Impacts of climate framework laws: lessons from Germany, Ireland and New Zealand

Nearly 60 countries around the world have introduced climate change framework laws, which establish the strategic direction for national climate change policy and often the institutional arrangements for climate action too. As the global stock of climate framework laws increases, it is critical to understand the impacts of such legislation. This report and accompanying technical annex analyse the impact of climate framework laws in three countries, Germany, Ireland and New Zealand, based on evidence from 73 expert interviews and desk research. The report covers impacts on: climate governance; political debate; climate policies; citizens and stakeholders; and society and climate. The main report sets out an introduction to each of the case study countries and an overarching analysis of how climate laws have impact and the types of impact they produce; this is accompanied by policy recommendations for legislators, policymakers, business and civil society groups. The technical annex provides more in-depth description and analysis of interviewees’ views.