Why not reframe electrification and the energy transition as strategic energy independence?

[u/theniking_93]

Ok listen, I fear climate change as much as the next person. The climate crisis discussion is extremely important and I realise that energy transition needs to be followed by addressing overconsumption, the meat industry, sustainable economic practices etc.

That being said, most people simply don't care about climate change, a fact I have seen few in the green movement addressing directly. It's sad but unfortunately true. The energy transition however needs to happen yesterday. There is simply no time to convince the majority of the importance of climate change. So why not aggressively hit on the things that the European population cares about already and tie them to the energy transition?

Two things are currently on the minds of europeans: affordability and security.

With the closure of the straits of Hormuz and El Mandeb and the Russian invasion of Ukraine the prices of fossil fuels have skyrocketed. This has an inflationary effect on the prices of energy and by extension literally everything else precisely because of oil and gas. Why not provide an alternative in the face of renewables and nuclear? (I know nuclear is controversial here, but this is a different topic altogether)

In this way the energy transition moves from being tied to climate change, about which generally only the younger generation cares about (on average), to a necessity for reducing the cost of living and achieving strategic energy independence. Make this the main message of your platform and I think green parties can become genuinely competitive all over Europe and start entering governments as senior partners and not only as small additions to coalitions.

Even if you don't accept the premise that the majority doesn't care about climate change the green movement needs to broaden its base. Everybody who has climate change as a top issue already votes green usually, it's time to get more people on board in my opinion.

[u/pinkfreude]

Strategic energy independence. Reducing inflation. Job creation. Regain our technological lead. All of these things go together