment in public transit.

Ideological Consistency and the Climate Agenda

Despite the ideological variety across Europe, the alignment between a party’s political identity and its climate stance is far from uniform. While green parties are generally consistent, centrist and right-leaning parties often walk a fine line between supporting climate policy and protecting industry interests or voter sensitivities. For instance, Germany’s CDU/CSU has historically championed market-based mechanisms like the ETS, yet under pressure from coalition politics and industrial lobbies, has hesitated on more aggressive fossil fuel phase-outs. Similarly, France’s Renaissance party has pushed forward climate initiatives through President Macron’s leadership, but has faced criticism for failing to adequately include social protections in its ecological transition plans—highlighted by the rise of the Yellow Vests movement. Right-wing populist parties add another layer of unpredictability: while they often oppose EU-level climate mandates, they may support select green policies when framed around national economic interests or energy independence, as seen with RN’s support for domestic renewables in France. These inconsistencies suggest that climate policy does not follow a strict left–right dichotomy, but rather emerges from a mixture of ideological commitments, national interests, and electoral political strategy.

Implications for Predictability and Climate Deadlines

One could speculate that the lack of ideological coherence in climate policy stances undermines the predictability of Europe’s trajectory toward its climate goals. When governing coalitions shift or when populist movements gain traction, environmental policies risk becoming collateral in broader political contests. This matters because EU climate targets, while legally binding, rely heavily on national implementation. Laws like the European Climate Law and the Fit for 55 package provide a strong framework, but ultimately it’s up to national governments to deliver. If political will falters or public support wavers, countries could miss critical milestones—especially in areas like heavy industry decarbonization or clean energy infrastructure. Ultimately, while the EU framework provides direction, the unevenness in party alignment and domestic execution could potentially cast doubt on the EU’s ability to deliver a timely climate transformation.

Do Ideologies Still Matter in the New Climate Era?

All of this raises a larger question: is climate change starting to transcend traditional political ideologies? In some ways, yes. The scale of the climate crisis has forced even reluctant parties to acknowledge the issue. Energy security, inflation, and extreme weather have made climate policy (finally…) harder to ignore.

We may be seeing the early stages of a political shift where climate becomes a core issue that cuts across ideologies. But whether this leads to lasting, cross-party consensus remains to be seen. The world has already witnessed backpedaling of climate commitments. In Europe, Germany reopened coal plants during the 2022 energy crisis, despite net-zero goals. Globally, at COP28 in 2023, countries failed to agree on a fossil fuel phase-out, highlighting resistance to stronger climate commitments. Could we now witness an opposite trend whereby climate policy outlives political cycles? Can climate policy drive an ideology based on its own principles that unifies national interests based on sustainable development and economic growth?

PS: These are not rhetorical. We would love to hear from you.