Central and Eastern Europe’s energy crossroads: What new public opinion data tells us about the path forward

The document analyzes polling data from Project Tempo's EuroPulse Dashboard, revealing that while 62% of voters in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) acknowledge human-driven climate change, they prioritize the economy and security over climate action, which ranks 16th out of 18 issues. CEE voters show strong support for wind (62%), solar (65%), and carbon dioxide removal (62%), with higher-than-average support for nuclear power (44%) as a means to ensure self-sufficiency and industrial competitiveness. The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) recommends a diversified approach incorporating 'clean firm power'—including nuclear (SMRs), advanced geothermal, and gas with carbon capture—to maintain 24/7 reliability and reduce dependence on external suppliers, particularly in light of Russia's war in Ukraine. Key barriers identified include a lack of funding consensus, as only 55% of voters support any specific payment option for the transition, and insufficient regional coordination on cross-border infrastructure.

• Public opinion in Central and Eastern Europe is characterized by a tension between general climate awareness and immediate economic and security anxieties. While 70% of voters view climate change as a "major threat for Europe" and 62% accept it is human-driven, climate change is ranked 16th out of 18 tested issues, trailing behind the economy, public services, and security.
• There is broad support for a diverse array of clean energy technologies in the CEE region, with nuclear energy receiving higher support than the European average because it is perceived to provide benefits similar to renewables, such as lower costs and industrial competitiveness.
• The Clean Air Task Force argues that CEE countries should adopt a technology-neutral strategy focusing on 'clean firm power' to ensure energy sovereignty and industrial stability, specifically citing nuclear energy (including SMRs), advanced geothermal energy, and gas with carbon capture.
• Significant barriers to the energy transition in CEE include a lack of public consensus on financing and a tendency for policy frameworks to favor narrow, low-immediate-cost technology pathways over long-term system balance.

APA

Lagurashvili, T., & Albares, S. (2025). Central and Eastern Europe’s energy crossroads: What new public opinion data tells us about the path forward. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2025/12/central-eastern-europes-energy-crossroads-what-new-public-opinion-data-tells-about-path-forward/

Chicago

Lagurashvili, Tamara, and Sara Albares. Central and Eastern Europe’s energy crossroads: What new public opinion data tells us about the path forward. Clean Air Task Force, 2025. https://www.catf.us/2025/12/central-eastern-europes-energy-crossroads-what-new-public-opinion-data-tells-about-path-forward/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lagurashvili |first1=Tamara |last2=Albares |first2=Sara |title=Central and Eastern Europe’s energy crossroads: What new public opinion data tells us about the path forward |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=16 December 2025 |url=https://www.catf.us/2025/12/central-eastern-europes-energy-crossroads-what-new-public-opinion-data-tells-about-path-forward/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lagurashvili2025central, author = {Lagurashvili, Tamara and Albares, Sara}, title = {{Central and Eastern Europe’s energy crossroads: What new public opinion data tells us about the path forward}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://www.catf.us/2025/12/central-eastern-europes-energy-crossroads-what-new-public-opinion-data-tells-about-path-forward/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }