The issue of climate change has challenged existing paradigms of policy-making and delivery, resulting in a fragmented policy arena that encompasses a diverse range stakeholders from numerous geo-political jurisdictions. Resultantly, it embodies many of the dilemmas associated with the governance narrative, highlighting the inherent complexity of policy-making and the challenge presented to national governments in terms of steering stakeholders towards key political goals. Yet, at the same time, the issue of climate change reveals the potential for state governments to ‘fill-in’ their strategic capacity, and it is in this context that the narrative of ‘crisis’ offers an important rejoinder to the governance debate, as evidence suggests that climate change can act as a catalyst for resurgence of the state’s political authority and interventionist capacity. Focusing on the policy response of the British Labour Government between 1997-2010, this paper will establish the relevance of the governance narrative to climate change policy-making and delivery, and will reflect upon the narrative of crisis tease out the broader implications for government capacity. The British experience is important in terms of policy-transfer as many states start from much further back than the UK in terms of their baseline carbon dioxide emissions. The paper will therefore be of comparative relevance as governments worldwide have sought to grapple with the governance challenges posed by climate change. Overall, this paper will demonstrate whilst climate change, as distinct sphere of policy-making, is characterised by fragmentation and complexity, the potential exists for national governments to re-assert their capacity by maximising the opportunities presented by ‘crisis’ to position themselves firmly at the centre of the policy process. Nonetheless, it will suggest that this capacity is contingent upon the sustained flexibility, momentum and political commitment of national governments, which is necessary in order to deliver long-term outcomes across an uncertain policy terrain.
