Impact of Climate Change Statutes on Decarbonization: A Comparative Study

Dr. Marvin Jürgens

doi:10.5771/9783748974062

Summary

How can a climate change statute contribute effectively to limiting global warming to under 2° C? This work addresses that question by analyzing international obligations, comparing the British and German climate change statutes through a functionalist approach adapted to environmental law, and assessing their effectiveness in achieving their objectives and in their implementation. It concludes by developing and synthesizing proposals for improvement. While, e.g., linking legislation to a concrete emissions budget and introducing financial sanction mechanisms are identified as important measures, the decisive factor will ultimately be political prioritization.

Search publication

Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2026
Copyright Year: 2026
ISBN-Print: 978-3-7560-2613-5
ISBN-Online: 978-3-7489-7406-2
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series: Umweltrechtliche Studien - Studies on Environmental Law
Volume: 64
Language: English
Pages: 297
Product Type: Monograph

1. Acknowledgments No access
2. Table of Abbreviations No access
1. A. Topic No access
2. B. Research Questions No access
3. C. Research Methods No access
4. D. Structure and Contents No access
1. A. Climate Change as the Problem and Function of Climate Laws No access
2. 1. I. The Need for International Climate Change Law No access
  2. II. Sources of International Climate Change Law No access
  3. III. The Ultimate Objective and Goal of Climate Change Laws No access
3. 1. 1. 1. Guiding Principles on Mitigation No access
    2. 2. NDCs No access
    3. 3. Further Obligations No access
    4. 1. a. Transparency Framework No access
      2. b. Taking Stock of the Implementation of the PA No access
      3. c. Compliance Mechanism No access
    5. 5. Conclusions on International Climate Change Law No access
  2. II. Implementation by the States No access
  3. III. Conclusions on the Emergence and Impact of National Climate Laws No access
1. 1. I. Nature and Characteristics of CCAs No access
  2. 1. 1. CCAs are legally binding No access
    2. 2. CCAs Are More Effective to Reduce GHG Emissions No access
    3. 3. CCAs implement a Holistic Approach No access
    4. 4. Learnings on Climate Change Legislation No access
  3. III. Conclusions No access
2. B. Decision on the Legal Systems No access
3. C. Conclusion on the Comparata No access
1. A. The Problem of Climate Change from the Perspective of the Legal Systems No access
2. 1. 1. 1. a. Impact of Constitutional Law No access
      2. b. Climate Change Law in the Context of Environmental Law No access
    2. 2. Emergence of CCAs No access
    3. 1. a. Laws Implementing the CCA No access
      2. b. Subnational Climate Statutes No access
  2. 1. 1. Implementation of the PA No access
    2. 2. Impact of the ECHR No access
    3. 1. a. EU Climate Law No access
      2. b. Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action No access
      3. c. Effort-Sharing Regulation No access
      4. d. Emissions Trading Directive No access
  3. III. Conclusions on the Sources of Climate Law No access
3. 1. 1. 1. Overarching Reduction Goals No access
    2. 1. a. Carbon Budgets of the UK CCA 2008 No access
      2. aa. Sector-specific Annual Emission Budgets of the KSG 2019 No access
        bb. Total Annual Emission Budgets of the KSG 2024 No access
      3. c. Comparison of the Carbon Budgets and the Annual Emission Budgets No access
    3. 3. Carry Amounts from One Budget to Another No access
    4. 1. a. Amending Overarching Targets No access
      2. b. Amending Budgets No access
    5. 5. Conclusions on Reduction Goals No access
  2. 1. 1. UK: Preparing Proposals and Policies No access
    2. 1. a. Interconnection of Climate Action Plans, Climate Action Programs, and Immediate Climate Action Programs No access
      2. b. Second Amendment of the KSG No access
    3. 3. Comparison No access
    4. 4. Conclusions on Long-term Planning Procedures No access
  3. 1. 1. Monitoring No access
    2. 1. a. UK No access
      2. b. Germany No access
      3. c. Comparison No access
    3. 1. a. UK Committee on Climate Change No access
      2. b. German Council of Experts on Climate Change No access
