Climate Change Policy Capacity at the Sub-National Government Level

Abstract

The capacity of large bureaucratic organizations to address climate change issues is an area that many consider to be important yet there is very little empirical evidence available. This article employs a structural equation model (LISREL) from survey data of mid-level public servants in the Province of Alberta, Canada and considers such factors as the extent that they work with climate change information, the use of risk-based tools, risk perception, and broader organizational factors. The results suggest that policy-based staff is more engaged in climate change issues than researchers and are also more likely to employ risk-based tools and techniques. We conclude that structural equation modeling can provide valuable indicators of policy capacity to decision makers who are charged with developing climate change policies.