Editorial: Environmental policies losing voter support amid economic concerns

Voter support for environmental policies is waning due to rising economic concerns, jeopardizing climate change initiatives.

The Editorial Board writes for The Washington Post.

In short:

• The European Greens lost over a quarter of their seats in the recent European Parliament elections.
• New York Governor Kathy Hochul halted a congestion pricing project aimed at reducing pollution and funding public transit.
• Environmental policies are facing resistance as voters prioritize economic issues like inflation and energy prices over green initiatives.

Key quote:

"Voters are not yet convinced that the effort is worth the costs."

— The Editorial Board, The Washington Post.

Why this matters:

This change in voter priorities could stall or even reverse critical climate legislation. For scientists and regulators, this presents a daunting challenge: how to convey the urgency of climate action in a way that resonates with an economically stressed populace.