Climate policy support and environmental values

A remarkable 77% of Europeans believe that taking climate action will lead to innovation and make EU companies more competitive. Beyond an environmental vision—it’s a clear economic provocation :) The latest Eurobarometer findings confirm that the public is not only on board with the green transition but sees it as a pathway to economic prosperity. This strong support for a sustainable, competitive future presents a unique opportunity for Europe to lead. The numbers are compelling: 🟢 84% of citizens support giving more aid to European companies to compete in the global market for clean technologies. 🟢 A strong majority of 88% believe it is important for the EU to increase investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency. 🟢 75% agree that reducing fossil fuel imports will boost energy security and benefit the EU economically. This public support is a powerful tailwind for business leaders and policymakers, signaling a readiness to embrace a future where circularity and clean technology are not just compliance measures but core drivers of innovation and market leadership. The challenge now is to capitalize on this momentum, turning public optimism into concrete strategic investments that secure Europe's competitive edge. #SustainableBusiness #CleanTech #CircularEconomy #Innovation #GreenTransition

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. A newly published study shows something that feels intuitive: people who prioritize environmental protection over economic growth are significantly more likely to support Green parties. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eU7QEkZz But the real insight lies deeper. The study finds that this political translation of environmental values weakens where economic insecurity is high, particularly among those with lower incomes, lower education levels, or living in rural areas. In other words, support for climate action isn’t just about values; it’s about the conditions that allow people to act on those values. Solidarity, economic, social, political, is the enabling environment for sustainability. And yet, solidarity itself is under strain. A striking example: while 89% of people globally support stronger government climate action, and many would willingly contribute 1% of their income to that end, most underestimate how many others feel the same. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eDt8Xnuz This “spiral of silence”, where we assume we’re alone in our concern, can suppress momentum, even when consensus is already there. Sustainability requires more than technology or policy, it demands shared confidence, collective security, and visible alignment of values. Green politics will remain vulnerable until the conditions of economic and social inclusion are structurally addressed. And we won’t get far if people must choose between climate and livelihood. What we need is a politics, and an economics, that doesn’t just reflect values, but protects the capacity to act on them. No sustainability without solidarity. No solidarity without inclusive freedom.

🌍 "Reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases may be almost impossible without a green transition—a substantial transformation of consumption and production patterns." This powerful opening from Prof. Timothy Besley and Prof. Torsten Persson’s latest QJE paper sets the stage for a bold, fresh look at climate policy. In "The Political Economics of Green Transitions", they move beyond the usual focus on carbon taxes, exploring how societal values, political cycles, and market forces combine to either support or hinder a greener future. Their model offers actionable insights on why some green policies fall short—and what it takes to overcome those barriers. 🔍 Their policy recommendations? Flexible, adaptive policies that go beyond financial incentives. Public campaigns to nurture green values. Bipartisan commitments to prevent policy reversals. And importantly, reducing lobbying power from high-polluting industries to keep policy aligned with public interest. For a deep dive into how these insights can shape sustainable policymaking, check out the full article 👇 #GreenTransition 🌱 #ClimatePolicy #SustainabilityMatters #PoliticalEconomy

There has been much speculation around what the Commission's MFF and CAP proposals might mean for environmental and climate action and support for the green transition in farming. In this post https://lnkd.in/dY8WfJz8, I examine the way environment and climate is treated in the Commission proposals, including the role they play in CAP objectives, proposed alterations in the design of these interventions, and most importantly, the level of resources likely to be made available. Despite the high priority given to environmental and climate action in the objectives, the proposal provides the wrong incentives to Member States to support this objective when they come to allocate resources.

Today, I – alongside nearly 40 other academics – announced our support for natural climate solutions (NCS) as an essential part of the path to net zero. In a letter to the U.N.’s Article 6.4 Supervisory Body and the Science Based Targets initiative, we highlight why climate policy must emphasize durability and scalability to deliver effective, large-scale action. NCS like reforestation, peatland protection, and cropland soil conservation, offer gigaton-scale mitigation potential today, while also delivering biodiversity, water, and community co-benefits. Excluding NCS risks sidelining some of the most immediately available and impactful climate tools. Learn more about the importance of durability and how NCS effectively scale climate action here: https://lnkd.in/gAV4MiZ4 To add your name as a scientist, fill out this form: https://lnkd.in/gRReNvsv Onward with science and nature. #ClimateAction #NetZero #NaturalClimateSolutions #Sustainability #ScienceBasedTargets naturebase.org

What if, after all, we have been underestimating just how strongly citizens support climate action? Underestimating support for climate action limits political decision making, study says. Research reveals huge disparity between perceived and actual willingness of public to contribute to fixing climate Politicians and policymakers significantly underestimate the public’s willingness to contribute to climate action, limiting the ambition and scope of green policies, according to research. Delegates at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) were asked to estimate what percentage of the global population would say they were willing to give 1% of their income to help fix climate change. The average estimate was 37%, but recent research found the true figure is 69%.