The European Green Deal and Dissensus over Liberal Democracy
(2026) The Palgrave Handbook of Dissensus over Liberal Democracy in Europe — ISBN: [9783032224804], 533-549, published
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- In this chapter, we evaluate how the effects of a growing dissensus towards liberal democracy in Europe spill over into climate action and sustainability governance under the European Green Deal (EGD). To do this, we first take stock of the climate policy achievements of the von der Leyen I Commission, in which the EGD was unveiled. Secondly, we explore the effects of dissensus on climate policy across the EU’s institutions—including the Parliament, Council, and Commission—as well as in international fora. We find that climate action appears to be less of a political priority for the EU’s executive and legislative branches in the 2024–2029 term than the preceding term. This is a result of shifting electoral results, geopolitical realities, and instances of green backlash. We conclude by highlighting the need to broaden democracy through civil society engagement and youth movements in order to both restore citizen trust in the EU political system and foster inclusivity in decarbonisation processes. With turbulence on the horizon for the EGD at the outset of the von der Leyen II Commission, the need to further understand the link between climate action and confidence in liberal democracy is greater than ever.
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Rosamond, J., & Orsini, A. (2026). The European Green Deal and Dissensus over Liberal Democracy. In Ramona Coman, Claudia Bădulescu, Thomas Christiansen, Marta Simoncini (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Dissensus over Liberal Democracy in Europe (pp. 533-549). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-22481-1_29