Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Francesco Grillo

Climate fatigue isn’t a sign that Europeans are in denial – it’s a sign of their fear

Farmers block a motorway in protest at plans to cut nitrogen emissions near Bornerbroek, Netherlands, 28 July 2022
Farmers block a motorway in protest at plans to cut nitrogen emissions near Bornerbroek, Netherlands, 28 July 2022. Photograph: Sem van der Wal/ANP/AFP/Getty Images

“At a time when we should be accelerating action, there is backtracking … We are hurtling towards disaster, eyes wide open.” A few months ago, the UN secretary general António Guterres used these words to warn that the collective battle against the climate crisis is losing political steam. Guterres was right: the collective response is pitiful. But it’s not just the politicians.

Clear evidence of climate fatigue emerges from recent opinion polls on voting intentions in the next European parliament elections, in June 2024. While European green parties are expected to lose more than a third of their seats, rightwing climate-sceptic conservatives are expected to win big.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.