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Polish Climate Policy Narratives: Uniqueness, Alternative Pathways, and Nascent Polarisation

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  • Katja Biedenkopf

    (Leuven International and European Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium)

Abstract

European Union (EU) climate politics have polarised over the past decade. Poland especially stands out as the EU member state that has most vehemently opposed numerous decisions to increase the EU’s level of ambition, stirring some turbulence in EU climate politics. Yet, with the publication of the European Green Deal (EGD) in 2019, the European Commission has likewise created turbulence in the Polish parliament’s climate debate. This article analyses those debates and identifies three distinct policy narratives: Poland is in a unique situation, Poland pursues an alternative pathway, and climate policy endangers competitiveness. The alternative pathway narrative, which advocates for the continued use of coal while capturing emissions, faded at roughly the same time when the EGD was proposed at the EU level. Simultaneously, the unique situation narrative, which calls for recognition of Poland’s uniqueness in combination with increased (financial) support, became stronger. The analysis confirms the dominance of the governing party’s narratives, but contrary to previous studies, detects nascent polarisation on climate policy between the right-wing political parties, on the one hand, and the centre-right and centre-left parties, on the other.

Suggested Citation

  • Katja Biedenkopf, 2021. "Polish Climate Policy Narratives: Uniqueness, Alternative Pathways, and Nascent Polarisation," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 391-400.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v:9:y:2021:i:3:p:391-400
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brauers, Hanna & Oei, Pao-Yu, 2020. "The political economy of coal in Poland: Drivers and barriers for a shift away from fossil fuels," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 144.
    2. Koopmans, Ruud & Zürn, Michael, 2019. "Cosmopolitanism and Communitarianism – How Globalization Is Reshaping Politics in the Twenty-First Century," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 1-34.
    3. Stefan Ćetković & Aron Buzogány, 2019. "The Political Economy of EU Climate and Energy Policies in Central and Eastern Europe Revisited: Shifting Coalitions and Prospects for Clean Energy Transitions," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(1), pages 124-138.
    4. Brauers, Hanna & Oei, Pao-Yu, 2020. "The political economy of coal in Poland: Drivers and barriers for a shift away from fossil fuels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    5. Mary Dobbs & Viviane Gravey & Ludivine Petetin, 2021. "Driving the European Green Deal in Turbulent Times," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 316-326.
    6. Żuk, Piotr & Żuk, Paweł & Pluciński, Przemysław, 2021. "Coal basin in Upper Silesia and energy transition in Poland in the context of pandemic: The socio-political diversity of preferences in energy and environmental policy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Claire Dupont & Diarmuid Torney, 2021. "European Union Climate Governance and the European Green Deal in Turbulent Times," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 312-315.

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