Karthik Iyangar
The Climate crisis is obviously real, and it is a massive politically driven crisis. Every degree of warming, every single emission, and every polluted land, water, and air can be traced back to political decisions made. Climate change is not an accident, it is a direct result of economic plans, major policies, and environmental deregulations that favor short-term gains over long-term sustainability.
What makes the crisis more unfair is that emissions from historically developed countries have disproportionately impacted the world’s most vulnerable populations in nations near the equator. These nations own the least responsibility and the fewest resources to adapt. As of 2024, the global average temperature has risen approximately 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels, inching dangerously close to the 1.5°C threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement. This warming is not evenly distributed and its effects are amplified in Global South nations. These nations are already struggling with poverty, food insecurity, and weak infrastructure to deal with this.
Over my years of following Global Politics, I have somewhat figured what determines whether a country follows climate action or goes against it. It comes down to political ideology. Governments with differing economic priorities and worldviews form drastically different environmental policies. As leadership changes, so too does a country’s environmental direction, sometimes dramatically. Let’s take a closer look at how this plays out globally.
USA’s Climate Pendulum
When the Right-wing leader Donald Trump came in power for the first time (2017-2021), he exited Paris Agreement, promoted fossil fuels, and rolled back over 100 environmental protections. His tenure represented a nationalist, anti-regulation approach to governance. Center-Left leader Joe Biden (2021-2025) rejoined Paris Agreement on the first day of office, and made historic investments in clean energy and electric vehicles. His administration emphasizes global cooperation, green jobs, and net zero targets. When Donald Trump came back to power in 2025, he exited Paris agreement again, reintroduced plastic straws, and supports Arctic drilling.
India’s mixed actions
India’s governance for Climate Change has been complex under the Right-Leaning Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On one hand, India is a global leader for solar energy, and a part of global efforts like Paris agreements. On the other hand, mining hasn’t stopped, many forests are still being cut down (like the case of Hyderabad’s forests in 2025), and the weak Environmental Impact Assessment keeps approving new environmentally negative projects.
Brazil’s return to Green Actions
Brazil has seen dramatic shifts in environmental policy, particularly around the Amazon rainforest. Jair Bolsonaro’s (2019-2023) Right-Wing Government encouraged Agri business expansion which led to massive deforestation in the Amazon. He positioned environmental regulations as barriers to economic development. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s (2023 – Present) Left-Wing Government returned to power, reinstated protections and pledged zero deforestation.
Japan’s Stability
Japan’s political scene is less ideologically polarized but remains largely center-right. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has governed for most of Japan’s post-war history. While Japan has made strides in reducing emissions and investing in green tech, it remains reluctant to abandon fossil fuels, with increased reliance on coal and natural gas.
Germany’s Coalition Politics
Under Angela Merkel (2005-2021), Germany saw a center-right but environmentally aware governance. Merkel was called the “Climate Chancellor” and supported a transition to renewable energy. The current state is pretty instable. A coalition of the Social Democrats (center-left), the Greens (left), and Free Democrats (liberal-right) is in power. While the Greens drive aggressive decarbonization policies, compromises with other coalition members has slowed the implementation.
Canada’s Climate Hypocrisy
Canada has long positioned itself as a progressive climate leader, but its economy is deeply tied to fossil fuel exports. Justin Trudeau’s (2015-2025) Center-Left Government introduced a national carbon tax, invested in renewable energy, and pledged net-zero by 2050. However, this government also approved major oil pipelines and subsidized fossil fuel industries. Mark Carney, who officially became Prime Minister in March 2025 as leader of the Liberal Party, brings with him a reputation for promoting sustainable finance, carbon pricing and climate risk disclosure. His government has even proposed policies to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. This marks a pivotal shift in Canada’s environmental policies.
Ideologies shape the Earth
So, now we understand how the battle against climate change is deeply political. As we’ve seen, left-leaning governments tend to prioritize environmental protection, global cooperation, and sustainability, while right-leaning ones are responsible for deregulation, industrial growth, and energy independence, sometimes at the expense of the planet. These ideological divides shape our forests, fuels, the lands we live, the water we drink and the air we breathe.
But climate change doesn’t wait for election cycles. Its impacts are borderless and immediate. As the planet continues to warm, the need for consistent climate governance becomes more urgent than ever. If environmental policies shift every few years with each change in leadership, we never fulfil the actual beneficial policies in the long-term.
Ultimately, climate justice requires courage. Across different ideologies, citizens must demand accountability not just from polluters, but from policymakers. This is about our future, and the generations coming after us deserve a good life. No child should be born in an extremely heated and polluted air, or else human life wont thrive in this planet.
About the Contributor: Karthik Iyangar is an EPAYF Fellow (Cohort 2.0) and a recent graduate in Environmental Science from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He will soon begin his MBA in Rural Management at IRMA, Anand.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
Read more at IMPRI:
Bridging the Gap: Rethinking Construction Policy for a Sustainable Future
Canada After Trudeau: Carney’s Coalition, Trump’s Shadow, and India’s Opportunity
Acknowledgment: This article was posted by Riya Rawat, researcher at IMPRI.
