Strengthening Climate Accountability Through National Councils

In this interview for the Global Governance Innovation Platform (GGI), Åsa Persson traces the rise of climate advisory councils from their origins in the UK’s 2008 Climate Change Act to a growing global network supporting national climate governance. She explains how these government-mandated yet independent bodies provide science-based advice on climate targets, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), while strengthening transparency and accountability over time. Despite differences in structure across countries, Persson highlights their shared role in reinforcing domestic accountability where international mechanisms remain limited, while also supporting policy continuity, investor confidence, and the identification of economic opportunities in the climate transition.