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What is driving the green backlash in European urban politics?

Our panel of panel of European city leaders discuss what has been driving a growing backlash against the green transition in Europe, and how this is shaping urban politics and policy making.
Our panel of panel of European city leaders discuss what has been driving a growing backlash against the green transition in Europe, and how this is shaping urban politics and policy making.
Saturday 15 June 2024 | 1 hour 1 minute 1 econds

Cities are widely considered to be progressive bastions against the tide of populism and growth of right-wing movements across Europe. But recent election results show that cities are not immune to the divisive discourses surrounding the green transition. From Berlin to Barcelona to Oslo to London, green policies have developed into a central battleground in local politics, with initiatives such as 15-minute cities, low-traffic neighbourhoods, low emission zones and other attempts to reduce car dependency proving particularly contentious.

How can urban leaders design and communicate policies in ways that reconcile concerns for the end of the month and concerns for the end of the world, and enable the transition towards more just and sustainable cities?