National climate change legislation: The key to more ambitious international agreements

This research paper by GLOBE International examines the relationship between domestic climate change legislation and a country's negotiating position within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It argues that strong national laws act as an enabler for international ambition by creating political space, increasing economic competitiveness, and building confidence among leaders and investors.

• There is a positive correlation between the presence of strong domestic climate change legislation and a country's level of ambition during international negotiations at the UNFCCC.
• Domestic legislation serves as a critical enabler for international agreements rather than just a tool for implementation after a deal is reached. It can potentially form the basis of an "outcome with legal force" under the Durban Platform by allowing countries to internationalise domestically-binding laws.
• Strong domestic legislation influences international positions through three primary drivers: competitiveness, confidence, and knowledge. For example, countries that price carbon or invest in low-carbon energy have an economic interest in other nations adopting similar paths to maintain a level playing field and expand their markets.
• Developing countries are increasingly viewing climate action through the lens of self-interest and domestic co-benefits—such as energy security, improved air quality, and energy efficiency—rather than solely as a matter of historical responsibility from developed nations.
• Legislators can either accelerate or hinder climate ambition. In the UK and Mexico, legislators pushed for more ambitious targets and laws, whereas in the US, legislators have been a "drag on ambition," partly due to the influence of corporate donations from fossil fuel companies.
• To maximise the positive influence of legislators, the paper recommends capacity building through cross-party parliamentary groups, increased engagement between the executive and legislative branches during UNFCCC meetings, and the creation of international peer-learning networks.

APA

Townshend, T., & Matthews, A. C. (2013). National climate change legislation: The key to more ambitious international agreements. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CDKN_Globe_International_final_web.pdf

Chicago

Townshend, Terry, and Adam C.T. Matthews. National climate change legislation: The key to more ambitious international agreements. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2013. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CDKN_Globe_International_final_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Townshend |first1=Terry |last2=Matthews |first2=Adam C.T. |title=National climate change legislation: The key to more ambitious international agreements |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=July 2013 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CDKN_Globe_International_final_web.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{townshend2013national, author = {Townshend, Terry and Matthews, Adam C.T.}, title = {{National climate change legislation: The key to more ambitious international agreements}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2013}, month = jul, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CDKN_Globe_International_final_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }