A green divide? Climate policy support and its urban-rural geography in Europe

Opposition to the green transition is often attributed to the direct costs of climate policies, with particularly vulnerable individuals perceived as more resistant. While recent studies suggest rural Europeans may be more adversely affected by these policies, their attitudes have largely been overlooked. This article investigates whether, and in which context, rural Europeans are indeed less supportive of climate policies. I propose that attitudes vary depending on the specific policy and its effects, both financial but also non-financial. Using survey data from nine European countries, and an additional analysis in France, I explore the urban-rural divide in attitudes towards a wide range of climate policies. Empirically, I find significant differences in support for policies with higher financial costs as well as those potentially generating other cultural or symbolic grievances. I hence argue that climate politics must account for the diverse geographic and contextual factors influencing policy attitudes.