In the survey, first-time voters aged 15–25 rate the climate as the most important issue. But in the rest of the voter groups, it only ends up in fifth place.
This is a change since the 2019 election, when the climate issue ranked significantly higher in all voter groups. This year, several parties on the right are going to the polls with the message of pausing or dismantling parts of the climate laws.
The fact that the climate crisis is barely mentioned in this year’s EU elections may affect young people’s motivation to vote and cause many to stay at home on election day, according to a forecast from the EU Commission.