Environmental Change Institute – University of Oxford Media Release
Countries with stricter and better-targeted climate policies cut carbon emissions faster, according to a major new study by researchers in the UK and EU.
The study draws on the most comprehensive climate policy dataset ever assembled, using over 3,900 policies adopted since 2000 in 43 leading economies responsible for well over three quarters of global emissions.
The findings show:
By comparing the world today with a scenario in which no climate policies existed, the authors find that more than 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ were avoided in 2022 alone — roughly equal to the EU’s annual emissions.
Prof Charlie Wilson, Professor of Energy and Climate Change and Senior Research Fellow at the ECI and co-lead author, said: “Climate policies are not just symbolic gestures; they are working. The countries that focus policies where emissions are highest are reaping the biggest benefits. This shows that careful design and strategic focus really matter.”
The study involved researchers from institutions across the UK, Germany, Austria and Norway.
Dr Theo Arvanitopoulos, Cardiff University and LSE, also co-lead author, added: “Long-term climate targets and dedicated ministries aren’t just paperwork; they boost the real-world impact of climate policies. Our robust analysis of large policy portfolios shows they strengthen what governments can achieve, despite growing political debate about their effectiveness.”
Dr Simon Bulian, Heidelberg University, the third co-lead author said: “Our study shows that economic instruments were most effective in reducing emission intensity, compared to regulatory or voluntary approaches. However, our findings also suggest a positive impact of policy traditions: countries that specialised in a particular type of instrument (economic or regulatory) were the most successful in reducing emission intensity. Economic instruments are not necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution.”
The study provides clear lessons for policymakers: the quantity and focus of policies both matter, and both supportive national organisations and international cooperation makes them more effective.
Prof Wilson added: “Our study is good news for climate policy efforts so far: it’s working. But emissions are still too high so it’s not working fast enough. The challenge now is to use what we’ve learnt to accelerate progress towards a stable climate.”
Read the full study in Nature Communications: Climate policy portfolios that accelerate emission reductions [ADD LINK]
The study was a collaboration between researchers at Cardiff University, University of Oxford, University of East Anglia, London School of Economics (UK), Heidelberg University (Germany), and IIASA, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (Austria).
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Nature Communications
Meta-analysis
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Climate policy portfolios that accelerate emission reductions
24-Feb-2026