For the first time, the effectiveness of 1,500 global climate policies has been classified, and only 63 have achieved any positive results

I think this report is a good summary of the farce of the climate fight: 63 successes versus 1,437 failures

The report was published at the end of August in the journal   Science  , and has unleashed a wave of concern and indignation by revealing that only 63 of the 1,500 climate policies implemented in the last two decades have achieved positive results. This figure, which represents only 4% of effectiveness, highlights the deep crisis of action facing the fight against climate change, revealing an alarming separation between political discourse and reality.

Although the international community has thrown itself into the development of agreements and the signing of climate commitments, the harsh reality is that the vast majority of the actions implemented are not generating the desired impact. This worrying scenario forces us to ask ourselves: What is the reason for this widespread ineffectiveness? Are companies the only ones responsible for this collective failure or is there a shared responsibility with governments and citizens themselves?

El informe señala a las empresas como uno de los principales obstáculos para avanzar hacia una economía baja en carbono. Muchas de ellas, amparadas en la opacidad y la falta de transparencia, se han dedicado a implementar prácticas de «greenwashing»: estrategias de marketing y comunicación que buscan proyectar una imagen de sostenibilidad ambiental, sin realizar cambios sustanciales en sus modelos de producción y consumo.

A good example is when we see articles that tell us that sooner or later we will be able to travel by plane with sustainable fuels (SAF), when we know that this is not the case because there is no material in the world to generate so much fuel. And in this way people continue to fly without having any real need and polluting with complete ease. And meanwhile the aeronautical business continues to grow and pollute our environment more. And many other more or less similar examples could be given

And if so little is being done, it is because of the enormous interests of companies to keep things as they are now, pretending to do something in order to do almost nothing. And meanwhile they continue with their business, polluting, making money and letting time pass.

Esta práctica no es en absoluto inocua, pues desvía recursos y esfuerzos que podrían destinarse a la implementación de soluciones reales. Además, genera una falsa sensación de seguridad en la población, que cree estar contribuyendo a la lucha climática al consumir productos etiquetados como «eco-friendly», cuando en realidad está siendo víctima de una estrategia de marketing engañosa. Es un caso muy claro de “greenwashing” que de alguna manera los políticos aceptan, y entre todos nos siguen engañando a los ciudadanos.

However, it would be simplistic to blame only companies for this situation. Governments, as guarantors of the common good, have the responsibility to monitor corporate actions and sanction those practices that threaten the environment. The lack of political will to implement stricter regulatory frameworks and the persistence of subsidies to polluting industries show a worrying complicity between some sectors of political and economic power.

Citizens also play a fundamental role in this scenario. Lack of information, distrust in institutions and the prioritization of individual interests over collective interests are factors that hinder the construction of a solid environmental awareness and large-scale citizen mobilization.

Given this discouraging panorama, it is worth asking: what can we do to reverse this situation?

The Science report offers a ray of hope by identifying 63 climate policies that have proven to be effective. These successful experiences, ranging from the implementation of carbon taxes to the promotion of renewable energy, demonstrate that it is possible to move towards a sustainable future if the right measures are implemented.

And the summary indicated by the “experts” is: if climate policies were focused on those 63 cases of policies that are known to be effective, the current emissions gap could be closed to meet the Paris objectives by between 26% and 41%, which would be an important contribution.

It is essential that governments, in collaboration with the scientific community, identify the keys to the success of these policies and replicate them in other contexts. International cooperation is also essential to share best practices and generate synergies that allow accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The fight against climate change is not a simple task, but it is not impossible either. It requires a real commitment from all social actors: companies, governments and citizens. We need to abandon empty rhetoric and take action, promoting ambitious public policies, promoting technological innovation and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility in society.

Time is running out and the consequences of inaction are increasingly evident. We must act now, with determination and courage, to ensure a habitable future for present and future generations. History will judge us by our actions, not by our words.

And the question that arises is: Will we do something really effective and urgently? Allow me to doubt it.