<![CDATA[MY SITE - News]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:37:46 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[New article: Climate policy portfolios that accelerate emission reductions]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:08:57 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/new-article-climate-policy-portfolios-that-accelerate-emission-reductionsAnalyses of the most comprehensive climate policy dataset ever assembled (consisting of 3917 policy instruments adopted between 2000 and 2022 by 43 leading economies, contributing to over three quarters of global emissions) demonstrate that countries with stricter and better-targeted climate policies cut carbon emissions faster.
This major new study published in Nature Communications by researchers in the UK and EU also shows that targeting policies matters (policies aimed at the most polluting sectors — like energy, industry and transport — have the greatest effect. Climate targets strengthen policy impact and the presence of dedicated governmental bodies including ministries and intergovernmental organisations. The cumulative effect of all climate policy portfolios over our study period amounts to 3.1 GtCO2 fewer emissions in 2022 relative to a no-policy counterfactual - substantially less than what’s needed to stay on track for the Paris Agreement goals.
]]><![CDATA[New book: Subnational Climate Leadership Dynamics Among Under2 Coalition Members]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:03:29 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/new-book-subnational-climate-leadership-dynamics-among-under2-coalition-membersThis book provides one of the first comprehensive analyses of the Under2 Coalition examining the climate actions of sub-national governments. It examines climate policy effort among subnational governments participating in the Under2 Coalition (the largest network of subnational governments aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest). Focussing on subnational governments in Canada, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States (five countries that played influential roles in founding and developing the Under2 Coalition) it explores (a) whether Under2 Coalition founding members demonstrate greater climate policy effort compared to early joiners (2015-2016) and later joiners (post-2016), and (b) whether any differences persist over time. This work in this book (i) demonstrates how climate policy effort and leadership dynamics evolve within the Under2 Coalition framework, (ii) provides comparative insights from membership categories within countries and across nations, (iii) offers a replicable methodological template for expanding this research approach to other contexts.
This book is available open access, please find more details here.


 

]]><![CDATA[Regulatory and policy stability for renewable energy investment: An interdisciplinary analysis of the investment disputes against Spain.]]>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:55:14 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/recent-publication-regulatory-and-policy-stability-for-renewable-energy-investment-an-interdisciplinary-analysis-of-the-investment-disputes-against-spainInvestment stability in the European renewables energy sector has been affected by regulatory and policy changes, resulting in a series of legal disputes and calls by investors to host countries to maintain regulatory stability. However, understandings of this concept vary, creating uncertainty for key actors, and affecting the overall success of decarbonisation. Therefore, in this paper, Sai Ma, Simon Schaub and Joan Enguer analyse the concept of ‘stability’ using renewable energy regulatory reforms in Spain as a case study, arguing that fostering a common understanding of the concept can improve certainty and predictability for both host countries and investors, supporting renewables energy expansion and decarbonisation.]]><![CDATA[Moralization in Policy Narratives: Insights From the Politics of Climate Change and Public Health]]>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:55:00 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/recent-publication-moralization-in-policy-narratives-insights-from-the-politics-of-climate-change-and-public-healthThis recent article in Policy Studies Journal examines how politicians use moral arguments based on beliefs about what is morally “right” and “wrong” to build support for public policies. Focusing on debates in Germany about climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, the research shows that political parties frame their messages differently depending on their political ideology and whether they are in government or opposition. Some use strong moral language to rally supporters, while others take a more cautious approach. The article highlights how moral storytelling shapes policy debates. It shows how political actors appeal to citizens’ fundamental moral values to generate both support for and opposition to climate policy. Overall, the article suggests that policy research can better explain political communication by paying closer attention to moral values and how they are used by political actors.]]><![CDATA[European Climate Pact Ambassadors: Motivations, Strategies, and Experiences]]>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:25:20 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/new-book-european-climate-pact-ambassadors-motivations-strategies-and-experiencesAs an outcome of the European Green Deal, European Climate Pact Ambassadors (ECPAs) were established to promote climate action within their networks at both a local and an EU level. This book focuses on the volunteers who commit to the role of ECPA, and unpacks who steps up, how they advocate for policy change, and what they experience along the way. Bridging political sociology, policy analysis, and multi-level governance, the book offers a rare insight into EU-level civic participation.
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Published 27 November 2025 (Open access available via Bristol University Press  Digital):  https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/european-climate-pact-ambassadors.]]><![CDATA[British Academy launches report: Governance to Accelerate Net Zero]]>Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:56:17 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/british-academy-launches-new-report-governance-to-accelerate-net-zero
On 15 September, the British Academy formally launched a major new report on Governance to Accelerate Net Zero.  Advised by a panel of Fellows including Andy Jordan, Tim O’Riordan and Hilary Graham (CAST), the report was more than three years in the making and drew on an extensive array of stakeholder events. 
 
