Does ideology influence the ambition level of climate and renewable energy policy? Insights from four European countries

Thonig R, Del Río P, Kiefer C, Lázaro Touza L, Escribano G, Lechón Y, Späth L, Wolf I, Lilliestam J (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Energy Sources Part B-Economics Planning and Policy Taylor & Francis

Book Volume: 16

Pages Range: 4-22

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1080/15567249.2020.1811806

Abstract

We investigate whether political ideology has an observable effect on decarbonization ambition, renewable power aims, and preferences for power system balancing technologies in four European countries. Based on the Energy Logics framework, we identify ideologically different transition strategies (state-centered, market-centered, grassroots-centered) contained in government policies and opposition party programs valid in 2019. We compare these policies and programs with citizen poll data. We find that ideology has a small effect: governments and political parties across the spectrum have similar, and relatively ambitious, decarbonization and renewables targets. This mirrors citizens’ strong support for ambitious action regardless of their ideological self-description. However, whereas political positions on phasing out fossil fuel power are clear across the policy space, positions on phasing in new flexibility options to balance intermittent renewables are vague or non-existent. As parties and citizens agree on strong climate and renewable power aims, the policy ambition is likely to remain high, even if governments change.

Authors with CRIS profile

Johan Lilliestam

Additional Organisation(s)

Lehrstuhl für Sustainability Transition Policy

Involved external institutions

Spanish National Research Council / Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) ES Spain (ES) Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT) ES Spain (ES) Universität Potsdam DE Germany (DE) Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich CH Switzerland (CH) International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) AT Austria (AT) Elcano Royal Institute / Real Instituto Elcano de Estudios Internacionales y Estratégicos ES Spain (ES)

How to cite

APA:

Thonig, R., Del Río, P., Kiefer, C., Lázaro Touza, L., Escribano, G., Lechón, Y.,... Lilliestam, J. (2021). Does ideology influence the ambition level of climate and renewable energy policy? Insights from four European countries. Energy Sources Part B-Economics Planning and Policy, 16(1), 4-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567249.2020.1811806

MLA:

Thonig, Richard, et al. "Does ideology influence the ambition level of climate and renewable energy policy? Insights from four European countries." Energy Sources Part B-Economics Planning and Policy 16.1 (2021): 4-22.

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