Climate Governance Shows Progress, But Gaps Still Remain 10 yrs After Paris Agreement: Report

The gaps remain in coordination, social inclusion, and linking long-term goals to today’s policies.

A new report revealed that the Paris Agreement has spurred new approaches to climate governance and policy in countries. The report titled “A Decade of National Climate Action: Stocktake and the Road Ahead” from Deep Decarbonization Pathways (DDP) Initiative, an international consortium of researchers working towards decarbonisation, highlighted progress in laying groundwork for long-term transformation in countries and identifying future progress to accelerate national transition.

The report drew analysis from DDP experts across 21 countries, representing a diverse range of geographies, development levels, and sizes. It found that the Paris Agreement had spurred new approaches to climate governance and policy. Scientific evidence is now more widely used to guide decisions, long-term goals are increasingly shaping national strategies, and governments have introduced stronger mandates, established new institutions, and engaged a wider range of stakeholders.

National policies had also accelerated the deployment of low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies and enabled immediate emission reductions in sectors where technological solutions are mature. 

Since 2015, the Indian government has introduced or implemented over 650 policies across national, state, and sectoral levels. The report highlights that the government has initiated energy transitions for sectors such as power (including coal) and industry (steel) in the past decade.

Long-term Policies Disconnected from Concrete Policies 

The report also pointed out shortcomings that have slowed the momentum. It mentioned that long-term strategies were often left disconnected from concrete policy decisions. Interministerial coordination remains challenging. Policies still tend to focus on immediate emission cuts, without giving enough attention to the actions needed now to secure longer-term reductions on the path to carbon neutrality.

The report said that social and industrial concerns have at times undermined climate ambition. These are not marginal issues: they illustrate the real difficulties of turning ambition into action. 

“The Paris Agreement was designed as a catalyst for national action, and ten years on we can see the results,” said Henri Waisman, Director of the DDP Initiative. “This progress is significant. But the lesson of the past decade is equally clear: if we are to achieve the goals of Paris, the next decade must be about scaling up efforts, addressing social and industrial challenges, and ensuring that ambition is consistently translated into effective action.”

Key Priorities to Focus on in the Coming Years

The report identified three key priorities for the coming years: strengthening national processes that bring together governments, finance, businesses, and civil society to design climate action grounded in science. This includes designing integrated policy packages that deliver short-term emissions cuts while also preparing for long-term transformations. Additionally, the report emphasises promoting innovative forms of international cooperation that are built around countries’ own needs. 

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