Identify the most effective policies to address the climate emergency
Analyzing the 1,500 climate policies implemented in 41 countries in the last 25 years (1998-2022), scientists conclude that only 63 have managed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. To reach this conclusion, they've used artificial intelligence tools and they've seen that the policies that have been successful, on many occasions, have been combined with more than one measure. The study, led by Postdam Institute on Climate Impact (PIK), has been published openly in the journal Science.
Researchers have focused on 41 countries from six continents, including Spain and France, and have differentiated four sectors: construction, electricity, industry and transport. As you have emphasised, the key lies in the combination of measures, as this has resulted in the biggest cuts in carbon emissions (19%). Fuel pricing policy, for example, has made a major contribution to increasing the impact of other measures.
In any case, success depends on many of the aggressors and changes from one sector to another, even depending on the industrial development of the countries. For example, price policy is particularly effective in sectors that tend to maximise profits, such as industry. Conversely, in those where consumer behaviour is most influential, e.g. in transport, price policy would be complementary. Price policy is not as effective in developing countries either.
Success stories include China’s experimental buying and selling system, which is complemented by the reduction of fossil fuel subsidies and financial incentives to energy efficiency. In the electricity sector, the United Kingdom achieved significant emission reductions through the Minimum Carbon Price Reduction Plan, renewable energy subsidies and coal. In the transport sector, the United States has achieved a significant reduction in emissions by combining tax incentives, low emission vehicle subsidies and carbon efficiency measures. And in France, in the industrial sector, carbon tax and energy efficiency regulations have been successful. All examples can be seen on the PIK interactive website, by country and sector.
Forward-looking forecasts have also been made to see how much progress has been made and what is missing, to reach the United Nations emission reduction targets by 2030. And you've seen that, although all countries could repeat the success of the past, they should multiply by four the efforts they've seen so far to close the emissions gap. This therefore highlights the need for further research on climate policies to identify the most effective measures and to promote the deployment and development of low-carbon technologies.
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