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Journal article

National policy coherence counts for reducing inequality in global climate and development agendas

How can governments align climate and development policies while reducing inequality? This study examines how national efforts to promote policy coherence affect different groups in society across eight countries.

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Citation

Browne, K., Dzebo, A., Shawoo, Z., Cardenas, M., Chalaye, P., Faus Onbargi, A., Muhoza, C., Nicdao, P., Makhanya, N., Niles, N., & Singh, P. (2026). National policy coherence counts for reducing inequality in global climate and development agendas. Sustainable Development, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.71117

fishing boats

International institutions promote policy coherence as crucial to the effective and fair implementation of global sustainability agendas, though the evidence for its benefits is slim. The authors present the first systematic cross-country dataset on the consequences of national government efforts to promote policy coherence for vulnerable groups in society. They confirm that coherence is perceived to be beneficial for most groups. However, they find vulnerable groups are largely perceived to bear the brunt of incoherence, while traditionally powerful groups benefit from it in some cases. Based on these findings, the authors argue that coherence can play an important role in reducing inequality and ensuring countries “Leave No One Behind” in implementing climate and development goals.

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Open access

SEI authors

Katherine Browne
Katherine Browne

Senior Research Fellow

SEI Headquarters

Adis Dzebo
Adis Dzebo

Senior Research Fellow

SEI Headquarters

Cassilde Muhoza

Research Fellow

SEI Africa