There is a correlation between strong domestic climate change legislation and high international ambition at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  Although the factors that determine a country’s negotiating position are many and complex, advancing domestic climate change legislation has a positive influence on such ambition.

National climate change legislation is not just something that should underpin an international agreement after it has been reached, rather it is an enabler that creates the political space for a deal.  This brief provides an overview of entry points for political action at the national level and outlines concrete recommendations for governments.  It also outlines what progress has been made with regard to climate change legislation at the national level, and what role legislators can play in pushing for further progress.