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Recent research and real-world processes suggest that effective climate change mitigation policies are not feasible without at least a certain degree of public support. Hence, we investigate the link between existing domestic energy policies and individual policy instrument preferences in 21 European countries. We assume a policy feedback perspective and, thus, start from the idea that the current domestic energy context influences what future policies are possible and preferred by citizens. High political trust and strong climate change attitudes are expected to strengthen this relationship. Our results do not lend support to a general link between existing policies and future policy preferences. However, we find evidence of a positive policy feedback in individuals with strong climate change attitudes and/or high levels of political trust, which, depending on each country's current energy policy, either hinders or facilitates the energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need for Europe to implement an effective environment, climate, and energy policies that do not threaten economic competitiveness. It says that high electricity and energy prices are driving energy-intensive industries out of the continent and the European Union (EU) climate policy is at least in part to blame. It contends that economic benefits of unspent subsidies and lower electricity prices outweigh the negative effects on the profitability of industrial sectors.