It is a measure of how much ‘climate change’ has become a part of global discourse that the legislations related to it have doubled in the last five years.

The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, part of London School of Economics, studied climate laws in 33 developed and 66 developing countries. The study, conducted in collaboration with Globe International, has found out that there were 426 pieces of legislation in 2009, the year the Copenhagen climate conference happened. In 2014, the number of laws rose to 804.

In 1997, when the Kyoto Protocol agreement happened, there were just 54 laws in these countries, the study says.

Seventy-five countries plus the EU now have frameworks for limiting greenhouse gas emissions and 64 countries have frameworks for adapting to the impacts of climate change, it says.

“This shows solid momentum in the emerging global legislative architecture on climate change,” says Malini Mehra, Chief Executive, Globe International. “That is an important message we can confidently communicate to business, investors, and those looking for certainty”

While she said “coverage is widening and there is no turning back,” the study cites examples of Australia and Spain which have repealed climate laws. While Australia repealed carbon tax and ‘clean energy package’, Spain reduced subsidies for renewable energy projects.

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