Ability of Politicians to Act – Climate Protection in the Era of the Polycrisis

This report examines five key societal and economic developments that significantly influence the ability of politicians to act in an era of polycrisis. These include: the global polycrisis as a defining condition of our time; increasing fragmentation within society; the structural transformation of the public sphere from mass media to micro-publics; the growing limitations of traditional governance; and the emergence of new governance approaches that are more digital, polycentric, and transformative. The authors argue that in a context of rising fragmentation, digital polarization, and declining trust in political institutions, a well-communicated and participatory climate policy can serve as a model for democratic action and resilience in the polycrisis.