Climate measures alone are not enough to cut emissions, study finds

A study published in the journal Science shows that stand-alone climate measures like taxes or subsidies are ineffective in significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Analyzing 25 years of policies in 41 countries, the study found only 63 out of 1,500 policies led to substantial emission reductions, averaging 19 percent.

The research, led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Mercator Research Institute, highlights that bans on coal plants or combustion engines alone don’t work. Successful cases, such as in the UK and Norway, combined these bans with tax or price incentives.

Using OECD data and machine learning, the study identified policies that reduced emissions by 0.6 to 1.8 billion tonnes of CO2, compared to the global emission of 57.4 billion tonnes in 2022. The findings suggest that a mix of measures, including carbon and energy taxes, is crucial.

The study’s results are expected to influence climate roadmaps that countries will submit to the UN by February 2025, aiming to meet the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. An interactive website, “Climate Policy Explorer,” provides further insights into the study’s findings.