A recent article in Nature reports that synthesizing research on which policies are most effective is a key priority in climate science. It supports an evidence synthesis revolution within the climate community — a pivotal step toward consolidating our knowledge on what solutions work to address climate change. As the What Works community, we could jointly build a comprehensive evidence bank that synthesizes existing research on the effectiveness of climate policies. Despite decades of policy implementation, there remains a critical gap in understanding which interventions have the greatest impact, under what conditions, and why. This call to action is a chance to answer the central question in climate policy: “What works?” By systematically reviewing and comparing the vast body of climate policy research, we can equip policymakers with clear, evidence-backed guidance on the most effective solutions.
The need for such an evidence synthesis revolution has never been more urgent. As the article highlights, the explosive growth of climate research over recent decades — with hundreds of thousands of studies now available — has made it increasingly difficult to navigate the sheer volume of information. This is where the need for a centralized, systematic approach becomes critical. By synthesizing the evidence, we can better understand the diverse impacts of policies and how they perform in different contexts. It’s not just about gathering more data; it’s about consolidating what we already know in a way that enables informed, effective action. The time is ripe for this shift — to consolidate our knowledge and truly understand how climate solutions can work at scale.
Read the article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01683-4