Climate action versus environmental protection?: How far-right and environmentalist messengers shape public attitudes towards renewable energy infrastructure in forests

Focusing on wind power, a highly politicized issue,and solar energy, less contentious, we conducted an experimental survey inGermany. We assess how either a far-right or an environmentalist critic affectacceptance of renewables. Importantly, our analysis examines support forrenewables in forest areas, focusing on a conflict between climate action andlocal environmental protection. Our findings reveal that the messenger impactsattitudes regarding wind energy. Criticism of wind turbine expansion by anenvironmentalist actor leads to greater rejection, while a similar critique bya far-right actor results in increased acceptance, i.e. a backlash effect. No suchinfluence was found for solar energy. We explain these diverging findings bydifferences in politicization. Our findings have important consequences forunderstanding key dynamics of the public debate and political conflict overclimate action.