· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Economist or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: A new study in Science has revealed the difficulty in evaluating climate policies, despite their rising number globally
• Of nearly 1,500 policies reviewed from 41 countries between 1998 and 2022, only 63 were found to significantly reduce emissions
🔭 The context: National climate policies have surged from 60 in 1997 to nearly 3,000 by 2022
• However, most lack rigorous evaluations, complicating the assessment of their real impact on emissions reductions
• Better analytical tools and systematic reviews are urgently needed to improve accountability.
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: With climate change accelerating, the effectiveness of policies must be clear to ensure countries are meeting their emissions targets
• Without robust evaluations, many policies may be ineffective, undermining global efforts to mitigate climate impacts
⏭️ What's next: Researchers and policymakers need to develop improved tools for measuring and tracking the effectiveness of climate policies, ensuring that resources are directed towards initiatives that drive real emissions cuts
💬 One quote: “Their effectiveness has proved almost impossible to measure.” — The Economist
📈 One stat: Out of 1,500 climate policies reviewed, only 63 had significant emissions reductions linked to them
Click for more news covering the latest on ethical governance