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Climate governance: Assessing governments’ ability and readiness to transform their countries into zero emissions societies

Decarbonising the world’s economy involves action from all aspects of society and the economy. Governments in all countries play a critical role in enabling this transformation and as such the ability, fitness and readiness of a country’s climate governance will play a critical role in determining the speed and volume at which emissions can be reduced. As part of the Climate Governance Series, a framework has been developed for assessing countries’ readiness, from an institutional and governance point of view, to ratchet up climate policy and implement adequate transformational policies on the ground. The focus of the present assessment is on factors within the control of national governments. While all levels of government and all facets of society will play a role in the transition to a carbon neutral future, these are examined through the lens of the national government and its ability to engage with stakeholders.