Background: Climate change is the greatest environmental threat of the century, and developing countries, being most vulnerable, need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Passing climate mitigation legislation is a crucial step toward this goal.
Materials and Methods: This research analyzes 226 climate change mitigation law from 88 developing countries since 1980, using data from the Climate Change Laws of the World (CCLW) database. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative time-series analysis to examine trends in legislative activities and qualitative content analysis using the social-ecological systems framework to explore legislative texts.
Results: Africa has the most legislative activity, followed by Asia and the Americas. The energy sector is the most emphasized across all regions, particularly in Africa, while Asia and the Americas focus on energy, transport, and building sectors. This highlights the concentration of legislative efforts on the actor system, especially regarding energy-related issues. Despite the increase in climate mitigation legislation, the focus remains largely on the actor system, with less attention to governance and resource systems.
Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to climate mitigation in developing countries. The effective implementation of existing legislation, along with strengthening resource and governance systems, enforcement mechanisms, and international cooperation, is crucial for achieving significant emission reductions. Strengthening enforcement, institutional capacity, and international collaboration is essential for effectiveness.