Is meaningful climate action possible in a democracy?

Is meaningful climate action possible in a democracy?

From Irish Times Inside Politics by The Irish Times

June 10, 2026 · 38 min

About this episode

Aidan Regan discusses the challenges of balancing democracy, economic growth, and effective climate action, proposing novel political solutions.

In a new book coauthored with fellow political scientists, UCD’s Aidan Regan argues that the three goals of democracy, economic growth and effective climate action are at odds with one another, and that the resulting “trilemma” requires novel political solutions to solve.  On today's podcast Aidan talks to Hugh about why it is so difficult to balance these goals and potential solutions. They also discuss why effective climate action should be linked to improved standards of living, not increased costs; whether regulations are really to blame for our failure to deliver infrastructure and housing; how China manages to achieve economic growth while leading in the transition to green technology; and whether “degrowth” is a realistic path to sustainability or a political impossibility.  The New Trilemma of Advanced Capitalism: Democracy, Growth and Effective Climate Action by Aidan Regan, Hanna Schwander, Cyril Benoît and Tim Vlandas is available now.  Aidan Regan is a professor of political economy at the school of politics and international relations at University College Dublin Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign…

People in this episode

Host: Hugh

Guest: Aidan Regan

Topics covered

  • climate action
  • democracy
  • economic growth
  • political solutions
  • sustainability
  • infrastructure
  • green technology

Keywords

  • climate action
  • democracy
  • economic growth
  • political economy
  • sustainability
  • infrastructure
  • green technology
  • degrowth

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University College Dublin

Books & works: The New Trilemma of Advanced Capitalism: Democracy, Growth and Effective Climate Action

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