      3. c. Comparison No access
    4. 4. Conclusions No access
  4. IV. Public Participation and Engagement No access
  5. V. Carbon Pricing No access
  6. VI. Decarbonization of the Public Sector No access
  7. VII. Cooperation Between the Federal and Subnational Levels No access
  8. VIII. Conclusion on Key Features No access
4. 1. I. Political Accountability No access
  2. 1. 1. a. The Queen on the Application of London Borough of Hillingdon & Ors v Secretary of State for Transport v Transport for London No access
      2. b. Griffin, R (on the application of) v London City Airport Ltd. [2011] EWHC 53 (Admin) (20 January 2011) No access
      3. c. Preston New Road Action Group v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government No access
      4. d. Plan B and Others v Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy No access
      5. e. Friends of the Earth and Others v. Secretary of State for Transport No access
      6. f. Friends of the Earth, ClientEarth, Good Law Project v Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy No access
      7. g. Friends of the Earth v. UKEF No access
    2. 1. a. BVerfG, 24.3.2021 – 1 BvR 2656/18, 1 BvR 78/20, 1 BvR 96/20, 1 BvR 288/20 No access
      2. b. BVerfG, 18.1.2022 – 1 BvR 1565/21 ua No access
      3. c. OVG, 30.11.2023 – A 11/22, OVG A 27/22, OVG 11 A 1/23 and OVG 11 A 11/22 No access
      4. d. OVG 11 A 22/21, OVG 11 A 31/22 No access
      5. e. Decisions on Sec. 13 of the KSG No access
    3. 3. Comparison No access
  3. III. Conclusions on Compliance and Enforcement No access
5. E. Conclusions on the Comparison No access
1. 1. I. Limitations of Legal Doctrine and Contribution of Criteria No access
  2. II. Abstract Criteria for Assessing Effectiveness No access
  3. III. Evaluation Framework of this Doctoral Thesis No access
2. 1. I. Design of the UK CCA 2008 No access
  2. 1. 1. a. Parliament No access
      2. b. Secretary of State No access
      3. c. Courts No access
      4. d. Conclusions on the Implementation of the UK Reduction Goals No access
    2. 1. a. UK Government and Secretary of State No access
      2. b. Courts No access
      3. c. Conclusion on the Implementation of Long-Term Political Planning Procedures No access
    3. 1. a. Parliament No access
      2. b. Secretary of State No access
      3. c. CCC No access
      4. d. Conclusion on the Implementation of Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation No access
    4. 4. Public Participation and Engagement No access
    5. 5. Carbon Pricing No access
    6. 6. Decarbonization of the Public Sector No access
    7. 7. Cooperation with Subnational Levels No access
  3. III. Conclusion on the Evaluation No access
3. 1. I. Design of the KSG No access
  2. 1. 1. a. German Parliament No access
      2. b. Federal Government and Federal Ministries No access
      3. c. Federal Public Authorities No access
      4. d. Courts No access
      5. e. Conclusion on the Implementation of Reduction Goals No access
    2. 1. a. KSG 2019 No access
      2. b. Courts No access
      3. c. KSG 2024 No access
      4. d. Conclusion on the Implementation of the Long-Term Political Planning Procedures No access
    3. 1. a. Parliament No access
      2. b. Federal Government No access
      3. c. German Council of Experts on Climate Change No access
      4. d. Conclusion on the Implementation of Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation No access
    4. 4. Public Participation and Engagement No access
    5. 5. Carbon Pricing No access
    6. 6. Climate-neutral Federal Administration by 2030 No access
    7. 7. Cooperation with Subnational Levels No access
  3. III. Conclusion on the Evaluation No access
4. D. Conclusions No access
1. A. Abstract Criteria for Improving Effectiveness No access
2. B. Improving the Design of CCAs No access
3. 1. I. Limitations of CCAs No access
  2. 1. 1. Combining Short and Long-term Targets No access
    2. 2. Vague Planning Procedures No access
    3. 3. Sanction Mechanisms and Corrective Measures No access
    4. 4. Political Priorities No access
  3. III. Conclusions No access
4. D. Conclusions No access
Part VII: Impact of CCAs on Decarbonization No access Pages 265 - 268
References No access Pages 269 - 284
Annex No access Pages 285 - 296