Territorial Politics and Multi-Level Policy-Making: The Case of Climate Change

Abstract

Climate change is a global issue that inherently necessitates multi-level government action. To date, the literature has tended to focus on national and international climate change politics to the detriment of examining the role and policy responses of other layers of government. Yet, climate change policy is explicitly multi-level, implicating governments at the supranational, national, sub-state regional and municipal scale. Global recognition of the importance of sub-state government action to tackle climate change is gradually increasing, in light of the innovation and leadership shown by some regional government sin the field of climate change mitigation, the growing policy competence these governments wield in spheres affected by climate change, and the important role they play in meeting climate change mitigation targets set at higher levels. However, sub-state governments face a number of potential challenges and constraints shaping their climate policy action. These include the limits of their constitutional and fiscal autonomy, their relative lack of resources and expertise, and the nature and dynamics of intra-state relations between state and sub-state governments, which can condition access to resources and opportunities for influence. Focusing on the regional level, this panel will explore in greater detail the opportunities and challenges for sub-state governments in tackling climate change. The papers will provide empirical insights into the ways in which different sub-state governments in Western European states have sought to develop their climate change activities. There will be a particular emphasis on territorial politics as a lens through which sub-state regional innovation and multi-level policy-making on climate change can be understood.

Title	Details
How Regions Contribute to Belgium's International Climate Policy: A Comparison of Belgian and Canadian Multi-Level Climate Politics	View Paper Details
The Commission Coordinating Climate Change Policies: An Opportunity for the Autonomous Communities or an Instrument of the State to Control them?	View Paper Details
Climate Change Policy and Multi-Level Governance in a Devolved UK	View Paper Details
The Territorial Politics of Climate Policy in Canada and Australia	View Paper Details