This study explores how Swedish politicians perceive their ability to influence climate policy in relation to their ideals of political representation. Through in-depth interviews with nine Swedish members of parliament representing all parliamentary parties, the findings reveal that the respondents perceive themselves as able to influence climate policy through the output structure but less so in relation to influencing the electorate. While the MPs believe they can achieve voter acceptance for climate policies that do not involve lifestyle changes, they view changes in lifestyle as beyond their capabilities. This perceived inability to influence public opinion leads respondents who believe such changes are necessary to avoid advocating for them, even though they hold an ideal of representation that fosters opinion leadership. This perceived inability could have profound implications for which climate policy that reaches the public agenda. The study identifies four distinct approaches to climate policy based. © 2025 The Author(s).