Article Pick : Right-Wing Populism and Climate Change Policy

This week, we have picked up a piece published in Oxford research group by Matthew Lockwood, a well published author in the politics of climate and energy policy.

Lockwood, in this article attempts to explores the “links between populism and climate scepticism, and why such a relationship exists” and calls out for further exploration of the theme, in the interest of effective climate action.

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OnePointFive encourages its members to critically explore the space that the climate agenda occupies in the current political spectrum. Avoiding irreversible climate change needs effective climate action, which largely depend on international and national policies developed by our in-power political parties.

Understanding their political position and of those in opposition is essential to ensure that the climate agenda rises above the differences in political spectrum and is equally embraced by all .

Though the arguments in this article are more rooted in the rise of populism in the west, it is a story worth following across the world; to be better prepared to protect the climate agenda, (if) when populist gain momentum in our vicinity.

Rise of Populism in the West

Notice : Split between populist and establishment party vote share 

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“The rise of what is usually called right-wing populism has become one of the defining features of politics in the post-financial crash world.”

Lockwood while acknowledging that the main preoccupation of most right-wing populists has been immigration or minorities , he suggests that a case can be made that right-wing populist parties tend to be hostile to policy prescribing action on climate change.

He tries to find an answer in the disproportionately strong following of the populist parties from the “left behinds” — represented by the section of society whose jobs, incomes and wider economic security have been most eroded by processes of globalisation, automation and de-unionisation — as a new middle class emerged.

He explains that climate policies pose not only a further “threat to the livelihoods” of the this section, who make up a large percentage of workers in sectors most affected by structural change that the climate policies demand — manufacturing, heavy industry and mining (especially coal); but “threaten to pile new burdens” , on the group with the likes of carbon tax and dialogues to levy on electricity bills to subsidise the growth of renewable energy.

Lockwood, further explores the socially conservative and nationalist values of populism, for more plausible explanations.

He explains that populist parties generally place themselves outside the political mainstream to promise a simpler vision of direct democracy with government by the people in national interest , unlike modern representative democracy which place power in the hands of the people (through politicians, bureaucrats or experts) often resulting in complex structures.

He adds that the populist criticises modern representative democracy as “being principally by a socially liberal and cosmopolitan elite” and a result of “elites corrupted by special interest groups”.

While this criticism of modern representative democracy and that of populist offering needs further critical analysis, it is unfortunate that the Climate Agenda suffers a ‘Collateral Damage’ in this ideological difference.

Lockwood suggest that the populist scepticism for the climate agenda comes from their perception that climate agenda is principally espoused by “a socially liberal and cosmopolitan elite” corrupted by “special interest environmentalists and climate scientist groups”, seeking an exercise essentially involving “politicians, bureaucrats or experts”.

As Lockwood recognises, such scepticism has made climate change a breeding ground for conspiracy theories as well, often hindering progress.

Lockwood rests his piece constructively, suggesting that the understanding of links between the drivers of populism, populist world views and climate scepticism is still in very early stages and there is a need for more systematic evidence to test arguments, presented here and elsewhere.

“But for those who are concerned about climate change, this should be an urgent agenda. Any effective response to the populist challenge will need to rest on such an understanding.”

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Article Pick  is a OnePointFive Blog Series  , where we bring to our members interesting articles from around the world that indulge in latest conversations in the realm of climate change, buildings and the building industry.

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