Political strategies for climate and environmental solutions

Abstract

Many of the barriers to progress in addressing environmental problems, such as climate change, are political. We argue that politics should not be seen only as a constraint but be recognized as a target of intervention to advance environmental solutions. We use the example of climate change to illustrate how insight into politics can help policymakers craft strategies to address three gaps: the ambition gap, the implementation gap and the international action gap. Focusing on politically effective choices that are feasible today and have the potential to ease political barriers to future policy action can broaden the solution space. Many of the barriers to progress in addressing environmental problems, such as climate change, are political. This Review illustrates how insight into politics can help policymakers craft strategies to address the ambition gap, the implementation gap and the international action gap.