False climate dawn for Hungary

Reducing reliance on Russia’s oil is low on the list of new leader Peter Magyar’s priorities

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Rally attendees light torches at the arrival of new Prime Minister of Hungary, Peter Magyar. after Hungarian parliamentary elections. Photo by Neil Milton/SOPA Images/Sipa USA. Sipa via AP Images.

LONDON (Callaway Climate Insights) — By all accounts, ousted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was as hostile as any right-wing strongman to climate initiatives over his 16-year reign.

He courted Russian oil, rejected solar panel projects and routinely vetoed European Union climate policies as too expensive for Hungarian industry. A populist among people who support environmental progress, he often provided lip service to renewable ideas but rarely followed up.

As Europe celebrates his defeat in Sunday’s election and looks forward with hope to a reformist government friendly to the EU under new Prime Minister Peter Magyar, it’s tempting to look for any signs of a new climate dawn in Hungary.