Shared Crisis, Divided Visions: Climate and Backlash Movements and Climate Policy in Poland

Climate change, as a central challenge of the contemporary era, generates new arenas of conflict. Some conflicts arise from competition over scarce resources or are associated with climate-induced migration; however, in Europe, the most significant disputes concern the perceived justice of climate policies. The introduction of ambitious climate targets and regulations has faced resistance from various societal sectors, driven by concerns about lifestyle changes and economic stability. Additionally, the increasing prevalence of radical protest tactics among both climate activists and opponents of climate policy has raised public attention to these issues, while simultaneously increasing the risk of radicalization and intensifying social conflict. The aim of the study was to explore the landscape of conflict surrounding climate policy in Poland and its social actors. We examined the visions of climate policy represented by the actors in this conflict and how they justify their choices of activities. Based on individual in-depth interviews with both climate and backlash movements operating in Poland, we investigated and described the main axes of division within the conflict over climate policies in Poland, categorizing them by their objectives, methods of action, demands, and target audiences. The results of the study were also supplemented by a broader context of changes in the activities of climate movements in recent years. The findings indicate that both sides of the Polish climate policy dispute recognize the issue of climate change, but they conceptualize the problem differently, establish distinct goals, and favor divergent approaches to address it. In the absence of a platform for dialogue, social actors representing opposing interests in the climate policy conflict do not engage directly or attempt to reach consensus. Instead, each group seeks to advance its demands through political decision-makers. Both sides perceive the use of extraordinary and radical measures as necessary to effectively communicate their demands and reach a wide audience. These dynamics may further fuel the radical attitudes within the conflict and impede the development and implementation of policies that balance climate, social, and economic objectives.