This study examines how the United Kingdom’s Brexit experience has influenced Europeans’ voting preferences, focusing on the interplay between trust, risk attitudes, socio-demographic characteristics, and climate change concerns. Using pooled data from the European Social Survey (ESS) rounds 8 (2016) and 10 (2021), we investigate the extent to which individuals’ climate change perceptions correlate with their preference to remain in or leave the European Union (EU). Our findings suggest that, in the post-Brexit period, individuals favoring EU membership exhibit heightened concern for climate change compared to those supporting an exit. These results highlight the importance of social trust, political interest, and collective risk perception in shaping environmental attitudes. The analysis further underscores regional variations across Europe, with Northern European countries displaying the strongest alignment between pro-EU preferences and climate concerns. This research contributes to understanding the broader implications of Brexit, offering insights into the nexus of political preferences and environmental policy challenges.

Co-authors

Professor Andrea Morone, European University Institute, IT