Observing reactions and responses to climate change worldwide, we think climate policies cannot exert their impact sufficiently. Consequently, studying the climate policy paradigms (CPPs) shaped by the dominant environmental ideas and climate objectives is essential. This paper analyses the CPPs in the Visegrad Countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) (V4). We investigated the strategic background and implementation related to climate policies by studying the CPPs' different levels. Our research comprises two components: 1. Analysis of national climate strategies and plans (n = 9) to reveal documented policy goals. 2. In-depth interviews (n = 58) to explore the implementation of policy goals and strategic principles. According to our results, the V4's climate strategy documents (CSDs) align with global climate policy efforts and follow EU standards. However, we have found contradictions between the policy goals and their implementation. Our findings show that CSDs are only partial indicators of the CPPs, and all four countries have gaps between ideas and the realization of climate actions. One of the main reasons is that V4 prioritizes national economic interest and energy security. Consequently, the climate policy paradigm takes a back seat. The other inhibiting factors are the lack of social will and the shortcomings of climate governance. Display omitted •The V4 has taken significant steps in climate policy over the past decade.•Policy implementation does not fully match climate policy goals.•Obstacles are economic interest, lack of social will, and institutional failures.•Poland’s coal reliance drives pronounced policy gaps.•Climate strategies serve as superficial indicators of climate policy paradigms.