Energy and Sustainability

Carmen Heinrich, in an article published by Climate Politics on June 9, 2026, investigates the relationship between variations in the design of climate policy mixes and their impact on environmental innovation. The study examines policy mixes across 13 OECD countries from 1990 to 2020 to determine whether larger policy mixes, a greater diversity of policy instruments, and an increased emphasis on green industrial policies contribute to a higher share of environmentally related patents. It concludes that the operational logic of green industrial policies has remained largely unchanged over the past decades, potentially limiting their ability to drive radical innovation.