Straightforward Measures and Easy Wins in National Climate Policy

**[Video Title: Climate Policies: No-Brainers and Low-Hanging Fruit | CEPR Research]**

Welcome to our CEPR Research video discussing the ebook that focuses on climate policies regarded as “no-brainers” and “low-hanging fruit”. We delve into the effectiveness of these policies in helping us reach net-zero emissions and explore the reasons why they have not been widely enacted.

In this video, we speak with one of the editors of the ebook, Alex, to gain insights into the concept of no-brainers and low-hanging fruit in climate policy. While climate policy is undoubtedly challenging, Alex emphasizes that there are indeed policies that are clear winners at the country level. Throughout the chapters of the ebook, various authors highlight these low-hanging fruit and no-brainer policies.

However, it is important to note that not every no-brainer policy is easy to implement. The ease of implementation varies depending on the country’s specific circumstances. For example, some regions, like the Middle East and North Africa, face unique challenges due to the absence of a robust tax and transfer system to compensate for the elimination of energy subsidies or the introduction of carbon taxes.

In our ebook, we take a country-by-country approach, recognizing that each country’s geography, institutions, and political constraints differ. While globally agreed-upon targets are crucial for addressing climate change, the measures taken to achieve these targets should be tailored to each country’s specific situation. We have included countries such as China, the US, India, Australia, and numerous European, South American, and African countries, among others, to ensure a comprehensive analysis.

Throughout the ebook, you will witness a diversity of low-hanging fruit and no-brainers suggested by economists. This variety is expected, as measures depend on the environmental aspects, institutional environment, and technology frontier of each country. However, in hindsight, we could have better differentiated between political and technological no-brainers.

One intriguing aspect is the discrepancy between countries’ verbal commitment to climate change and the actual implementation of these no-brainer policies. Political constraints often impede the execution of policies across nations. Additionally, what may be a no-brainer for some may not be universally agreed upon, as differing opinions and debates on specific policies exist, such as France’s stance on nuclear energy compared to Germany’s.

As for how far the policies in our ebook can take us towards net zero, it is challenging to provide a conclusive answer, as there is no aggregation of the measures suggested. Moreover, some policies require time for full implementation. However, this ebook serves as a valuable resource for breaking down global targets into country-specific measures and fostering cross-country learning.

Regarding COP26, while it represents an essential step, we cannot expect it to single-handedly remove all political roadblocks to policy adoption. However, with each step forward, we gradually progress towards our goal of addressing climate change.

Thank you for joining us in this discussion on climate policies. If you’re interested in learning more, we invite you to explore our ebook and contribute to the ongoing conversation on effective climate policy.

**Keywords/Tags: Economics, Research, Policy, Politics, CEPR**

**[Source: CEPR Research Ebook on Climate Policies](source-link)**

A new CEPR ebook focuses on climate policies that it calls “no-brainers” and “low-hanging fruit”. How far do they get us towards net zero and why, if they really are so obvious, are they not being enacted?