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The research examines whether European governments have shifted toward a more diverse mix of 'new' environmental policy instruments (NEPIs) and a more procedurally rational decision-making process. Through a comparative analysis of municipal waste policy in England and Sweden, the author finds that while both countries diversified their instrument mixes, England's mix became more diverse and its choice processes more procedurally rational, whereas Sweden's mix remained more coercive and its choice processes more politicized. The study highlights that procedural rationality can facilitate the adoption of NEPIs, but is not a necessary or sufficient cause, as political factors—such as party-political bargaining in Sweden—often override rationalistic ideals.

The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is designed to scale up climate finance commitments, building on the previous unfulfilled $100 billion annual target for developing countries. Following a High-Level Ministerial Roundtable at COP28, the process is moving toward a draft negotiating text. The SB60 sessions in June 2024 are focused on developing a draft framework covering the structure, timescale, sources of finance, and transparency mechanisms of the NCQG. This framework will be refined in subsequent Technical Expert Dialogues in August or September 2024, with the final agreement on the goal expected at COP29.