The European Green Deal is an increasingly recognized "brand". This name covers a package of regulations prepared by the European Commission in order to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050 . The project has been accompanied by a lively debate from the very beginning, in which – understandably – the most extreme opinions come to the fore. How do Poles perceive these plans? Do they evoke hope or fear? Are we more inclined to believe "eco-terrorists" or "eco-skeptics"? The CBOS telephone survey conducted in mid-May was devoted to, among others, this very issue.
Negative associations
It shows that skeptical opinions about the European Green Deal prevail among Poles. This name evokes negative associations for most respondents (52%). If they are different, they are "neither positive nor negative" (29%) rather than unambiguously positive (only 14%).
Responding "positively" to the question about what respondents associate with the European Green Deal is supported by interest in politics. Of the people who described their interest in this field as "very great", this answer was given by 25% of those questioned. In turn, the group most reluctant to respond to the Green Deal are farmers (84% of responses are "negative").
– The left-wing worldview favors a positive (23%), and the right-wing – a negative (74%) attitude towards the European Green Deal – note the authors of the study.
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Further simplifications in direct payments?
What is the Green Deal associated with?
CBOS decided to check what constitutes the content of these emotions, what exactly arouses reluctance or (less often) enthusiasm of the respondents. Respondents were asked an open question about the associations they have with the European Green Deal. What answers were given?
The largest group of people said that they associated the Green Deal with agriculture. According to CBOS, statements from this group were often accompanied by the comment that the changes that will take place will be unfavorable for Polish farmers and even that they will lead to the collapse of this industry.
"Ecological" associations, i.e. those relating to nature, protecting it, and caring for the cleanliness of the natural environment, appeared more often than others among people with higher education, with relatively high income per capita and those inclined to a left-wing worldview.
Generally positive associations were supported by young age (25–34) and mature age (55+), great interest in politics and non-participation in religious practices.
The tendency to have generally negative associations with the Green Deal was more common among men than among women.
More than every tenth respondent declared that they associated the European Green Deal with restrictions or prohibitions that would affect Poland, Europe or specific social groups. In this context, there were also statements that the EU intended to interfere in our lives.
The next group of statements referred to the financial effects of the introduction of the European Green Deal and, in the opinion of these people, these were clearly negative effects – higher prices resulting from the increase in energy prices, increase in taxes, impoverishment of the population.
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Green Deal equals farmer protests
Two groups of associations give the impression – according to CBOS – of a substantive reference to the facts. Some respondents associate the slogan "Green Deal" with protests, mainly by farmers, while others associate it with specific changes mentioned by these people that are planned to be introduced in the economy and in our lives, such as reducing CO2 emissions, moving away from fossil fuels or popularizing renewable energy sources.
A rather homogeneous group of less popular associations concerned various aspects of the oppressiveness that, in the respondents' opinion, the implementation of the European Green Deal will involve. In this context, some mentioned limiting the freedom of people, groups or states, others mentioned the tendency of the European Union to interfere in Polish affairs and impose something on us, and still others stated directly that the Green Deal is directed against Poland (e.g. because, in opinion of these people, will lead to the destruction of Polish agriculture).
As CBOS notes, Poles do not associate the European Green Deal with something that will benefit our country. On the contrary, it clearly raises more fears than hopes. The concerns are primarily related to the threat that as a result of these projects, our agriculture may be seriously damaged, entire sectors of the economy may disappear, the cost of living will increase significantly, and the EU may also gain even more power over us and the ability to influence our lives. Those who are hopeful about the Green Deal hope that thanks to it we will breathe clean air in the future, and maybe we will even be able to save the Earth from climate destruction.
Source: CBOS, PAP
