Green Backlash and Right-Wing Populism
20.02.2025
Valentina Bosetti (Bocconi University, IEP, GREEN Research Centre, RFF-CMCC European Institute of Economics and the Environment, Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change); Italo Colantone (Bocconi University, IEP, GREEN Research Centre, Baffi Research Centre, CESifo and Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei); Catherine E. De Vries (Bocconi University, IEP, GREEN Research Centre, Baffi Research Centre, Dondena Research Center); Giorgio Musto (Bocconi University)
Climate policies, green backlash, right-wing populism
Università Bocconi - GREEN (Centre for Geography, Resources, Environment, Energy and NEtworks)
Working Paper N0. 26, february 2025
This narrative review delves into the politics of climate policy, with specific focus on the so-called “green backlash”. That is, rising resistance by voters, parties, and governments to the climate transition. We start by reviewing the literature on the political consequences of climate policies. The evidence points to a green backlash among citizens negatively affected by the decarbonization transition. Populist right forces emerge as main beneficiaries of the backlash. They tend to be more skeptical regarding anthropogenic climate change and less supportive of climate policies. Their electoral success has negative implications for countries’ climate policy making and performance. Finally, we draw insights from the literature to reflect on what can be done to improve the political sustainability of climate policies.