At the launch event, two panels of experts (which included Lorraine Whitmarsh and Nick Pidgeon) and the Chief Scientific Advisor of the climate change ministry DESNZ (Prof Paul Monks), reacted to the 5 main recommendations. 
 
To access the report and all the supporting evidence visit the BA Net Zero Governance hub: Net Zero Governance | The British Academy.  Throughout 2025-6, the BA will engage in a programme of translation work involving researchers and policymakers across all levels of government.]]><![CDATA[Governance to Accelerate Net Zero]]>Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:49:49 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/governance-to-accelerate-net-zeroNet zero is a complex, systemic challenge. It demands good democratic governance to drive collective action across regions, sectors and communities.

A major British Academy review involving Andy Jordan analyses relevant evidence and insights from the SHAPE disciplines (Social Science, Humanities and the Arts for People, Economy & environment).

The findings, presented in this report, show a striking consensus: collaborative leadership across levels of government, place-led initiatives in partnership with intermediaries and a more people-centred approach to participation and net zero action are central to reaching net zero at speed.

This will mean action from each level of government in each part of the UK.
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While governance frictions can lead to inertia, this report argues that leaders can use the evidence, case studies and insights from researchers, practitioners and policymakers to instigate multi-level, multi-actor, multi-directional solutions that will accelerate climate action.
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The report contains many case studies of good practice from across many levels of government in the UK, from Aberdeen to Hackney, to draw out practical lessons for the journey ahead.

Net Zero Governance | The British Academy


]]><![CDATA[Lessons learnt from National Citizen Climate Assemblies]]>Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:14:19 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/lessons-learnt-from-national-citizen-climate-assembliesNational Citizen’s Climate Assemblies (NCCAs) been held in many European countries over the past decade. They have been commended by deliberative theorists and practitioners as a means to address the perceived inability of current democratic systems to deal effectively with climate change. Yet it is only recently that such claims have been explored empirically.
​A new article reviews the rapidly emerging literature. It finds that each assembly is in fact unique in character, shaped by the interaction between its basic design features and contextual conditions. Opinions on NCCAs vary significantly and although their recommendations are variously implemented, acknowledgement of their wider and deeper impacts is also emerging. Finally, the implementation of assemblies is spurring innovations in deliberative decision making that are being trialled in other more localised contexts. Yet caution is required when assessing their potential short-term impact.
]]><![CDATA[Climate Change and Elections Workshop]]>Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:02:41 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/climate-change-and-elections-workshop
On 15/16 May, DeepDCarb hosted at workshop at the University of Vienna titled 'The electoral politics of climate change at a time of polycrisis: Challenges and opportunities'. The contributions focused specifically on the issue within the European context, and provided both bottom-up insights from the study of publics and top-down insights from the study of politicians and political parties.
]]><![CDATA[The policy impact of climate change advisory bodies]]>Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:22:54 GMThttps://www.deepdcarb.org/news/the-policy-impact-of-climate-change-advisory-bodies​Climate advisory bodies have been established in over 40 countries. However, the existing literature focuses on their formation and remits, not their unfolding policy impact. A new article in Climate Policy - 'The policy impact of climate change advisory bodies: government responses to the UK Climate Change Committee’s recommendations, 2009–2020' - addresses this important gap by reporting the findings of a novel analysis of the UK Government’s responses to the UK Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) mitigation and adaptation recommendations published in its annual progress reports, taking written acceptance as a proxy for policy impact. 
It finds that 23% of the mitigation and adaptation recommendations published by the CCC in progress reports were accepted by the government, and only 2% in full. Nevertheless, the characteristics of recommendations, including to whom they are addressed, their sectoral focus, and whether they contain delivery targets, have a statistically significant relationship with how the government responds. Advisory bodies in other countries can learn from the UK’s experience by providing short, clear and direct recommendations. This would enable them to hold governments to account for their response to, and (non-)implementation of, recommendations.
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