ABSTRACT

A substantial literature explains the adoption of climate change acts and their impact on climate policy once adopted. In contrast, we know very little about the processes leading to the non-adoption of climate change acts and the subsequent consequences for climate policymaking. This contribution aims at filling this gap by analysing the non-adoption of the Belgian bill for a climate change law. Proposed in February 2019, the Belgian bill for a climate change law was debated but then rejected very soon after, at the end of March 2019. Taking the non-adoption of the Belgian bill on climate change as an enlightening case study, this contribution investigates the impact of climate change act non-adoption on climate policies by: (i) questioning how climate change acts are drafted, and the role of academic experts for such a task in a context of climate emergency; (ii) analysing the reception and discussion of the bill on climate action, including within civil society; and (iii) tracing the follow-up actions undertaken in the wake of the bill’s non-adoption. The research relies on documentary analysis (climate change act drafts and final text, parliamentary discussions, non-governmental organizations’ archives), interviews with key actors and an exploratory questionnaire with climate activists. Although it was not adopted, we argue that the climate change act project has opened new opportunities to rethink expertise and climate mobilization in Belgium.

Key Policy Insights

• Even when climate change bills fail, they can still have important political or policy effects in the future by raising awareness for the impacts of climate change.

• When proposing new laws, academic experts should be well informed about the timing and conditions of the political agenda.

• Consultations with civil society on climate change law projects would increase public awareness and pressure for adoption.

• Including other important societal causes related to social, economic, decolonial and gender issues, would be key to broadening the impact of the climate movement.

摘要

大量文献解释了气候变化法案的采用及其对气候政策的影响。相比之下，我们对导致不通过气候变化法案的过程以及随后对气候政策制定的影响知之甚少。该贡献旨在通过分析比利时气候变化法法案未获通过来填补这一空白。2019 年 2 月提出的比利时气候变化法法案经过辩论，但很快在 2019 年 3 月底被否决。不通过气候变化法案对气候政策的影响：(i) 质疑气候变化法案是如何起草的，以及学术专家在气候紧急情况下在此类任务中的作用；(ii) 分析气候行动法案的接受和讨论情况，包括在民间社会内部；(iii) 追踪在法案未获通过后采取的后续行动。该研究依赖于文献分析（气候变化法案草案和最终文本、议会讨论、非政府组织档案）、对主要参与者的采访以及对气候活动家的探索性问卷调查。尽管未被采纳，但我们认为气候变化法案项目为重新思考比利时的专业知识和气候动员开辟了新的机会。(iii) 追踪在法案未获通过后采取的后续行动。该研究依赖于文献分析（气候变化法案草案和最终文本、议会讨论、非政府组织档案）、对主要参与者的采访以及对气候活动家的探索性问卷调查。尽管未被采纳，但我们认为气候变化法案项目为重新思考比利时的专业知识和气候动员开辟了新的机会。(iii) 追踪在法案未获通过后采取的后续行动。该研究依赖于文献分析（气候变化法案草案和最终文本、议会讨论、非政府组织档案）、对主要参与者的采访以及对气候活动家的探索性问卷调查。尽管未被采纳，但我们认为气候变化法案项目为重新思考比利时的专业知识和气候动员开辟了新的机会。

关键政策见解

• 即使气候变化法案失败，通过提高对气候变化影响的认识，它们在未来仍然可以产生重要的政治或政策影响。

• 在提出新法律时，学术专家应该充分了解政治议程的时间和条件。

• 与民间社会就气候变化法项目进行磋商将提高公众的认识和采用的压力。

• 包括与社会、经济、非殖民化和性别问题相关的其他重要社会原因，将是扩大气候运动影响的关键。