Using the right mix of policies is more important than using a lot of policies, says Annika Stechemesser, a co-author and researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. For example, the UK's phasing out of coal-fired power stations worked because it was used in tandem with pricing mechanisms, such as a minimum carbon price, while in Norway, banning combustion engine cars was most effective when combined with a price incentive that made electric cars cheaper.
"To my knowledge, it is a first-of-its-kind study providing such a global evaluation," says Jan Minx, an environmental economist with the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change in Berlin.
The analysis identified 63 interventions in 35 countries that led to significant reductions in emissions, cutting them by 19% on average. Most reductions were linked to two or more policies. Together, the 63 policies cut emissions by between 0.6 and 1.8 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO2 equivalent.
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