Policy Influence on Climate Action
Botswana’s 2021 Climate Change Response Policy has been the most effective driver of climate action in Gaborone. It provides a national framework to mainstream climate resilience and low-carbon development across sectors. In Gaborone, this has led to increased investment in green urban planning, tree-planting initiatives, rooftop solar projects, and climate-smart agriculture. The policy’s success stems from strong coordination between national and city authorities, alignment with Vision 2036, and active community engagement. It also supports Botswana’s international climate commitments and enables access to funding for adaptation and mitigation. This integration of policy, partnerships, and public participation has made the policy a foundation for long-term urban climate resilience.
Example: Ipelegeng Public Works Programme (Gaborone)
The Ipelegeng Programme in Gaborone was intended to reduce urban unemployment and poverty through short-term public works while improving the city environment. However, it struggled to achieve lasting results.
Its main limitation was its short-term and low-wage design, which provided temporary income but did not lead to sustainable employment, especially given Gaborone’s high cost of living. The programme also offered minimal skills development, with participants engaged mainly in low-skill tasks that were not easily transferable to the formal labour market. In addition, weak monitoring and coordination between central government and Gaborone City Council meant success was measured by participation rather than long-term impact. Perceived politicisation in beneficiary selection further undermined transparency and effectiveness.
Overall, the Gaborone experience shows that social protection policies focused on immediate relief, without strong links to skills training and urban development planning, are unlikely to deliver sustainable outcomes.
International frameworks such as the Paris Agreement are important for global climate cooperation, but they are not sufficient on their own to meet global climate goals.
The Paris Agreement’s strength lies in its near-universal participation and its clear temperature targets of limiting warming to well below 2°C and pursuing 1.5°C. However, its reliance on voluntary, non-binding Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) limits effectiveness. Many countries’ pledges are not ambitious enough, and current commitments still place the world on a pathway exceeding agreed temperature limits.
In addition, there are significant implementation, finance, and accountability gaps, particularly affecting developing countries that lack adequate resources for mitigation and adaptation. Weak enforcement mechanisms and dependence on political will further constrain progress.
Overall, while international frameworks provide a necessary foundation for cooperation, achieving global climate goals will require stronger national action, binding commitments, and increased climate finance, especially to support vulnerable countries.
Political, economic, and social factors strongly shape the success or failure of climate policies.
Politically, effective climate action depends on strong leadership, stable governance, and institutional capacity. Policy continuity can be undermined by short electoral cycles, competing priorities, and resistance from powerful interest groups, such as fossil fuel industries. Weak enforcement further limits impact.
Economically, high implementation costs, limited access to finance, and reliance on carbon-intensive sectors can constrain ambition, particularly in developing countries. Climate policies are more successful when they align with economic growth, job creation, and energy security.
Socially, public acceptance is critical. Policies perceived as unfair or costly may face resistance, while inclusive approaches that engage stakeholders, address inequalities, and clearly communicate benefits tend to gain broader support.
Overall, climate policies succeed when they are politically supported, economically viable, and socially inclusive.
Bangladesh’s climate policy experience offers several lessons for other countries in the Global South.
A key lesson is the importance of integrating climate action into national development planning, treating climate change as a development challenge rather than a standalone environmental issue. Bangladesh has also demonstrated the value of prioritising adaptation and community-based approaches, such as early warning systems, cyclone shelters, and climate-resilient agriculture, which have significantly reduced climate risks.
In addition, strong institutional coordination and local capacity building have supported more effective implementation, while the use of domestic climate finance has strengthened national ownership and policy continuity. Overall, Bangladesh shows that locally tailored, inclusive, and development-oriented climate policies are critical for building resilience in vulnerable countries.
Bridging the policy–action gap requires shifting climate governance from ambitious commitments to delivery-focused reforms.
Key approaches include moving beyond pledge-based targets toward clear, time-bound sectoral responsibilities, with stronger accountability and links to public budgets. Mainstreaming climate objectives into economic and fiscal systems such as green budgeting, climate-aligned public investment, and risk disclosure can better align incentives with long-term goals. Strengthening domestic implementation capacity, particularly at local government level, is also critical for effective execution.
In addition, innovative and accessible climate finance mechanisms and reduced bureaucratic barriers can accelerate implementation. Finally, inclusive policymaking and stakeholder participation help build legitimacy, reduce resistance, and improve compliance.
Overall, closing the policy–action gap requires a shift from aspirational climate policy to systems that prioritise accountability, financing, capacity, and social inclusion.