WHAT ABOUT POPULISM? A reason to stall climate action or a chance to reframe the narrative?

Populism is a political approach that claims to speak for “ordinary people” – those who feel ignored or left behind established elite groups. Around the world, populist movements frequently frame environmental action as elitist, out of touch with the priorities of “real people.”

In this episode, James and Daisy discuss the rise of populism. What exactly is populism? How is it shaping public attitudes towards climate action? How must the climate movement adapt?

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:

· The New Statesman (2025) – “It’s time for climate populism” – an interesting article by Caroline Lucas and Rupert Ready. Caroline Lucas, the former MP and Green Party leader, has warned that the rise of populism and the acceleration of the nature and climate emergences are becoming increasingly interlinked.

· Yale Program on Climate Communication conducts scientific research on public climate change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour, and the underlying factors that influence them.

OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:

· Greg Jackson – The founder of Octopus Energy has said "British people support net zero, but not if bills rise. We need to reform the market urgently to maintain public backing for cutting emissions. Clean energy can be cheaper to generate, but our outdated market means consumers don’t benefit. Billpayers are forking out billions to switch off wind farms on windy days while households and industry struggle with high bills - instead of enjoying cheaper energy. A modern market could save tens of billions over the next 15 years."

· The Guardian (2025) – A Channel 4 study, Gen Z: Trends, Truth and Trust, found 52% of Gen Zers thought “the UK would be a better place if a strong leader was in charge who does not have to bother with parliament and elections”. 33% of those aged 13-27 agreed that the UK would be better off “if the army was in charge”, and 47% agreed that “the entire way our society is organised must be radically changed through revolution”.

· The Order of the Day – A book by Éric Vuillard telling the story of the pivotal meetings which took place in Germany in the run-up to World War Two.

· The MIT Press Reader (2021) – “Populism is on the rise. From 1990 to 2018, the number of countries with populist leaders increased from four to 20.”

· Sky News (February 2025) – A YouGov poll showed Reform UK leading for the first time, topping the poll at 25%, ahead of Labour at 24% and the Conservatives at 21%.

· E3G (2024) – This article provides a clear overview of the politics of populism and climate action.

· Sabin Center for Climate Change Law – This Climate Backtracker identifies steps taken by the Trump-Vance administration to scale back or wholly eliminate federal climate mitigation and adaptation measures.

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Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3

Producer: Podshop Studios

Huge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.

Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.