The role of the state in acceleration of climate action

Mitigating and adapting to climate change possess tremendous governance challenges. The polycentric nature of global climate governance gives domestic governments the crucial role in directing climate action. This paper conceptualizes the role of the state in accelerating climate action. While we know quite much about why global climate politics is challenging and how single climate policy instruments works, we have little systematic knowledge about the role of the state in acceleration of climate action. ‘Acceleration of climate action’ refers to processes that increase emission cuts in terms of breadth (range of activities and sectors cutting emissions), depth (size of cuts/uptake/carbon removal) or speed (rate of change). Some types of state involvement might cause positive ‘ambition loops’; others might trigger negative feedback and backlash. While recognizing that states might also decelerate climate action, this paper primarily specify how state-induced acceleration patterns could materialise. Three distinct models for state led climate acceleration are presented and assessed: marked failure, technology transition and popular support. While these are ‘ideal models’, empirical examples of the three are presented. The paper primarily zooms in on differing ways of setting up the ‘machinery of government’, i.e. the governmental apparatus and decision-making processes for acceleration of climate action, and how this may differ across the three models. The differing models give different expectations when it comes to what states could and should do to spur incremental change, sequencing, leapfrogging and tipping-points that over time ensures a development towards resilient societies with net-zero emissions.