A historical turning point? Early evidence on how the Russia-Ukraine war changes public support for clean energy policies

Abstract

Given the importance of oil and gas from Russia for many European countries, the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in 2022 could be a turning point for energy policy in Europe. A framing in line with the clean-energy transition, however, is not a given. Here, we present early evidence on how the war has changed public policy support for policies aiming at the phase-out of fossil fuels, and for policies supporting the phase-in of clean energy alternatives. Using a population survey in Switzerland, we evaluate the changing support for different policy proposals with varying information treatments. Overall, we find strong support for clean energy policies across much of the political spectrum. Nevertheless, an interpretation of the war's ramifications in line with strengthened climate policy is by no means a given, and public support needs to be translated into policy action.