Green parties across Europe are gaining ground, with the German Greens achieving their best-ever result in last month's federal election. The party won 14.8% of the vote nationwide, and for the first time a Greens candidate was directly elected in Bavaria, a conservative stronghold. Jamila Schäfer, 28, won the Munich-South constituency by a margin of 0.8%, symbolising the party's growing appeal beyond its eco-protest roots.
The Greens are now in talks to join a three-way coalition government in Germany. Co-leader Annalena Baerbock stood as chancellor candidate, but admitted the party fell short of early poll ratings: 'We wanted more. We didn't achieve that.' Despite this, the Greens have increased their vote share in 13 European countries at recent national elections, and hold power in coalition governments in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg and Sweden.
In those countries, Greens are pressing partners for more ambitious carbon emission targets. In Scotland, the Green Party is driving a £33bn plan to decarbonise heating as part of a power-sharing deal. Green mayors in Amsterdam and Budapest aim for carbon neutrality by 2050 and 2030 respectively. However, support remains fragmented in Southern and Eastern Europe, where climate change is less of a priority.
Political scientist Adam Fagan of King's College London noted that mainstream parties have elevated climate change, so voters concerned about the environment may not automatically vote Green. Philippe Lamberts, co-president of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, said: 'People think putting the Greens in power is less dangerous. From the right and the left, there's always a question hanging over us: can you really trust the Greens with the economy?'
Ms Schäfer acknowledged that the structural economic changes needed to reduce emissions scare voters. 'They're worried they'll be the losers of big transformation,' she said. 'It's a lack of control that people are afraid of. But we need to convince people that our politics is not about giving up control.'
