climate action. With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, this has
become more important and we hope to see evaluative evidence emerging the
coming decade.
2.9 When Will We Achieve Systems Change?
The comparison of the seven comprehensive evaluations published in 2014, and
some influential evaluations from the years before, leads to the conclusion that if we
want to achieve transformational change, we need to ensure that the impact drivers
working towards such a change are stronger than the impact drivers that cause
climate change. An important part of the fight to mitigate climate change is
therefore outside of climate change action: continue the fight against public subsidies for non-sustainable use of natural resources; take action to ensure that the costs
of climate change are paid for by the “polluters”, by industries and people who are
causing climate change to happen. Until that time climate change action will consist
of beautiful flowers in a walled garden: just a demonstration that we can have a
beautiful planet, if only the winds blowing against us would not destroy these
beautiful flowers if they emerge from the walled garden.
The conclusions we draw from the seven comprehensive evaluations are as
follows.
1. The OPS5 conclusion that a high percentage of climate action is effective is
supported by all other comprehensive evaluations that have been able to look at
effectiveness;
2. For reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the energy sector and energy policies
hold greatest promise, and tackling energy efficiency issues is more effective
than support for renewable energy, but the latter is effective as well, even if
costlier.
3. Subsidies for non-sustainable use of natural resources (fossil fuels, agricultural
practices, overuse of water resources, etc.) prevent the reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions to have more than a marginal impact on climate change: i.e. the
pace of climate change is slowed almost imperceptibly.
4. The micro-macro paradox is thus shown to exist: anything the international
organizations and the bilateral donors do to prevent climate change continues
to be effective in its own right, but powerless against the enormous spending
power and damage done by subsidies for non-sustainable use of natural
resources, with fossil fuel subsidies as the largest barrier to change.
5. To change the system, action from many partners, bottom-up and top-down, with
full recognition of cross-cutting issues such as gender, equity, inclusiveness is
needed, and evaluative evidence shows that pieces of the puzzle are known and
can be effectively set up and used.
6. To change the system, an important input of technology is needed – the shift
from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy needs technological innovation and
2 Action on Climate Change: What Does It Mean and Where Does It Lead To?
31
become more important and we hope to see evaluative evidence emerging the
coming decade.
2.9 When Will We Achieve Systems Change?
The comparison of the seven comprehensive evaluations published in 2014, and
some influential evaluations from the years before, leads to the conclusion that if we
want to achieve transformational change, we need to ensure that the impact drivers
working towards such a change are stronger than the impact drivers that cause
climate change. An important part of the fight to mitigate climate change is
therefore outside of climate change action: continue the fight against public subsidies for non-sustainable use of natural resources; take action to ensure that the costs
of climate change are paid for by the “polluters”, by industries and people who are
causing climate change to happen. Until that time climate change action will consist
of beautiful flowers in a walled garden: just a demonstration that we can have a
beautiful planet, if only the winds blowing against us would not destroy these
beautiful flowers if they emerge from the walled garden.
The conclusions we draw from the seven comprehensive evaluations are as
follows.
1. The OPS5 conclusion that a high percentage of climate action is effective is
supported by all other comprehensive evaluations that have been able to look at
effectiveness;
2. For reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the energy sector and energy policies
hold greatest promise, and tackling energy efficiency issues is more effective
than support for renewable energy, but the latter is effective as well, even if
costlier.
3. Subsidies for non-sustainable use of natural resources (fossil fuels, agricultural
practices, overuse of water resources, etc.) prevent the reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions to have more than a marginal impact on climate change: i.e. the
pace of climate change is slowed almost imperceptibly.
4. The micro-macro paradox is thus shown to exist: anything the international
organizations and the bilateral donors do to prevent climate change continues
to be effective in its own right, but powerless against the enormous spending
power and damage done by subsidies for non-sustainable use of natural
resources, with fossil fuel subsidies as the largest barrier to change.
5. To change the system, action from many partners, bottom-up and top-down, with
full recognition of cross-cutting issues such as gender, equity, inclusiveness is
needed, and evaluative evidence shows that pieces of the puzzle are known and
can be effectively set up and used.
6. To change the system, an important input of technology is needed – the shift
from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy needs technological innovation and
2 Action on Climate Change: What Does It Mean and Where Does It Lead To?
31