Comparative and International Politics Working Group Seminar

"The Politics of the Green Energy Transition in Developing Countries"

Presentation by:
Cleo O'Brien-Udry
Assistant Professor of Politics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

As climate change worsens, shifting from fossil fuels to renewables faces political challenges. While opposition in fossil fuel communities is well-documented in developed countries, less is known about the Global South, where 95% of emissions growth occurs. This study explores how international green energy funding in developing countries influences political dynamics. I argue that such funding triggers backlash against domestic political allies of international actors. Using Kosovo’s World Bank coal funding withdrawal and a spatial difference-in-differences approach, I analyze voter shifts toward parties opposing or supporting international interests. Coal dependent areas penalize pro-international parties and back pro-coal parties after funding ends, while communities near renewable projects show increased support for pro-international parties and decreased support for pro-coal parties. Cross-national analysis reveals similar trends, linking international influence to pro-renewable attitudes. This study underscores both the challenges and potential of international climate policy shaped by donor funding’s political effects.