Posted on 14 October 2026 by BaerbelW

In April 2026 we published a guest blog post by John Lang in which he introduced his "Climate Trunk" graphics project and website. Since then, he has been adding one graphic per week and plans to keep going for about 2 years rounding out the big picture of human-caused climate change graphic by graphic. In this blog post we'll show-case the graphics related to governance and will keep adding more as they get published.

The rules, institutions, diplomacy and accountability mechanisms that seek to coordinate action.

#10 - The World spoke

The UN General Assembly backed the ICJ’s landmark climate ruling by 141 votes to 8. The eight voting against, including the US and Russia, account for one-third of cumulative historical CO2 emissions since 1750.

The UN overwhelmingly backed the World Court’s climate ruling.

#11 - What makes a good climate law?

Climate change unfolds over decades. Political cycles don't. That's why countries are increasingly embedding climate action into law through targets, carbon budgets, independent oversight and long-term planning. This week's Climate Trunk graphic explores eight building blocks of effective climate governance.

Eight building blocks of an effective framework climate law.

27. The Accountability Hierarchy?

Setting a target brings scrutiny. Goog. But credible efforts to deliver it should bring recognition. Invert the pyramid: scrutinise silence first, and don’t let companies with no target escape accountability. Scrutiny should come with recognition when companies deliver, improve their plans or, importantly, honestly explain where they're falling short, why, and what’s needed to get back on track – be that stronger policy, say, or better grid infrastructure.

Targets should bring scrutiny. Credible action should bring recognition.

... to be continued

Follow these links to dive into the other Climate Trunk rings: Science, Impacts, Economics, Political Economy, Solutions, Energy, Daily Life.