Myth busted: Climate action is not ideological
Youth and young adults imagine futures where cleaner environments and meaningful political participation take precedence, even if that means slower progress or fewer consumer choices.
of young Europeans across five countries want a society that moves beyond today’s overemphasis with economic growth.
Centrists and left-leaning youthRight-leaning youth
want their country to be a global leader in ambitious climate action.
On climate, technology, and trade, clear preferences emerge:
- On climate, 44% back ambitious international action, while under one-third reject it and 25% remain undecided.
- 44% favour technological sovereignty through domestic innovation, while only a quarter prefer relying on foreign solutions.
- Nearly 50% support deeper global trade integration, compared to 28% who favour economic independence.
Overall, nearly half of young Europeans want a future with strong climate leadership, global economic integration, and greater technological independence. Political affiliation matters only moderately.
What divides youth and young adults in Europe?
On several policy questions, young Europeans are split almost evenly:
- Public infrastructure: 33% favour maintaining what exists, 38% support major restructuring, 29% are undecided.
- Public security: 37% prioritise safety, 34% individual freedoms, the rest fall in between.
- Political priorities: 33% favour a long-term focus, 35% short-term, 31% neutral
Remarkably, young people across the left, center, and right of the political spectrum are equally divided on these issues, including within their own political camps. This suggests that their positions are less ideologically fixed and leave greater room for democratic solutions.
Migration remains contentious and ideological: 38% support actively recruiting skilled workers, while 36% prefer restrictions. Left-leaning respondents are only slightly more supportive than right-leaning (41% vs 34%). On cultural identity, 50% on the left and 33% on the right support a pluralist society.
Emilce Giardino /Unsplash
The big picture
Young Europeans are far from uniform in their views, but the desire for ecological transformation cuts across ideological lines. While debates persist on migration, security, and infrastructure, climate action and sustainability offer potential for common ground.
Explore what we found
