A recent piece by The Economist tackled the question: Do climate policies actually work? According to a study in Science, just 63 out of 1,500 policies led to significant emission reductions—mostly those involving carbon pricing and coal phase-outs. The rest? Their impact remains more uncertain.
Understanding what works in climate policy and why is critical for scaling climate policies successfully. As The Economist notes, the real issue is a lack of rigorous evidence synthesis, something that has long been standard in fields like health. That’s where the What Works initiative comes in: an effort to transform climate policy with systematic reviews, AI-powered evidence banks, and living platforms that keep knowledge fresh and decision-ready.
If you’re part of the What Works community, this is a call to action. We need better evidence—and fast. So let’s work together towards creating living, continuously updated evidence systems to help policymakers act smarter and faster. Reach out if you want to engage!
Read the full article on the website of The Economist.