Goulash of Climate (In)Action

The anti-climate change narratives have clearly become a key scapegoat for Central European populists who have been using the topic’s inherent long-term nature to buttress their voters’ support

As we all continue to face mounting challenges, among which the ever-accelerating climate change stands out the most, the beginning of the 2020s seems to have thus far only accentuated societal divides.

These have been across Europe and North America propelled primarily by various populist movements that do not hesitate to capitalise on virtually any ephemeral issue of public discontent for further political gains, while simultaneously undermining any attempts of social cohesion.

Yet, in recent years, such movements have been progressively pushed by political circumstances to react and develop an agenda pertaining even to issues of long-term significance. The tactics have not evolved, though. Instead of adopting a more rational approach toward such issues, given their greater importance, populist movements simply re-applied their old playbooks and transformed them into nothing but another political target – this time, however, with obvious ingrained long-term implications.