Growing polarisation: ideology and attitudes towards climate change

To what extent have attitudes towards climate change become more polarised in recent years? Using panel data from the German Longitudinal Election Study between 2016 and 2022, our multivariate linear mixed models reveal an increased polarisation between ideological groups over time, in particular between those positioned on the left and the right of the cultural left-right dimension. This growing polarisation is mostly the result of those at the right end of the cultural divide becoming less supportive of climate change action. The pattern of growing division between ideological groups is also reflected in the polarisation between supporters of the populist radical right party AfD (Alternative for Germany) and Green voters, with AfD voters showing a decrease in their support for climate change action. Overall, our results suggest increased issue polarisation, with populist radical right parties and culturally right-wing ideology driving a gap in support for climate action.