Major political changes over the past year have brought new questions over the future of global climate change action. In addition to dramatic reversals to climate-related regulation, the United States in August 2017 officially notified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of its withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement. The triggering of Article 50 and commencement of Brexit negotiations is also bringing new dynamics to European energy and climate policy. 

In this context, it is critical to reassess the appetite of policy-makers in taking ambitious action on climate change. In the lead-up to the first 'global stocktake' in 2018, the practical challenges of emissions reductions persist and a step change is needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.