National laws mandate climate change action in several countries

Several nations have integrated climate change mitigation into their national legal frameworks and constitutions. While the Paris Agreement requires 196 signatories to submit nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the agreement lacks a formal mechanism to punish non-compliance.

In Brazil, the National Policy on Climate Change (PNMC), established in 2009, mandates action to reduce human-induced impacts on the climate system. The Brazilian Constitution also guarantees the right to an ecologically balanced environment.

Ecuador features specific constitutional clauses requiring the state to combat climate change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and air pollution. Zambia's 2016 constitutional reform also includes an explicit mandate for the government to develop mechanisms to address climate change and protect biodiversity.